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Research on MMO players and avatars

amperjayamperjay Member Posts: 1
in The Pub at MMORPG.COM
Hi everyone. :)

I am a researcher and professor at the University of Toronto, and my research focuses broadly on player communication and behavior in online games. Currently, I’m conducting a study of how MMO players think and feel about their avatars, and as part of this study I’m looking for MMO players to take a 20 minute survey about their avatars.

I am a MMO player myself (WoW, GW2, TESO, and I'm getting ready to try my hand at FFXIV), so I understand you may have some hesitation related to account security and privacy. I assure you that the survey will not collect any information that could compromise your account or personal information. The survey includes mostly multiple-choice questions, and at no time requests personally identifying information. I promise - no scams, no need to enter account info, nothing shady.

If you'd like some validation that I'm a legit researcher/professor, you can check out my university profile here: http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/iccit/jaime-banks and my research profile here: http://utoronto.academia.edu/JaimeBanks

Upon completing the survey, you will be redirected to a separate web site (not tied to your survey responses in any way) where you can choose to enter your email address in order to be entered into a drawing for one of five $25 gift cards to your choice of Amazon or Steam games network. Entry into the drawing is optional, and any email addresses submitted will be kept strictly confidential.

Survey link: http://wvu.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_eR8CL1Frwv2QBHn

If you have any questions at all, please feel free to email me at the address provided in the linked page. Thanks! :)

~Jaime

PS - I'd be ever so grateful if you'd tell your friends and guildies!

Comments

  • sunandshadowsunandshadow Member RarePosts: 1,985

    I'm confused by the part in section one where it mentions problem solving "outside the game".  I'm very enthused about doing problem-solving within an MMO, but MMOs aren't really suited to working on problems outside the game; they have no facilities for doing so beyond a standard chat room or perhaps a private forum.

    Also, rare/hidden things and lore appeal to two different groups of players and shouldn't be combined.

    Finally, it's impossibly to vote a "1" for anything in the part 1 sliders section - that seems like an error?

    [emailed this as requested]

    I want to help design and develop a PvE-focused, solo-friendly, sandpark MMO which combines crafting, monster hunting, and story.  So PM me if you are starting one.
  • Cephus404Cephus404 Member CommonPosts: 3,675
    Originally posted by sunandshadow

    I'm confused by the part in section one where it mentions problem solving "outside the game".  I'm very enthused about doing problem-solving within an MMO, but MMOs aren't really suited to working on problems outside the game; they have no facilities for doing so beyond a standard chat room or perhaps a private forum.

    Also, rare/hidden things and lore appeal to two different groups of players and shouldn't be combined.

    Finally, it's impossibly to vote a "1" for anything in the part 1 sliders section - that seems like an error?

    [emailed this as requested]

    It works, you just have to click on the slider instead of moving it.  I don't know if this has been corrected since you made your observation though.

    Played: UO, EQ, WoW, DDO, SWG, AO, CoH, EvE, TR, AoC, GW, GA, Aion, Allods, lots more
    Relatively Recently (Re)Played: HL2 (all), Halo (PC, all), Batman:AA; AC, ME, BS, DA, FO3, DS, Doom (all), LFD1&2, KOTOR, Portal 1&2, Blink, Elder Scrolls (all), lots more
    Now Playing: None
    Hope: None

  • sunandshadowsunandshadow Member RarePosts: 1,985
    Originally posted by Cephus404
    Originally posted by sunandshadow

    Finally, it's impossibly to vote a "1" for anything in the part 1 sliders section - that seems like an error?

    It works, you just have to click on the slider instead of moving it.  I don't know if this has been corrected since you made your observation though.

    Oooh, I probably did just miss that. >.<

    I want to help design and develop a PvE-focused, solo-friendly, sandpark MMO which combines crafting, monster hunting, and story.  So PM me if you are starting one.
  • lalartulalartu Member UncommonPosts: 437

    U of T representing!

    Funnily, my research was similar to hers too, except more focused on sandbox gaming

    I review lots of indie games and MMORPGs

  • DibdabsDibdabs Member RarePosts: 3,238
    People way overthink why other people choose game characters.  Evidently even professors.
  • TheQuietGamerTheQuietGamer Member Posts: 317

    WOW.  It is a bunch of pixels and I choose the ones that look best.  

    First of all I would say that the questions are leading- i.e. it comes across that having a connection with your avatar is somewhat crazy in the wording of some of the questions.  

    Secondly; I think you might be over-thinking things a little.  People are playing a game- yes, as with every walk of life there will be a minority of people who get too attached and apply human characteristics or personify something wrongly.  People do it with dogs, cars and avatars.  I wonder what it is you are trying to discover because it seems you are after a % of people who exhibit that behaviour.  Now, the knock-on effects of that attachment and the personality types that exhibit it might be interesting.  

    We are hard-wired to see something where there is perhaps nothing- our ancestor who thought he saw a tiger in the grass and runs away is more likely to survive than our 'ancestor' who did not- if and when that odd formation of grass turns out to actually be a tiger- and thus pass on his genes.  It is why that coat in the corner of your room looks like an intruder when you are half awake, and it is why we apply human characteristics to a human looking bunch of pixels.       

     

  • LoktofeitLoktofeit Member RarePosts: 14,247
    Originally posted by TheQuietGamer

    WOW.  It is a bunch of pixels and I choose the ones that look best.  

    First of all I would say that the questions are leading- i.e. it comes across that having a connection with your avatar is somewhat crazy in the wording of some of the questions.  

    Secondly; I think you might be over-thinking things a little.  People are playing a game- yes, as with every walk of life there will be a minority of people who get too attached and apply human characteristics or personify something wrongly.  People do it with dogs, cars and avatars.  I wonder what it is you are trying to discover because it seems you are after a % of people who exhibit that behaviour.  Now, the knock-on effects of that attachment and the personality types that exhibit it might be interesting.  

    We are hard-wired to see something where there is perhaps nothing- our ancestor who thought he saw a tiger in the grass and runs away is more likely to survive than our 'ancestor' who did not- if and when that odd formation of grass turns out to actually be a tiger- and thus pass on his genes.  It is why that coat in the corner of your room looks like an intruder when you are half awake, and it is why we apply human characteristics to a human looking bunch of pixels.       

     

    image Nailed it. :) 

    There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein
    "Graphics are often supplied by Engines that (some) MMORPG's are built in" - Spuffyre

  • QuirhidQuirhid Member UncommonPosts: 6,230

    Well that got weird pretty quick...

    Completed it tho.

    I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been -Wayne Gretzky

  • Cephus404Cephus404 Member CommonPosts: 3,675
    Originally posted by Quirhid

    Well that got weird pretty quick...

    Completed it tho.

    What's weird is that there are plenty of people who really do think that way.  There are a lot of people in the MMO sphere that need professional psychiactric help.

    Played: UO, EQ, WoW, DDO, SWG, AO, CoH, EvE, TR, AoC, GW, GA, Aion, Allods, lots more
    Relatively Recently (Re)Played: HL2 (all), Halo (PC, all), Batman:AA; AC, ME, BS, DA, FO3, DS, Doom (all), LFD1&2, KOTOR, Portal 1&2, Blink, Elder Scrolls (all), lots more
    Now Playing: None
    Hope: None

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