Academic Survey on Linux
April 22nd, 2002 by AlkiniDr. Paul Dholakia, Assistant Professor of Management at Rice University wrote in with this information regarding an interesting survey that they are conducting:
I am a faculty member in the Jones school of management at Rice Universityin Houston, Texas (this may be verified using a Google search with “PaulDholakia”, or “Utpal Dholakia”). We are conducting an academic researchproject, studying social interactions online more generally, andspecifically how communities organized around products or brands areformed, from a sociological perspective.In this regard, we are conducting a survey of people who belong tointernet-based LINUX groups such as mailing lists, websites etc. seekinginformation on different elements of their thoughts, feelings, andmotivations of participating in such groups, and the value of the group tothem…
Our survey is available on the web at the following URL:
http://www.surveypro.com/cgi-bin/surveypro/run_survey.cgi?id=2444
Please note that the survey is targeted especially at those individualswho interact with the more-or-less same group of individuals online withinthe mailing list or on some other online forum, that is, those who have online friends that they interact with regularly.
Of course, this research is strictly academic, and has no commercial linksor interests whatsoever. We hope to publish this research in a sociologyjournal.
As a small token of our appreciation for participants’ time, and in thespirit of the philosophy underlying the open-source movement, we willdonate a total of $500 to the five favorite organizations/ groups of ourparticipants’ choice (we ask the participant’s to nominate their favoritegroups in the survey). Of course, the findings of the study will be freelyavailable from my website or via email (upon request) in approximately twomonths.
November 30th, -0001 at 12:00 am
He can use your support.
November 30th, -0001 at 12:00 am
Don’t forget their contribution
November 30th, -0001 at 12:00 am
They will rule the world!
November 30th, -0001 at 12:00 am
The survey asks you not to name the channels you hang on, and the nicks of the people you deal with. There is no way this information could be considered necessary for such a survey. It looks more like somebody is trying to identify the individuals who are contributing to Linux. Why? How credible is the disclaimer that the results will not be used for commercial purposes?
Do not reply to the survey in its current form. Do not name channels or nicks. Do request clarification from Paul Dholakia, of the Jones school of Management, Rice University, Austin Texas. Do specifically ask for information on the source of funds or sponsorship of his activities.
November 30th, -0001 at 12:00 am
IT’S AN ADVERTISING PLOY!
IT’S VOLUNTARY SPYWARE!
SOON THEY’LL BE TRYING TO SELL YOU STUFFED PENGUINS OR BSD DEVILS!
OR WORSE, THEY’LL HAVE THE IP ADDRESSES OF ALL VISITORS!! THEY’RE PROBABLY THE SAME STUPID PEOPLE THAT SETUP CARNIVORE AND ARE ATTEMPTING TO CROSS-REFERENCE THE VALIDITY OF THE DATA THEY COLLECTED!
IT’S A PLOY!
NOTHING GOOD WILL COME OF IT OTHER THAN THEIR OWN GAIN!
ALL PSYCHOLOGISTS ARE JUST CRACKERS IN DISGUISE WEARING SUITS AND TIES OR SKIRTS!
…AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT MOTIVATES A CRACKER/PSYCHOLOGIST…