I am a PhD candidate at La Trobe University studying how online discussions about moral, social and political issues might have an effect on peoples’ views, attitudes and beliefs. I am focusing exclusively on Sup Forums, its users, and the views that are expressed on its boards.
>Do you think spending time on Sup Forums altered your perspectives?
>If this prospect interests (or irritates) you, then you may find completing my anonymous questionnaire vaguely entertaining.
I have set up a website, www.OPhere.net, which has all the project details, a dedicated email address to contact me, and a link to the anonymous online questionnaire. I have been conducting one-on-one interviews as well, so if you would prefer to skip the prompts and just tell me your views, please do not hesitate to contact me.
This research has been granted approval by the La Trobe University Human Ethics Committee. Reference No: E16-027
>TL;DR: PhD student wants to hear your views on various social, political and moral issues.
I am trying to do as many boards as possible. Sup Forums is the fourth board on which I have started one of these threads.
Asher Williams
You're going to have a major issues with getting a representative sample, you realise that, surely.
Ethan Hughes
I have really been looking forward to getting Sup Forums's views - figured Sup Forums's perspectives will be dramatically different to those found on Sup Forums, for example.
Thomas Gutierrez
Shieeeeeeeeeeeet you're expecting honest answers in a mongolian horse breeding forum?
Jace Price
Yeah man, it's literally impossible to get a representative sample, because there is no sampling frame available. My research questions do not necessarily require a representative sample, but I do need to try and get something close to a cross-sectional sample.
Matthew Thompson
>it's literally impossible to get a representative sample Perhaps I'm not being clear - you're selection criteria is loose and contingent on self-reporting. People on Sup Forums are going to exploit that to give you false data, or will fall into a generally similar behavioural bracket.
Liam Collins
Believe it or not, so far the trolling has been pretty minimal... even on Sup Forums's responses.
Jason Ward
As I said to , I have not seen much trolling in the questionnaire responses, and interview participants have been pretty diverse too. Still, you are right, the methodology has its limitations.
Blake Bennett
And what's the potential for just subtle lying or embellishment?
Coming from a field where we can empirically measure a variable and deal with statistical likelihood, it feels lacking.
Jaxson Morales
Having said this, it's still an improvement over studying just one board (usually Sup Forums) or generalizing entirely from posts.
John Williams
This is qualitative research, the statistical dimension is mainly there for context. As for subtle lying/ embellishment? I am Doing my best to control for that by using a triangulation strategy (i.e., compare what is said in questionnaire responses to what others say in threads, during interviews etc.)
Jose Robinson
Australian universities offer """"""""""degrees""""""""" in shitposting.
MEMES ARE REAL E M E S
A R E
R E A L
Isaac Taylor
Albeit this entire argument is assuming it's real.
Ayden Phillips
Assuming what is real? The project?
>degree in shitposting They permit you to try and complete a degree in shitposting, but if your work turns out to be of the same quality as a shitpost, you will not pass.
Zachary Ross
I have received a lot of methodological critiques, most of which have been pretty reasonable, but I honestly can't think of an alternative strategy for the project. I am open to suggestions!
Jacob Foster
Thank you to the user who completed the questionnaire!
Luke Stewart
How many responses have you had in total (all boards)?
Christopher Ortiz
Hmm, does anyone have any suggestions for how I might be able to get Sup Forums interested in this?
Jaxon James
All up? About 200 so far. I hope you give the questionnaire a look user!
William Howard
Post later in yuro peak hours or in American hours
Charles Murphy
Yeah, I think my timing was a bit off... still, the success of these threads in the past didn't seem to correspond to American or Euro peak hours...
Actually, fuck it, what is Sup Forums peak hours?
Anthony Russell
I might not be peak times, but two anons have now completed the questionnaire. Feeling optimistic!
Isaac Sanchez
...
Ryan Morgan
Where are you going with this user?
Andrew Reyes
>La Trobe
Can you please strangle that warped cunt Roz Ward for me?
Kayden Torres
Ah, I completely forgot about this. I am not going anywhere near that clusterfuck situation.
Still, what aspect of the 'Safe Schools' initiative has pissed you off user?
Elijah Peterson
Actually just a thought do you have a comparison of some sort of base line "normal people"?
Gavin Evans
Alright cunt I'll do your questionnaire, got nothing better to do.
also I hope you have a wide margin for error in your method, you're gunna need it
Carson Miller
I did actually give this idea some thought when I was designing the project, but I could not think of a suitably comparable population to use for a comparison. It's also not strictly necessary. The research is about how Sup Forums users interpret/deal with the content.
Andrew Myers
Cheers mate. I do have a considerable margin for error inbuilt into every aspect of the project.
Grayson Rogers
doing it now
I'm assuming you're a long term poster here as well? You partake in the memes also?
Gabriel Brooks
Thanks user, much obliged. Longish time lurker primarily, but indeed yes, I do partake in the memes :)
Adrian Morris
what will you be a doctor in presuming you pass? Also, will it help you get a job? (hint, the answer is no lmao)
Mason Stewart
It would be a PhD in sociology. You can't get a job as a lecturer at a university without a PhD (except in some very exceptional circumstances), and the degree is similarly essential to be taken seriously as an academic. Will I get a job though? Who knows - hopeful though.
Thomas Adams
Always happy to help fellow students.
I will also send you an email later this week, I wouldn't mind participating in interview(s), especially if it can help you out some more.
Nolan Garcia
Cheers user! I look forward to hearing from you, it would definitely be a huge help!
Dominic Ross
i have already done this, have you told Annou i send my best wishes?
Luis Rogers
Really? Which thread was that? Not sure who you are referring to...
Isaiah Allen
Finished the questionnaire. Should I bother participating in an interview? Do you need a lot of interview subjects? How do you run them? Via email?
Cooper Perry
Cheers user! I need as many interview participants as possible, so if you are asking whether your participation is 'needed', then the answer is a definite yes! So far I have used IRC, email, Skype, Discord and a couple of chat websites for interviews. I am also keen to do some in-person interviews, but so far I have only received one request for that and it fell through. So I am pretty flexible about them - details are available on www.OPhere.net in the 'interviews' page.
John Anderson
some other board, ofcouse you dont since you get alot of replies shes in a different field anyway
Jayden Thomas
Oh hang on, I think I remember this. Annou is a student at La Trobe?
James Ross
do I still get to keep my anonymity? I'm from geelong so I actually probably could do in person...
Ryder Long
Yeah man - basically the trick is not to give me any identifying information. I would assign you a random number to use as your name, for example, and obviously I won't record where you you live in Aus etc. An in-person interview would be pretty awesome.
Christopher King
5 responses so far, much obliged anons!
Brandon Peterson
well I'll bookmark your website and consider it. You're doing a phd so I'm sure you'll be taking your time.
Nolan Taylor
Thanks man, you can always send me an anonymous email if you have any questions. Yeah, early 2018 is the earliest I would be finishing up lol.
Matthew Smith
Well, it looks like I might have to try this again at a different time lol.
Austin Garcia
Come back you cunt.
Dominic Campbell
yes she is
Brandon Martin
Not really
Brody Flores
Cunt has returned - what's up Russia?
Michael Foster
Ah righeto, I must make a point of looking her up.
Aiden Torres
Really? Why do you think that is?
Xavier Myers
many ppl here come from pol
Brayden Collins
This board is just a sane version of Sup Forums mixed with culture and history discussion
Jose Baker
That's precisely how I described Sup Forums to a past interview participant. Does this mean that you think a lot of users share the same views/beliefs/opinions etc.?
Brayden Brooks
What's the bump limit on Sup Forums?
Blake Campbell
>moral, social and political issues there are no such things. Sup Forums is all about shitpost and empty alt right memes. on top of these this site is kinda obsolete. no anything other than it.
Jaxson Baker
If that's the case, why do you continue to visit the site?
Jose Clark
I was bored so I just did mine
Liam Baker
Thanks user! What do you think of it?
Julian Carter
There are too many of the "If you chose X please explain why" forms and theyre quite a pain for anyone who wants to fill it in randomly
Eli Lee
probably, i dont have any numbers
Nicholas White
This pissed me off when designing the questionnaire. I wanted to have the option to auto-skip those write-in questions if the respondent had answered 'no' to the previous question. Turns out that function is only found on the 'premium' versions of survey building software. Sorry about that, I spent a fair bit of time trying to find a way around it, but short of spending a bunch of money I don't have, I couldn't find a practical work-around.
Brayden Gutierrez
I'm from Latrobe as well. Which campus are you on?
Ethan Williams
Bundoora - what are you studying?
Hudson Young
Health Sciences. That's interesting. I'm on Bundorra as well. Wasn't aware there's anyone else shitposting on 4Chin at the campus.
Noah Wilson
Yeah, they are around :)
Carson Bailey
>:) Please don't do that. If you're free tomorrow from 1-2:30, I'm happy to meet up or something.
Evan Fisher
I've just sent you an email.
Juan Foster
>:) My bad, a little scattered atm - trying to do too many things at once.
That sounds great to me user, the only question is whether I will be awake! If you shoot me an email to address on OPhere.net, I am sure we can arrange something.
Jackson Barnes
Got it - will reply momentarily.
Dylan White
What the fuck is an ethnic identity.
Robert King
Threw me off as well, I just answered the same as nationality.
Christian Rivera
sizeable overlap of users
Joseph Roberts
I identify as a strong black woman
Josiah Parker
Is this shitposting having ascended to a higher plane? I really can't tell anymore Did the questionnaire any way though, good luck
Austin Rodriguez
I identify as an Apache attack helicopter.
Jace Cooper
>OP here,
'Ethnic identity' refers to your ethnicity - a concept that is generally used in lieu of 'race' to mean one's cultural background. E.g., an American born in Hawaii might view themselves as having the ethnicity of 'Hawaiian' rather than 'American'. I put ethnic identity in instead of 'race' to see how people would interpret it - nationality and race have, for the most part, been what people put in this field. Well that's swell user - all the best. Cheers user - I assure you it is not shitposting, this is really a component of my PhD research. You can always quote the ethics application number and contact La Trobe's ethics department to verify this if desired. Whatever works for you user!
Asher Perez
i have never heard of le trobe university before. this is fake
Colton Morales
Seriously? Google is a thing man.
Isaiah Adams
I sent you an email.
Evan Martinez
I am looking out for it. If you sent it earlier I might have already replied.
Luis Jackson
>5th uni of melbourne has PhD candidates who literally conduct research on a San Marinese cheese trading forum. COULD NOT FABRICATE
Nathan Richardson
Is this some weird euphemism for Sup Forums, or is this actually another candidates research project?
Kevin Lee
Don't worry, nobody is piggy backing your idea. Euphemism to show how pointless Sup Forums is.
John Flores
Lol, cheers. So do you genuinely think that researching Sup Forums is a completely futile endeavor? I have been told this in other threads, but I am a little surprised to hear it.
Jacob Jones
It depends on your perspective. People like to downplay the influence of Sup Forums. But Sup Forums still has more unique visitors each month than people live in Australia.
My thoughts exactly. Taken together with the various escapades of anons over the years, it seems likely that Sup Forums has some kind of impact on the lives of a lot of people.
Isaac Ross
>what's the worst thing you've seen on Sup Forums >mfw feminists rustled my jimmies more than some guy dying by being fucked by a horse, people getting killed with a hammer or burned alive Priorities, priorities.
Andrew Kelly
You reckon that Sup Forums has altered your 'priorities' in this case?
Nathaniel Sanders
>australia
Haha nice bait cunt
Owen Perez
I got this on Sup Forums as well. What the fuck have Australians been doing to earn such a rep as shitposters?
Austin Lewis
I think people downplay it a lot too because it's pretty depressing to think about
Jack Bennett
Not sure. But a few years ago there seemed to be no active moderation on a lot of boards. So a constant stream of bullshit does get desensitized. But on the other hand, feminists do impact your life more than some strangers dying.
In the Netherlands we call that a "far from my bed"-show. Starving Africans on the news is far from your bed, so it's not very interesting. But when things get closer to home people get more interested and emotionally involved.
So when something happens people often say: well, that's a far from my bed show. As if it was just a random item to you on the morning news.
Carter Campbell
What exactly is so depressing to think about? That Sup Forums might be influential?