I would like to be able to circulate the survey form itself within a few
weeks, after we've had a chance to think a bit about what it should include
and how it should be analysed. The idea of the survey itself is endorsed
by a number of people, mostly university faculty members. If anyone would
like to add his or her endorsement, please send it to me or to Scott Camp
(q8n@psuvm.psu.edu).
Thanks.
Gary
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 4 Mar 92 00:14 EST
From: NativeNet@gnosys.svle.ma.us
>From: "Scott D. Camp" <PSUVM.PSU.EDU!Q8N>
Subject: Draft of Call for Suggestions
Gary Trujillo has noted on several occassions that it would be useful for all
of us to have some information about each other. To facilitate this process,
we are proposing that we conduct a survey of the readership of the various
mailing lists (e.g., NATIVE-L, NAT-1492, and the native language and native
education lists) that are currently moderated by Gary.
[ Actually, it will be difficult to conduct the discussion on more than one
list, due to the heavily overlapping membership. To make things simpler,
I am distributing this article ONLY to people on the general mailing list,
which most of you know as NATIVE-L, which you receive via TAMVM1. The
survey itself, however, will be conducted in such a way that everyone on
each of the lists has an opportunity to participate. --Gary ]
We are in the planning stage of the survey and are soliciting suggestions. We
would like to hear your opinions about the topics discussed below: 1) Goals of
the Survey, 2) Types of Information Sought, 3) Analysis of the Data, and 4)
Uses of Information and Safeguards Against Abuse. Feel free to be as specific
or as general as you want. We particularly welcome specific suggestions that
will help improve the quality of the survey, the analysis to be performed, or
the protection of the confidentiality of respondents.
[ We would also like to solicit additional questions to be asked. --Gary ]
We also encourage people to volunteer to help with conducting, tabulating, and
reporting the results of the survey.
Suggestions/criticisms can be addressed to the general readership of NATIVE-L
or sent privately to Gary and others working on the survey at the NN.SURVEY
address. [ That's "nn.survey@gnosys.svle.ma.us" ]
It should be noted that the only thing written in stone at this point is that
we will safeguard the identities of those providing information through the
survey. We may decide--through collective decision making of the readership of
NativeNet--to disclose limited portions of the information to the readers of
NativeNet (such as a name database), but this would come ONLY with the
personal consent of those providing data. In other words, people would have to
indicate on the survey that they are willing to have limited information that
can be attributed to them made available to other members of the NativeNet
readership.
Aggregate and individual level data--with any and all personally identifying
information deleted--will be made available to any reader of NativeNet who
requests it.
The section below--Uses of Information and Safeguards Against Abuse--raises
these issues in more detail.
*GOALS OF THE SURVEY*
We believe at the outset that the information provided by a survey could be
useful in several respects. As it stands now, we believe the information could
be used for:
1) constructing a database to enable list members to connect with one another
on common concerns;
2) identifying the needs of the collective readership more accurately to
a) determine interest about given subjects
b) learn about trends involving preferences for/against present features of
the list such as the current mix of information and discussion, the mixing
of subjects from different geographical regions, the distribution of long
articles, and the need for moderation;
3) identifying and implementing features not now available; and
4) identifying those persons who are interested in helping implement various
projects that have long been considered to be important (such as starting a
discussion group for joint readings).
*TYPES OF INFORMATION SOUGHT*
We believe that by having all readers provide information on the topics
discussed below that we will be able to achieve the goals discussed above.
Background Information. We would like to collect information on people's
interests and skills relating to a) language, b) crafts, c) storytelling, d)
music, e) drama, and f) any other areas. In addition, it would be helpful if
we knew who "we" are in terms of demographic data such as a) tribal
affiliation and b) personal data. Regarding personal data, people could
provide information such as name, e-mail address, snail mail address, phone
(fax) number, sex, age, education, and anything else the person would care to
share.
Willingness to Help with Projects. We would like to give everyone the
opportunity to become more involved with the various projects. As such, we
would ask people to identify current, planned, or proposed projects that they
would be willing to assist. Currently, we would ask about interest in becoming
involved with: a) moderating existing lists (such as the NATIVE-L list, the
NAT-1492 list, the language list, the education list, the planned reading
discussion lists, the proposed telecourse lists), b) the Quintectenary
database, c) grassroots networks, d) legal information network, e) Native
studies program network, f) long-distance education efforts, g) Native press
network, and h) Native schools.
Current Involvement and Interest in Native-Centered Actions. We would like to
provide everyone with the opportunity to identify both their current
affiliations with activist groups and their desires to join with others about
specific Native concerns. For example, people could identify their affiliation
with activist organizations, community organizations, schools/tribal colleges,
social/legal service agencies, and substance abuse agencies. Likewise, people
could express a willingness to get more involved with other interested parties
about the prominant issues that have been important on the NATIVE-L list such
as a) James Bay, b) the Lubicon, c) the Mohawk, d) Oldman Dam, e) the Western
Shoshone, f) Big Mountain, g) the Lakota (Wounded Knee), h) Labrador
overflights, i) Leonard Peltier, j) BIA relations, and k) treaty issues. In a
related manner, people could express their interest in discussing general
topics related to land claims/sovereignty, education, substance abuse, Native
spirituality, toxic/nuclear waste dumps, and the arts (portrayls of Native
people, developing new artistic portrayals, Native handicraft, and music).
Issues Relating to NativeNet: We would also like to find out some general
things about how people use NativeNet, how people find out about NativeNet,
and what could be done to increase exposure of others to NativeNet. Also, we
would like to ask for opinions about the current operation of NativeNet.
*ANALYSIS OF THE DATA*
A summary report prepared from the data collected by the survey will be
released via NativeNet. Primarily, the report will provide simple summations
to the individual items in the survey. For example, we will be able to report
how many people have skills relating to storytelling. But also, the data could
be used to provide cross-tabulations that may be of interest to people. For
example, we could compare any (or all) of the individual items along the lines
of Native/non-Native, male/female, etc.
The analysis of data will depend largely upon what others think would be
important to analyze.
It should also be noted that the data set will be made available to anyone
(NativeNet reader, that is) who requests a copy. The only restriction is that
any and all information that could be used to identify individual respondents
will be deleted to protect the confidentiality of the respondents.
*USES OF INFORMATION AND SAFEGUARDS AGAINST ABUSE*
The information provided by respondents to the survey will be held to strict
levels of confidentiality. Any data that contains names or other personally
identifying information will be stored off-line after it has been received.
As noted above, we may decide to release some information that identifies
people and their interests, but this will be done ONLY for people who
expressly consent that this can be done. In no case will the entire response
set provided by a respondent be released to anyone other than the
administrator of the survey.
[ This outline has been endorsed by a number of our members who are
professional academics, both native and non-native. We would also
like to get additional endorsements. The full list of endorsers
will be provided when the actual survey instrument is distributed,
following a period of discussion, lasting from now through 15 May.
I hope we'll be able to distribute the survey instrument itself
within a week following the end of the discussion period, and pro-
vide a couple of weeks for it to be completed and returned. --Gary ]
--
Gary S. Trujillo gst@gnosys.svle.ma.us
Somerville, Massachusetts {wjh12,bu.edu,spdcc,ima,cdp}!gnosys!gst