I would certainly hope that such a "study" would take samples from other sources than FlyerTalk. I can't help but think those of us here on FlyerTalk are a select few which in no way represent an "average" sample of frequent flyers. I'd have to say this would be the place for a study on mile/point obsessed individuals (of which I am one).

Hi again folks

Thanks for the overwhelming response! Bloody fantastic. The next step is constructing the questionnaire. What I'd like to do is get one put on-line, which would make it easier for everyone. I guess what I would have to do is post the website to the forum.

A couple of people bring up some interesting issues above. The population, or universe, issue is one that kind of, but not overly, worries me. My population is really, as someone pointed out (forgot to quote, sorry), people who hang around flyertalk. I won't get a balanced perspective from, say AP Basic members. I'm half-thinking that this is fine. I could just as easily hire a mail panel company administer 20000 questionnaires around the US to a representative pop, but the incidence of capturing some, say, *AG, would be pretty low.

As for representative samples, that would be pretty much impossible from flyertalk.com. I don't know the demographic make-up of the population (those who visit flyertalk), so I wouldn't be able to weight my final sample to the demographics of the population. If anything, it would be a convience/snowball sample as applied to a quantitative study.

So, I'm in Perth for a week and will brainstorm about questions, layout, etc. I'd like to get all of this done by early Spring (northern hemisphere).

Thanks again, team!

Cheers

David

That reminds me of one of my favorite scenes in any movie.

"Abby."
"Abby who?"
"Abby Normal."

And as someone holding a psychology degree who remembers how difficult it was to find subjects for surveys, I'd be more than happy to help out. Besides, I think Kiwis are cool, having met a bunch of you folks last August.

[This message has been edited by mdtony (edited 02-02-2002).]

mdtony: http://www.ladyofthecake.com/mel/frank/yfsounds.htm

DavidNZ: Would be glad to help out.

Count me in too! My bags are packed in case you need to have me come to NZ! You know, to show you my picture ID or something...

Bob

With the number of people who have volunteered to come to New Zealand to help with this (y.t. included), do I see a FlyerTalk gathering coming on? (It's close enough to what some of us do for a living that, if we spent an hour going over the surveys, they might be able to treat it as a business expense.)

sure, I'll help if need be...

David:

I'd like to help you with this project. I have some good ideas on the research methodology, but the e-mail I sent you bounced back.

Is your profile out of date?

Please send me an e-mail.

I hope that you all will also participate in my surveys. Soon the people can vote for the best Airline, Best Airport and all the other issues. I had some problems with Skytrax but they are all beeing solved now.

The site has been approved.
alasta.nl

Thx