Friday, October 16, 2009

The Coolest Statistics Project Ever

This semester I am taking a statistics course that requires that I complete a semester long statistics research study. So as I pondered over possible research questions, I knew it has to relate to genealogy somehow. After discussing some options with my professor, we formulated the following research question:

Are there any differences between beginner, intermediate, and experienced genealogists with regard to the amount of money and types of expenditures they make to research their family tree?

I'm excited because my big semester long project is related to genealogy - and I am actually curious about the results. This project is a fun one to me all because genealogy is included.

So - I am asking all of my genealogy friends to help me out! Please, fill out the two part survey (part 1 and part 2). This survey is entirely anonymous - I never ask for your name. All of your answers are completely confidential, and the only two people who will ever see your individual answers are myself and my professor. However, at the end of my study (at the end of November), I will be posting my conclusions here on my blog. Besides - aren't you a bit curious about the question?

If you know other genealogists - ask them to participate also. The more answers I get, the better the findings.

So thank you to anyone who has already filled the survey out and thank you to everyone who will fill out the survey. Genealogists truly are the nicest people out there!

Update: Thanks to everyone who told me that the survey closed. I long story short, I fixed the problem.

18 comments:

Thomas MacEntee said...

Elyse

I created a special post on GeneaBloggers to get the word out on your survey - let's hope it brings you lots of responses!

http://www.geneabloggers.com/elyses-genealogy-survey/

Lori E said...

Great idea to use what you know.
It was fun. I'll mention it on my blogs too.

Anonymous said...

Elyse,

Thomas MacEntree alerted me to your survey. I took it. Good luck!

Peace,
"Guided by the Ancestors"

Karen Packard Rhodes said...

Best of luck on your project. I am applying for an undergraduate research grant to do a genealogical study of the historical events in St. Augustine, Florida, during the second Spanish period (1783-1820). We are going to get genealogy into academia yet!

I've tweeted your survey through a link to your blog entry, too. I, too, hope you get lots of responses!

Evelyn Yvonne Theriault said...

Great questions and a clear layout - best luck in your research work!
Evelyn in Montreal

Leah Kleylein said...

Good luck with the project!

geneabloggers said...

Elyse

I am getting messages from folks that on Part One of the survey, they receive a message "Survey is closed" - you might want to check this out.

Ruth said...

Count me in! Unfortunately, the first part of the survey displays this message: This survey is currently closed. Please contact the author of this survey for further assistance.

Ruth Stephens
Bluebonnet Country Genealogy

Randy Seaver said...

Elyse,

Please find a way to extend the survey deadline for both surveys if you want more responses.

Randy

Jessica's thoughts said...

Hi Elyse,

I couldn't do the first part of the survey. The site says it is closed. I was able to do the second part.

-Jessica

Scrogginsdata said...

I tried to take your survey pages--both parts were closed.

Wendy said...

Taking and sharing your survey! Good luck with your class.

Wendy said...

Oops, went to take the survey (I just heard about it today) and it's already closed.

Ryan said...

Add me to the list of those who tried to take the survey but found it closed. If you extend it, I'll be happy to take it. Good luck with the project!

Elyse said...

Okay everyone - the links are now updated and everything should be good. Thanks for letting me know it wasn't working - and thanks for taking the time out to complete the survey!

Tim Cox said...

Elyse,
Good luck with the project and have fun with analyzing the data. I can't wait to see the results!
I'll post it on Facebook so you can get more responses.

I didn't realize how many societies I belong to until I answered that question and listed them. OMG!!

Tim

Martin said...

I took the survey. A few comments. Some categories should have $0.00 as opposed to less than $x. Also, some of the expenses overlap. Membership to NEHGS gets you two great journals and access to their website. That's one cost and three of your categories.

Poison_kitty said...

I just took your survey and wanted to mention that people outside the Us have to guesstimate there conversion to dollars, which might affect your results a little.

I'll put the word out on my blog, and I wish you luck on your class!