diversity
I think a survey is a good idea too. But keep in mind that this is a VERY well-studied topic and we are unlikely to discover anything new.
- http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2005/How-Women-and-Men-Use-the-Internet.aspx?r=1
- http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-12/30/content_507952.htm
- http://www.financialexpress.com/news/men-want-facts-women-seek-relations-on-web/71445/0
According to a 2005 study, men are more "actors" and women are more "interacters" online. But even in the interaction space, Women are different. Women like to use the internet to interact with family, friends, and colleagues. Men interact too, but more with "special interest groups". (I guess that would include Wikimedia, since we're not family or face-to-face friends.)
There's some more recent stuff, since the eruption of social networking.
- http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YEGSMrZv-qs/S2HBVGIzyEI/AAAAAAAABh0/OPVNEttJVdc/s1600-h/UK+women+internet+users2.gif
- http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2565/4138193854_289d814ae6_o.png
This one is more of the same... although an interesting/promising factoid is that UK women create more content. I wonder what kind of content that is, and if it's compatible with Wikimedia's vision?
A survey couldn't hurt, but it almost isn't necessary. There is a TON of literature out there about this topic.
There's a lot of research we could datamine. Not having read it my question would be, upon reviewing it, does it target our area of interest as outlined in my previous post?
I suspect they would give a lot of useful background, many answers, and inform our survey of areas to focus on, or questions that are already well answered elsewhere by specialist studies - but they wouldn't replace it. Our focus is quite specific.
More allready existing information on the topic. Have not read it myself, but thought I better link to it from here as there seems to be quite a lot of interest around this topic and someone might be interested in digging into it.