The Federal Vampire and Zombie Agency

[stizzorm]

Hi, all,
As my introductory post stated, I'm working on my Master's Thesis. Being into zombies and being a sociologist, I've just put two interests together. So, as we sociologists do, I have to provide evidence for my arguments and hypotheses. In my lit review, I found tons of opinions and lots of unvalidated content analysis. I also found that most academics do not seem to want to validate their "findings." I asked myself, "how do they know the people who watch these movies and read these books pull these messages from the various zombie media?" And, "Why don't these academics bother to analyze interviews with filmmakers, authors, and artists in the field?" Further, even those who had done some work with fans or creators of zombie stuff had not seen fit to do both.

So, that is where I'm trying to make my contribution. In content analysis, validity and reliability are often problems. So, I found people who like the movies and am having them watch and use a framed coding rubric to find what comparisons can be made, and how reliably. I have pored over interviews and film commentaries and hours of "we used this camera filter so Milla would look even better" stuff. And I am also attempting to get data through an online questionnaire of people who go to zombie-themed message boards. So, I would humbly like to ask the admins and forumgoers in general if I might be permitted to post a link to the questionnaire on one of the forums. Everything in it has been approved by my advisor, a specialist in quantitatively-oriented sociology, and the University's Human Subjects Review Board. No identifying data will be collected, none of the information will be used for anything other than my thesis, and if for any reason, a respondent does not feel like completing the questionnaire (hey, I know people are busy), it's absolutely alright. I wanted to ask first because I don't want to be a pushy jerk.

On a side note, this is largely an exploratory study, and I have no ideological axe to grind (and no one telling me to fudge data). I have written papers before where I had to admit where I was wrong and why, and I have no problems admitting I'm wrong if I am in this study.

My research question is "Have zombies experienced a resurgence in popularity merely for their entertainment value, or is their recent popularity linked with the anxieties of the times?"

Thanks for your time, anyone who read this far.

[SGT.Wincal]

I am an admin... and I approve this message.

Vote stizzorm '08.
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[stizzorm]

Thanks, Sgt.
Say, where would be the best place to post the link?

[SGT.Wincal]

In the place titled "Links" would be my suggestion.
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[SGT.Wincal]

BWA HA!!
Just kidding.

Well since it relates to zombies you could post it in either the "Links" section or probably the better choice would just be in the "Zombies" section since "Links" is kind of more for just random shite.
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[chanohack]

what an awesome topic! i would totally write a paper about something along those lines.

[RickyStrange]

I doed it

[stizzorm]

Thanks again, all! I'd love to do my defense on Halloween, it would be too perfect, and with all the help and support I'm getting, it might happen! Thanks again/send a friend if they wouldn't be annoyed.

[Doctor_Bedlam]

Better one honest seeker of knowledge than ten thousand fanboys.

Or trolls.

Or vampire wannabes.

Or spammers.

Or...
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"Know Enough To Be Afraid"
-- motto of Transylvania Polygnostic University