how not to run a research study
Aug. 31st, 2009 05:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
I know several people on my flist are scientists, researchers, or generally interested in science research, and since a few of you may not have heard yet about the fan fiction survey, consider this an object lesson in Doing It Wrong. Seriously, how do you get to the point of having a PhD in a scientific field and not realize that you can't change the questions in the middle of the survey without affecting your data? (And that's the least of the problems with this little project – it's just one of the most obvious points of Science Fail.)
The survey is finally down while the researchers "digest all this great feedback." Personally, I agree with the anonmeme theory that this is subtle code for "BRB, BU IRB SMACKING OUR ASSES, AND NOT IN THE GOOD WAY YOU FOLKS WRITE ABOUT."
The survey is finally down while the researchers "digest all this great feedback." Personally, I agree with the anonmeme theory that this is subtle code for "BRB, BU IRB SMACKING OUR ASSES, AND NOT IN THE GOOD WAY YOU FOLKS WRITE ABOUT."
no subject
on 2009-09-01 03:49 am (UTC)(The cluelessness here (http://ogi-ogas.livejournal.com/681.html?thread=3241#t3241) is rather impressive, as well. LURK MOAR, BB. 4 SRS.)
no subject
on 2009-09-01 01:04 pm (UTC)I do remember seeing his response about novel-length fics, and like virtually every other answer he's given, it made me facepalm. How can you even pretend you're going to get valid answers studying fic writers if you haven't spent more than five minutes learning what fic is?