Blogging is definitely a grass roots sort of medium.
The other day, as many of you know, I was contacted by a US professor, who had written between 25-30 big name religious websites in an attempt to get some respondents for his social psychology survey. Like most academics he has no budget or funding. The big US religious sites didn’t respond.
So, someone in his life who had heard of blogs suggested he try this medium.
Dr. Vincent found Bene Diction Blogs On in Google. Blogging is a two way street, we link out. It’s that simple. Every once in awhile it’s great to have someone sent you an idea for a post. It makes a bloggers life a bit easier also in the day to day discipline of this medium. Dr. Vincent’s journey into the blogosphere has become and is becoming it’s own story.
I posted and sent out a few emails. Man, you guys came through! 98 percent of those I emailed linked up and wrote back. What is very cool about your response is that Dr. Vincent is brand new to the blogosphere, to a comments section, and to the lingo. It’s been delightful watching him find your blogs and watching his discouragement turn to hope.
God-blogs aren’t “A” listers. We just don’t get the traffic a US pundit or a professional US religious site gets. And we rarely if ever get the attention of a big religious organization that could sent oddles of people over to take a look. Most god-blogs average 60 hits a day. Each hit is a person and I can’t ever forget that. Thank you to all my blogging buddies for your help. I owe you one. Anytime eh?
God-blogs have helped buy goats, pedicabs, pens and have raised money through blogathons for other charities. This survey isn’t about debating, denominations, nationality or politics. It’s just about helping an unfunded academic by suggesting our readers check it out.
The blog burst (by nature of being a blog burst) has crested. Your kindness and courtesy to this gentleman has been a lesson in goodness.
Dr. Vincent needs a few more people to finish the work and he’s stumped about how to reach them. I’ve run out of ideas and contacts and I’m stumped too.
My total count at this point is 225 completed surveys. This is a pretty large number, but the statistics that I’ll need to do require very large numbers (closer to 500 would be optimal). If you have ideas about other ways I might reach Christians on the ‘net, please post or email me!
Thanks, for both the help on the surveys and for introducing me to the wonderful world of blogs!
I think 500 people will respond, and I agree with this statement from a social psychology professor I met this week on line through Google who just discovered what blogs can do.
Published 4 years, 2 months agoI’ve found this whole project to be a wonderfully spiritual experience, personally.
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I did the survey yesterday and I am linking up now, but I wondered whether he is going to publish his findings on a blog etc like Michelle did?
Hi Rachel:
Michelle’s idea to use a blog for her results was a good one wasn’t it?
Ummm. Dr. Vincent has been popping by to check the comments section, I think he can answer your question. Blog on!
I still plan on linking…I’m probably that 2% that didn’t!
LoL KarL:
I deleted the emails so I can’t remember who didn’t respond. You still have lots of time to squeek in if you got one!
It’s become a matter of pride.
We are small, but considering there are millions of computers and millions of people of faith on them, we ought to be able to send 500 eh?
Thank you!
Rachel & Karl,
Thanks for the links!
Bene has been so kind as to offer to let me post a summary of the results once the survey is closed. At that point I can also provide some explanation of the theory behind it, hypotheses, etc. I’ve already taken a brief peek at the data, and I think most will find it thought-provoking.
I will also post a summary of the results on the survey page. Once the survey is closed, following the same survey link will take you to a page with the summary (after a slight delay so I can work with the data a bit).
At the current rate you won’t have to wait too long. I’m impatient about looking at results– I feel like a kid at Christmas wanting to open the presents. I’d count on seeing something in the next few weeks.
Mark
I did the survey, but forgot to link… oops!
I promise I’ll link tomorrow!
Thanks for letting us take part. It made me think about what I was doing and reassessing whether I was practicing what I was preaching. I too can’t wait for the results!
I also sent an email to a listserv of Christian childbirth professionals.
I am looking forward to seeing the results and the analysis. I generally find surveys annoying because I can see the biases that are built in - this one was no exception but I finished it anyhow.