I wonder if quantitative research is best method to collect data from this. I would have chosen qualitative method since that way I could really find what kind of engagement people have on MMO games. Qualitative data could create good basis on quantitative data that could take consideration both negative and positive effects.

In this kind of research it would also be good to consider how MMOG guild structure reflects organisational practices and contributes to player base skills on that area.

As such I do expect that that survey will end up in what I call ‘Shit In Shit Out’.

Not that scrubby:

http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/tol_gug/gooduniversityguide.php

That may be true, but I think he might bring yet more enlightenment by pointing out flawed research methodology. Looking at section 1 as I fill it out, I can’t help but see an obvious bias as Ravious notes. E.g. in a section subtitled “The following statements concern how important massively-multiplayer online role playing games (MMROPGs) are for you”, where are questions such as:

* I feel MMOs are a valuable source of social bonds for me.
* I feel MMOs provide me with good entertainment value.
* I feel MMOs are the hobby I enjoy most.

Answer: nowhere to be found. Instead, the survey focuses only on the negative factors ~when considering the importance of MMOs~. Whether it includes mention of positive factors in other sectors does not make this survey any less balanced.

… Having just completed the survey, I can say that there wasn’t any later section introducing this balanced approach. Instead, all the questions focus on a) how much do MMOs ruin my life, b) how do I act or feel when I play MMOs, and c) how do I act and feel at work.

This was a very biased survey indeed. The conclusions drawn from it will be of little value; garbage in, garbage out. My old research methodology profs would suffer a collective apoplectic fit if they saw this.

People who will bother finishing the survey will be overly represented by people who feel they need to defend MMOs or have an axe to grind. The “average” player, who probably doesn’t read blogs or fan sites and who will thus be unlikely to hear of this survey will be under represented.

So the survey results will be representative of “those who found the survey” as opposed to the MMO playing community.

I’ll be interested to see the results if only to see how they rationalize their methodology.