veale.com.au/phd  The Internet Genealogy Community Study

  • Home • Documents • Survey • Publications • Blog •

 • phd • genealogy

IGCS Survey

Part 1 of the data collection effort for my PhD study was a six month, international, and online survey of genealogists. 

The IGCS survey was administered via the World Wide Web on 3rd December 2004 and closed 15th May 2005.  A copy of the information sheet for this survey is available online.  The survey is now CLOSED.

7,611 people responded to the survey, consisting of 146 questions. Out of the total number of responses received, 5,724 were selected for data analysis; 1,855 respondents either failed to start or complete the survey beyond the initial qualifying questions, and 32 respondents selected a residential country outside of the target population for the study.  In both instances, these responses were disregarded.

Methodology

Recruitment

The first wave of participants were recruited on 3rd December 2004 via a direct e-mail campaign to previously identified parties, and an entry in the IGCS blog.

Secondly, participants were recruited by an article appearing in the online newsletter Ancestry Daily News on 14th December 2004.

In the third wave released 17th February 2005 , participants were recruited via the co-operation of up to 1,600 genealogy societies from around the world, by the internal forwarding of an e-mail invitation to their member e-mail lists and/or society meetings and newsletters.

A final wave on 12th April 2005 consisted of an invitation posted to the ROOTS-L and GEN-NEWBIE mailing lists, as these lists were identified as forums for discussing 'everything about genealogy' and also technology and genealogy.

Participation in the study was completely voluntary and no monetary incentives were offered.

Participants

The majority of participants were female (71%), and married (71%), and over 60% of all respondents fall into the 45 - 64 age bracket.

Survey Development

The IGCS survey was built using  a free license under the Research Sponsorship Program of Question Pro.  QuestionPro Online Survey Software employs an easy to use Wizard interface to author and deploy Web Based and Email Surveys. No knowledge of HTML or programming is required. A comprehensive suite of analysis tools, ranging from Simple Frequency to TURF to Conjoint, are also provided for data analysis. In addition, QuestionPro Web Survey Software provides seamless integration with SPSS and Microsoft Office products.

QuestionPro Online Surveys also licenses its software free to Students and Researchers in the academic community. The projects have to be strictly academic in nature and should not be part of any other funded research or consulting.

The views expressed on this website are those of the author and do not reflect the views and opinions of Curtin University. Site best viewed in 1024x768 resolution.

© 2004-2008 Kylie Veale
Last updated Friday, 07. March 2008