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sramassini
 Starting Member
9 Posts
Williamsburg, VA
USA
(None)
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 Posted - 07/11/2008 : 11:48 AM
 
Like
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Poll Question:
When searching within the Safety Tips portion of the website, how would you describe the process to locate the information you seek?
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| Results: |
| Very Easy |
[3%] |
1 votes |
| Easy |
[57%] |
21 votes |
| Difficult |
[41%] |
15 votes |
| Very Difficult |
[0%] |
0 votes |
| = Guests |
(6
votes) |
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Poll Status:
Closed »» |
Total Votes: 37 counted »» |
Last Vote:
08/17/2008 8:32 AM |
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twc
Advanced Member
836 Posts
[Mentor]
Fort Collins, CO
USA
Harley-Davidson
Electra Glide Ultra
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Posted - 07/11/2008 : 11:53 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by sramassini
When searching within the Safety Tips portion of the website, how would you describe the process to locate the information you seek?
Steve,
There seems to be a message in your polls. I see that you are a new user to the site (Welcome!), and I wonder if you would share your experiences and perhaps make some recommendations. I've done this in the past and my effort was well-received.
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sramassini
Starting Member
9 Posts
Williamsburg, VA
USA
(None)
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Posted - 07/11/2008 : 12:07 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by twc
quote:
Originally posted by sramassini
When searching within the Safety Tips portion of the website, how would you describe the process to locate the information you seek?
Steve,
There seems to be a message in your polls. I see that you are a new user to the site (Welcome!), and I wonder if you would share your experiences and perhaps make some recommendations. I've done this in the past and my effort was well-received.
Tom,
Thanks for the welcome. I am very new to the website forum and to the world of motorcycle safety. I am a graduate student at Boise State University (online) and I am gathering information on the usability and findability of the Safety Tips portion of the msgroup.org website as a semester project in Human Factors Engineering. The professor, Gary Dickelman, turned me on to the this project. The series of polls is my way of collecting user data/information regarding accessibility and findability of the Safety Tips information in an effort to analyze and recommend to Jim Davis what (if anything) can and/or should be done to make the Safety Tips information more accessible to the individuals seeking it.
As far as motorcycle experience, well, I have none, but my brother is an experienced rider in the Washington DC area and the more accessible Jim's Safety Tips are, the more likely he will be to use them and in turn save his life one day. I know that sounds extreme, but "big city" riding is dangerous from what I gathered as I read through various forums in progress.
Steve |
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Cat-woman
 Standard Member
234 Posts
Radcliff, KY
USA
(None)
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Posted - 07/11/2008 : 12:21 PM
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okay, I had to think about this a bit. Since finding this board and the site in general, I can find information I want/need. Prior to that, I either 1) didn't know how to phrase the search, or 2) had so much unrelated information or stupidity links getting the truth was hard.
Taing that into account, in general I don't think it is easy for someone to just get info off the internet, but finding sites such as this is a Godsend. |
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scottrnelson
Advanced Member
6937 Posts
[Mentor]
Meridian, ID
USA
Honda
XR650L, 790 Adv R
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Posted - 07/11/2008 : 12:42 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by sramassini
I am very new to the website forum and to the world of motorcycle safety. I am a graduate student at Boise State University (online) and I am gathering information on the usability and findability of the Safety Tips portion of the msgroup.org website as a semester project in Human Factors Engineering. The professor, Gary Dickelman, turned me on to the this project.
I guess if I would quit reading posts in bottom to top order, I would have seen this before requesting that you introduce yourself in a note in another poll. Please ignore that.
This is Dickelman's work then, sending you here?
Do we all get to see your results?
Has James R. Davis indicated that he'll follow any of your suggestions?
Oh, and my wife attended Boise State. We occasionally have to watch them beat Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl (from a couple of years ago) when we can't find some other good DVD to watch. But I can't stand to watch one of their home games (blue football field). |
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gymnast
Moderator
4260 Posts
[Mentor]
Meridian, Idaho
USA
Harley-Davidson
Sportster Sport
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Posted - 07/11/2008 : 1:32 PM
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sramasini, if you or Gary are ever on Campus at BSU I would like to have the opportunity to meet you. I think the task you have undertaken is very important. A long time ago I had hoped to do a compendium of the the then available information pertaining to motorcycle safety for my PhD project. I was pushed into another topic and have regretted it ever since (sort of).
The body of information contained in the tips section on this site far exceeds the scope of the project I had envisioned and the widest distribution of the information contained within is, in my opinion, critical to the elevation of the state of the art of motorcycle safety to levels that are appropriate to contemporary needs.
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sramassini
Starting Member
9 Posts
Williamsburg, VA
USA
(None)
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Posted - 07/11/2008 : 2:32 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by gymnast
sramasini, if you or Gary are ever on Campus at BSU I would like to have the opportunity to meet you. I think the task you have undertaken is very important. A long time ago I had hoped to do a compendium of the the then available information pertaining to motorcycle safety for my PhD project. I was pushed into another topic and have regretted it ever since (sort of).
The body of information contained in the tips section on this site far exceeds the scope of the project I had envisioned and the widest distribution of the information contained within is, in my opinion, critical to the elevation of the state of the art of motorcycle safety to levels that are appropriate to contemporary needs.
Gymnast, Thank you for your support of this undertaking. I hope to be in Boise this December for graduation but will have to see whether the work schedule (and finances) will allow. I too feel it appropriate to identify the right structure for creating high visibility for the critical information msgroup.org has to offer the world of motorcyclists.
As December nears I will update you on my potential venture to Boise. |
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twc
Advanced Member
836 Posts
[Mentor]
Fort Collins, CO
USA
Harley-Davidson
Electra Glide Ultra
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Posted - 07/11/2008 : 3:45 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by sramassini
As far as motorcycle experience, well, I have none...
Then I have another recommendation for you: Go take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic Rider Course. If you're going to do substantive work for a motorcycle safety forum, you owe it to yourself to experience motorcycling first hand. Suddenly, you will understand a lot of the discussion and you will gain tremendous insight into how this site might best be used by a beginner.
You don't have to buy a motorcycle, nor do you have to become a motorcyclist, but you should learn the basics.
Motorcycling always begins with a discussion of risk and I won't omit that part: There is some risk that you might find that you enjoy motorcycling.  |
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gdickelman
Advanced Member
1205 Posts
[Mentor]
Annandale, VA
USA
Moto Guzzi
California Vintage
Peer Review:
1
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Posted - 07/11/2008 : 4:00 PM
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Since I have been "outed" let me explain:
James Davis and I have had numerous offline discussions about motorcycle issues. In one conversation he expressed an interest in increasing the usability and improving accessibility of the 240 tips. Coincidentally, I am teaching a BSU grad class in Human Factors Engineer this semester where each student embarks on a real-world problem as a course project.
Knowledge Management is enabled, in part, by Human Factors Engineering and cognitive science in general, hence the accessibility / reachability project for the tips is an excellent endeavor. James has given his blessing for Steve to work on the project. When the semester ends, I will carry on from where Steve leaves off with recommendations and continute to work with James on this important project (...and Steve is cordially invited to continue his participation).
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bachman1961
Advanced Member
2271 Posts
[Mentor]
colorado springs, co
USA
Honda
CB750 NightHawk
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Posted - 07/14/2008 : 2:52 AM
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Somewhere between easy and difficult;
I voted Easy but would have voted Moderate if that were a choice... fyi
~ brian |
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radan2
Advanced Member
1117 Posts
[Mentor]
Jacksonville, NC
USA
Moto Guzzi
2007 Breva V750 ie
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Posted - 07/14/2008 : 4:38 AM
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It might help if the various tips were organized into groups. For instance:
--dealing with specific hazards
--emergencies on a motorcycle
--dealing with other drivers
--methods to increase proficiency
--the motorcycling community
--making yourself more conspicuous while riding
These are just suggestions. No matter what system you decide on, there will be overlap, and you will certainly need certainly need one called Miscellaneous.
Thank you for your effort to improve the site. I am always amazed how much James puts into it. |
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bachman1961
Advanced Member
2271 Posts
[Mentor]
colorado springs, co
USA
Honda
CB750 NightHawk
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Posted - 07/14/2008 : 6:22 AM
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+1 radan2
I'm amazed at how easy it is to search on the net with a keyword or two. If that isn't attainable here, a grouping like this seems like a logical option.
Last week, my wife wanted to make a NASCAR themed cake and needed ideas. She seemed quite impressed when I had the computer screen filled with ideas and images 90 seconds later. Asked how to find all this spot-on info, I confessed; 'typed in the words NASCAR cake ideas' ... 
~brian |
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jbphoto
Starting Member
7 Posts
Belle, West Virginia
USA
Harley-Davidson
FXDB
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Posted - 07/14/2008 : 10:27 AM
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| I've found everything I've looked for by using a "cont." "F" and performing my own search. Works every time. |
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Discussion Topic |
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Safety Tips Findability