Politech mailing list archives
FC: Net survey highlighted in NYT derided as junk science
From: Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>
Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2000 09:34:50 -0500
We had our own take on it: http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,34387,00.html An exhaustive survey conducted by the esteemed Stanford University reveals that people who spend time on the Net spend less time with humans. Jon Rochmis found an equally astonishing, if not actual, study.
From: Adam Powell <apowell () freedomforum org> To: "'declan () well com'" <declan () well com> Subject: Net survey derided as junk science Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2000 09:18:53 -0500 Just because it's on p.1 of the NY Times doesn't mean it's true. I'm glad I wrote it the way I did (see lead item at http://www.freedomforum.org/press/presswatch.asp) FEBRUARY 17, 05:11 EST Internet Survey Criticized By RON HARRIS Associated Press Writer SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A new study which shows increased Internet use causes decreased face-to-face social interaction was roundly criticized by detractors as non-science. ``Presenting it as a scientific study is a bit of a reach. It's preliminary work and it doesn't tell us much,'' said Howard Fienberg, a research analyst with the Statistical Assessment Service in Washington, D.C. The study was released Wednesday by researchers at the Institute for the Quantitative Study of Society. It surveyed 4,113 American adults in 2,689 households. Respondents were provided with free Internet access and WebTV connections to facilitate the survey. The study found that too much time on the Internet makes some people reclusive and less likely to interact with people face to face.
...
Fienberg suggested a more random selection of survey respondents studied over a longer period of time would produce more accurate indicators of Internet use and social effects. The study prompted author and Internet use expert Jakob Nielsen to question its designers' definitions of human contact. Nielsen said the definition should include Internet-based environments such as chat rooms, message boards and e-mail. Nielsen said concepts of contact used in the
... -------------------------------------------------------------------------- POLITECH -- the moderated mailing list of politics and technology To subscribe: send a message to majordomo () vorlon mit edu with this text: subscribe politech More information is at http://www.well.com/~declan/politech/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current thread:
- FC: Net survey highlighted in NYT derided as junk science Declan McCullagh (Feb 17)