Nonbelievers: Please help an Oxford student / research survey

[noch1Narr]

Gone there, done that. Glad to see/read that several of my new idols had preceded me.

[-Fran-]

Originally Posted by Brian-M

For the aliens question I ended up putting down 10%. I'm almost certain there's intelligent alien life somewhere, but the humanoid part seems a bit unlikely.
I hope this question doesn't end up being sensationalized...
"X percent of atheists believe in aliens."
I'm sure many people will confuse believing intelligent aliens may exist somewhere with UFO nuts who believe aliens are visiting earth to mutilate cattle and anal-probe humans.

Exactly what I thought! I commented on that.

[eowyn]

Done

[Maus]

Completed.

-Maus

[six7s]

Originally Posted by Jon Lanman (via email)

Hi all,

Thanks again for participating in the non-theist survey. The data has come rolling in and I think the project will be a successful one.

Think? Or naively hope?

Originally Posted by Jon Lanman (via email)

While I've been reviewing answers to the questions and talking to lots of non-theists at meetings and in individual conversations in several countries, I've realized that there are important questions that I was not able to get to with the original survey.

So, I've put together some additional questions (not as many as the original!). No worries if you do not feel like answering more questions, but for those of you that are willing, I'd really appreciate your participation.

Here's the link for the new questions:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?...OAYxPMBg_3d_3d

I'll be sure to post links to the results and to the publications that result from this work on the websites/forums where I advertised for the original survey, but, alas, this won't be until sometime in 2009, when the project is done and I've analyzed all the data.

Why bother? Garbage in, garbage out

I suspect that the use of the continuum format (no Planet X options!) for answers is unlikely to yield any worthwhile information

Furthermore, it seems (to me at least) that far too many of the questions are of the 'leading' variety

Sure, collating and quantifying replies to 'open' questions is a time-consuming and - perhaps - futile task... but, if this research is intended for publication, I doubt if the results will be worth more than the paper they're printed on

Originally Posted by Jon Lanman (via email)

Thanks again for all your help,
Jon

--
Jonathan A. Lanman
DPhil Student
Centre for Anthropology and Mind
Institute of Cognitive & Evolutionary Anthropology
University of Oxford

If this survey represents an acceptable standard of research at one of England's most highly esteemed universities, may the FSM bless us all

[hodgy]

Originally Posted by six7s

If this survey represents an acceptable standard of research at one of England's most highly esteemed universities, may the FSM bless us all

I agree, I have doubts regarding either the competence or impartiality of the researcher.

[The Drain]

Completed.

Wow, that took a long time.

But apart from not having 'Not Applicable' or 'Planet X' options on the sliding scale questions, I thought it was quite good and comprehensive.

Like I'm sure nearly everyone else here I would be interested in seeing the results of this work.

[LarianLeQuella]

Is this the same one that was over at the Atheist Nexus? Apparently it's closed now, but if it is the same one, best of luck to you!

[six7s]

9 months have gone by...

When's it due?

[curiouscortex]

Hi everyone,

Thanks again for participating in the survey.

The survey and its follow-ups are now closed and the process of analysis and writing-up has now begun.

My current plan is to have the thesis completed sometime in the summer of 2009, when I will also be putting together a website with results/chapters and any publications coming from the work.

When those results and writings are available, I'll provide notification and links on all of the sites where I was fortunate enough to be able to advertise, including the JREF forum.

Many thanks,
Jon

[Darkhole]

Good luck.