Hi,

This is Pamela Gay from Astronomy Cast. I'm working with Fraser and Phil on a research study to hopefully prove that people are learning while they talk about science in these forums.

To do this study, I need to initially identify 3 long time posters whose posts I and my colleague Dr. Tom Foster (an educational specialist) can look through.

We'll use these first three posters to define a study rubric, and then we'll go back and look at more long time posters.

And don't worry - we'll work to maintain privacy! All information, when published, will have user names removed, and it shouldn't be possible to figure out who we are talking about from the rubric information we present.

If you have any questions - Please ask away! If you have any names to offer, I'm all ears. If you want to talk off board, you can email info at astronomycast dot com.

Thanks!
Pamela

I'm skeptical. Prove it!

Learning... what an abysmal thought.

I certainly must review my participation here.

Learning... Learning? Learning. Hmm...

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Well it seems obvious that people learn when talking about science. Does it really need a study?

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"As truth is gathered, I rearrange,
Inside out, outside in - Perpetual change." - A British rock band

If, as you say, all your going to do is look through our posts, I'm not sure why you even need our permission - they are public submissions on a public board. But, if you are interested, I would be willing to be one of your subjects. If you need anything further from me than my permission, let me know.

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At night the stars put on a show for free (Carole King)

Dr.G. I don't know if I've been around long enough to qualify, but feel free....though I might regret my clowning around at times...(slightly ). Certainly I've learned more than a few things from a lot of people here. Pete.

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A third rate theory forbids
A second rate theory explains after the fact
A first rate theory predicts...A. Lomonosov

What are you going to get out of an n of 3? Why not more?

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The dose makes the poison--Paracelsus (1493-1541) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paracelsus

I don't know. That's why I'm asking--Noclevername

Intelligence may not be clearly defined, but you know stupid when you see it--Noclevername

Science is a way of thinking much more than it is a body of knowledge--Carl Sagan (1934-1996)

I guess I'm a long-timer. There's not much to see, as I'm more of a reader/quipper than a learned answerer. Like Swift, I don't see that you really need my permission to go through my posting history. But for what it's worth, you have it.

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[Dr. Horrible]___________________________[Penny]
Listen close to everybody's heart________And you believe there's good in everybody's heart
And hear that breaking sound_____________Keep it safe and sound
Hopes and dreams are shattering apart____With hope you can do your part
And crashing to the ground_______________To turn a life around

I've been around since late 2002. Feel free to use my posts. If you need anything else, just PM me.

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Some try to tell me, thoughts they cannot defend,... - Moody Blues.

I'm not quite sure I understand the purpose of the OP. Are you looking for long time posters to volunteer for the study?

I am in areement with Argos...just talking about science involves learning something. I just don't know if one can quantify learning from looking at posts on a BB.

I grant noone here any rights, nor permission to read any of my posts, whatsoever.


In fact, you are not allowed to read this one either.

too bad already did, what will you do sue me?

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If it's just us, it seems like an awful waste of space.
Contact Carl Sagan

I guess I'm somewhat of a longtime user (not nearly as much as some though - only a couple of years), though by no means a frequent poster by the standards around here...

As previously said though - the posts are public, but if you're looking for permission, it's fine with me if you look through my posts.

what would interesting is study the differences between mainstreamers and against the mainstreamers.

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If it's just us, it seems like an awful waste of space.
Contact Carl Sagan

As a short-time participant, I wouldn't qualify.

I'm familiar with Dr. Pamela L. Gay and Astronomy Cast, but then again anyone could register as PamelaGay

Therefore, I have to wonder what the admins/mods know about this and/or what they think of it.

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A person's name, or a mark representing it, as signed personally or by deputy, as in subscribing a letter or other document.

Yeah Ive been waiting so see if any Mods or an admin or two would say something here...

Davidplf- you are doomed.

Yeah if could find me.
(there is more then one person in my area with the same firstname+lastname)

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If it's just us, it seems like an awful waste of space.
Contact Carl Sagan

Are you kidding?
I just now noticed that I've been calling you Davidplf when it's actually Davidlpf !

Looking at PamelaGay's previous eleven posts, they indicate she's who she says she is.

So I guess this is a legitimate request.

Nevertheless, since this all public domain, it would appear anyone's posts would be fair game for such a study.

I agree with Paracelsus: n=3 is two shy of being barely enough to establish variance with some kind of significance.

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A person's name, or a mark representing it, as signed personally or by deputy, as in subscribing a letter or other document.

This post of Fraser's, and the other in the topic, nearby one of Pamela's early toe-dips makes me think he's comfortable that the person he knows matches the member name.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with asking permission even if just for a look, and I think it's more ethical for a researcher to do so. Then, too, we do own the copyrights on what we write. If they are copying our works, even if only to record them for analysis, to pass them back and forth, or to transfer them to other media, I'd expect permission to be requested. Nobody might object, but why not just ask and make sure?

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Agreed. My apologies to Dr. Gay for any discomfort or other bad feelings I may have caused.Makes sense. Not only to make sure, but as a professional courtesy.

Therefore, although a short-timer, my posts are available for such a study, although they tend to be based more on the nuts and bolts of astronomy and space exploration rather than the theoretical side. Plus a few attempts at humor now and then.

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A person's name, or a mark representing it, as signed personally or by deputy, as in subscribing a letter or other document.