MobileRead's 10 best fiction: Survey [Discussion]

[Apache]

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

I do apologise, although I will console myself with the knowledge that you won't remember this tomorrow

I will remember this tomorrow. I will remember it until July when I actually turn 59.
Apache

[Dazrin]

The current categories look pretty good to me, especially given the constraints. It would always be nice to add some additional genres or options but no point getting too detailed.

[hildea]

As a European, I feel that Russia and the rest of Europe are quite different (different history and culture, which might lead to difference in book tastes), and would like them to be separate choices.

My first choice for a category to sacrifice to make room for Russia would be one of those for age, but that has already been discussed a bit. What about removing "Primary language: Other"? Since there are only two options for primary language, and (I assume?) we'll see the total number of replies, it's easy to calculate that number.

Also, for education, could you add a brief description?
Primary = the first 9-10 years education?
Secondary = 2-4 years after primary, either vocational or preparing for further education?
Bachelor's degree = x years additional education after secondary?
Post-grad qualification = y years additional education after bachelor's?

After a bit of searching I think bachelor's is only used for university education? Or is it meant to cover all education of that length, both at universities and other kinds of schools?

[pdurrant]

I've added brief descriptions to the education categories.

Originally Posted by hildea

As a European, I feel that Russia and the rest of Europe are quite different (different history and culture, which might lead to difference in book tastes), and would like them to be separate choices.

My first choice for a category to sacrifice to make room for Russia would be one of those for age, but that has already been discussed a bit. What about removing "Primary language: Other"? Since there are only two options for primary language, and (I assume?) we'll see the total number of replies, it's easy to calculate that number.

Also, for education, could you add a brief description?
Primary = the first 9-10 years education?
Secondary = 2-4 years after primary, either vocational or preparing for further education?
Bachelor's degree = x years additional education after secondary?
Post-grad qualification = y years additional education after bachelor's?

After a bit of searching I think bachelor's is only used for university education? Or is it meant to cover all education of that length, both at universities and other kinds of schools?

In the US at least primary education is grades K to 12. Secondary education is everything beyond that. Bachelor's degrees are traditionally for 4 years of college. Then there are general advanced degrees (Masters, Doctorates) as well as professional degrees, eg MD.

[hildea]

Thanks, with the added descriptions the education alternatives are much more clear :-)

Anyone else who agree with me about Russia/Rest of Europe?

[Zetmolm]

Originally Posted by hildea

Anyone else who agree with me about Russia/Rest of Europe?

There is no point in treating Europe, with or without Russia, as a single category. Book tastes are quite different per country. E.g. in the current bestseller list in the Netherlands, 6 out of the top 10 books are by Dutch authors that are not read anywhere else in the world (and that is not because they're worse than authors from other parts of the world - we have some great writers!). Even between the Netherlands and the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium book tastes are quite different even though we share the language.

[Lynx-lynx]

I share the concern about lumping all sorts of disparate countries into one geographic name, and Australasia is another example, because I suspect it means Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea and the South Pacific.

But, because there are only 30 questions that the poll can ask it's very tricky as to how to display country/region.

On the other hand, I don't know how many Russians there are on MR, nor how many of them may vote. Perhaps it's very low?

[Dazrin]

I believe the idea was to give "English is the primary language" countries more priority than other countries since this is mainly an English speaking forum and there are only 30 options to work with. Certainly there are large differences between (and within) all the languages here but I think this seems like a reasonable compromise.

[History]

+1

To me Asia has four parts:

Indian subcontinent (English is the official language + Bollywood)
Chinese Japan Korean Vietnam (Confucius + chopsticks)
Middle East (too scared to put anything here, just in case my English is not good enough)
Other Asian (sorry I do not know much about them)

Originally Posted by pdurrant

To my mind, Asia consists of the 'stans from Kazakhstan down to Pakistan and then India, Nepal and Bangladesh. While technically also Asia, I could China, the Koreas, Japan and the countries down from China to Indonesia as the Far East.

It would seem a little odd to group India (1billion+, the worlds largest democracy) and China (1 billion+, the world's largest totalitarian regime).

It's weird enough lumping China, the Koreas and Japan together.

[hildea]

We could do this survey in google forms or somewhere else that allows more than 30 alternatives. (Nope, I don't volunteer -- just throwing the idea out there and hoping someone else does :-)

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by hildea

We could do this survey in google forms or somewhere else that allows more than 30 alternatives. (Nope, I don't volunteer -- just throwing the idea out there and hoping someone else does :-)

I thin the response rate elsewhere would be lower than a thread here. But if anyone wants to do a more detailed survey, I'll add a link at appropriate points.

[pdurrant]

Any more comments before I make the poll?