Survey: Community Opinions Regarding Parsing/Parsers in Final Fantasy XIV

[HyoMinPark]

DISCLAIMER: In no way do I think this survey will yield largely representative results. I am doing it more so because I am curious, and I want to see what kind of responses I get out of it.

Hello, everyone~. Hyomin Park from Cactuar here~. o/

I know that this topic has been beaten to death at this point, but since there has been an increase in discussions regarding parsing and parser usage in this game as of late, I was really curious about getting some numerical data with regards to the community's opinions on the matter. This discussion comes up a lot, but there have been very few efforts to actually gather and organize quantifiable data with regards to it. Understandable, since such could be a potentially huge and time-consuming commitment, but, for whatever reason, something has possessed me to attempt to do just that. If, for nothing more, than my own idle curiosity.

While I know that there was already a post similar to this in the past, I thought that a survey would probably be a much better option with regards to collecting data as opposed to the "collecting likes" data collection that occurred in the aforementioned post (not trying to knock the OP of that thread with regards to his method though; it was a very interesting discussion thread that I enjoyed participating in ^^). Plus, I had some curiosities regarding different demographics with regards to opinions on parsers (i.e., do all "pro-parsers" share similar experiences/mindsets, do all "anti-parsers" share similar experiences/mindsets, and what about those who are indifferent or unsure).

My general idea was to create a survey that started off by asking a participant's stance when it comes to parsing and parser usage in this game. After the initial question was answered (I am going to refer to this question as the "Foundation Question" from hereon out), the survey would then jump to a series of questions relating to that stance in an attempt for me to try and collect quantitative data on the "why" in regards to it. I wanted to create a singular, flowing survey to collect this data for analysis.
However, due to the limitations of certain survey websites (i.e., you have to pay money to use the special shiny features), I have had to create a "series" of surveys in order to research this information. I hope that it is not too convoluted for those who choose to participate.

--

The Purpose

The purpose of these surveys was for me to attempt to collect quantifiable data regarding community opinions on parsing, and to collect the data in such a way so that it is easier to analyze. The purpose is not just another generic "Do you want a parser, yes or no" topic, and while everyone is more than welcome to comment and elaborate on their stances if they so choose, I urge everyone who clicks on this thread to answer the survey first. It's much easier to take survey answers and analyze them than it is to read through several pages of comments/debating. :3

That being said, this survey is entirely optional. There is no benefit or consequence to answering or not answering said survey, and it is purely for extracurricular research (i.e., not part of any sort of school project, but something born from idle curiosity and a desire for some "hard numbers"). If there is enough attraction, I do plan to organize and share the results. All participants are, of course, going to remain anonymous. I do plan to have this survey posted here and on Reddit.

DISCLAIMER: In no way do I think this survey will yield largely representative results. I am doing it more so because I am curious, and I want to see what kind of responses I get out of it.

--

The Format

In total, there are 5 surveys. However, participants are asked to only fill out two of them.

The first survey is the "Foundation Question", which will serve as a basis for the research, and will dictate the second survey participants will answer. (Ideally, this was where the survey should have been one comprehensive survey, and participants would be redirected to the page that was applicable to their answer to the Foundation Question, but such features are paid/premium features of survey websites).

The first survey is comprised of a single question.
The second survey is comprised of 12 questions.

In all, both should take no more than 10~15 minutes of participants' time to answer.

Please, if you have filled out this survey before, do not fill it out again. I am hoping to minimize the overlap from linking it both here and on FFXIV's subreddit.

--

The Results

I am hoping to collect results over an initial period of 2~3 weeks (so, up until the launch of Patch 4.2). If there is enough traffic/interest, I may leave the surveys up and open for more data collection after Patch 4.2's launch.

I do plan to organize and share the data I collect. If I leave the surveys open for longer than 2~3 weeks, then I will try to post periodical updates (my current plan is monthly updates, if I go with this; it will all be dependent on the time I can dedicate to this project and the traffic my surveys receive). I plan to organize data in tables and/or spreadsheets. All results will be posted in an edit to the opening post for easy access.

And, one more time:
DISCLAIMER: In no way do I think this survey will yield largely representative results. I am doing it more so because I am curious, and I want to see what kind of responses I get out of it.


I feel like I'm being very verbose and/or probably rambling at this point...
So, without further delay...

--

The Surveys

Please answer The Foundation Question survey first. It is the "Part One" of this "series" of surveys. Afterwards, please select the applicable "Part Two" survey based off of your answer to The Foundation Question survey (e.g., if you answered "I am for parsing/parsers in FFXIV (I am "pro-parser") for the Foundation Question, then please move on to the Questions for those who are "pro-parser" survey).

These surveys were made with Google Forms, and do not require the creation/usage of a Google Account to answer. All answers are anonymous.

If there are any issues with them, please do let me know and I will try to get them fixed. ^^

Part One
The "Foundation Question" (answer this survey first!)

Part Two
Questions for those who are "pro-parser"
Questions for those who are "anti-parser"
Questions for those who are indifferent
Questions for those who are unsure

--

Survey Results

TBA


Updates:
2018.01.15 Update—

I want to take a moment to thank everyone for their responses thus far! It’s been almost a full week since I’ve posted this survey, and I’ve almost garnered 1,100 responses to it! ^^ Thank you guys so much! I also appreciate how the discussion in the thread has remained extremely civil between everyone. :3 The survey will remain up for one more week, and then I will take it down and start compiling the data, and getting a document prepared for everyone.

There will be two documents: one is a “tl;dr” version with just the tables/graphs, along with some brief comments, and the other will be a more in-depth talk about the data, along with my thoughts and analysis on everything. :3

Again, I really want to thank everyone that came out to respond to the survey. You guys are all great. ^^

2018.01.23 Update--

Hello everyone~. I just want to let everyone know that I will be taking the surveys down tonight at 11:59pm CST (9:59pm PST) so that I can get to work on compiling and analyzing all the data. ^^ I want to thank everyone again who participated in it!

[Deithwen]

I've been reading a lot of your posts for the past weeks as they were related to topics I was following, most of them related to parsing and player's behavior in general.

I have to say that they were all very well constructed and interesting to read, and I feel we agree on many points.

Now I see that you took the effort to make this amazing thread, very easy to read, with all the polls that concern every type of player.


I hope your efforts won't go unnoticed and it actually leads to in game improvements !

[Sebazy]

Looking forward to the results and I honestly hope a good number of people put forth their opinions even if they don't match up with mine.

Good stuff <3

[Paladinleeds]

I've filled out the survey for you. Hope my responses helped. I tried to be as honest as possible.

[SilverObi]

Gave my answers, looking forward to the results (am a bit burnt out on the parser arguments though even if I do support their intended purpose) (x.x)b

[StarRosie]

So, I gave my answers, gave them as honestly as I could. However, I have a concern when it comes to the validity of the results, since it seems there is no system in place to prevent...for lack of a better term, ballot stuffing.

After submitting my answers, I was able to just reopen the surveys and was completely capable of answering as a new user. So, how are we going to sort out possible attempts to sway the results in certain directions? Please keep in mind, I do not ask this to be antagonistic. I'm asking because I do want to see a survey like this, put out an honest and possibly definitive answer on this question that we can point back to in future threads, whether it ends up for or against the parsers.

[AnimaAnimus]

I really do not know how to give appropriate answers to your questions.

While I am pro-parser I also do not raid, not because I do not like raiding but because FFXIV doesn't have raids, it just has scripted one-shot bosses. Almost like if they stripped away all content outside bcnm in ffxi. And in 24 mans they just put a little running in between to make it feel more like a raid while just being 3 bosses and done. They could literally just make one pop after the other and get the same effect.

So while I am pro-parser I also don't feel XIV needs one necessarily. I am just confused about the hub bub about their being a need with a game that is as lite on top as ffxiv is outside of being able to say "I'm top parse".

A 'fill in the blank" or comments area would have been great in these for this reason.

[HyoMinPark]

So, I gave my answers, gave them as honestly as I could. However, I have a concern when it comes to the validity of the results, since it seems there is no system in place to prevent...for lack of a better term, ballot stuffing.

This was something I considered while making it. I do believe there is a way to prevent people from answering multiple times, but I'm fairly certain it involves requiring a Google Account to sign in and answer the survey, which has the possibility of deterring survey takers and not giving me a decent-sized enough pool to make a decent analysis.
Plus, the potential for ballot stuffing would still be present, since users can make many accounts free of charge, although the chances would be hopefully be lower if there were "hoops" to jump through. I am really hoping that, as naive as it sounds, people will opt to not do that, but I do share your concerns regarding such, because I know people have ill intentions sometimes.

The purpose of this research was my curiosity about quantifiable numbers. I am not intending it to be something malicious, and I hope that others will have the same amount of respect towards my survey that I would have towards them and their answer (which, is to say, a lot).

[StarRosie]

-snip-

Fair enough, it is a rather difficult thing to work around. I do not believe having faith in people to do the right thing is naive, so don't hit yourself like that. I think it's a good belief to have. I guess for now the only option is to wait and see how it turns out.

But overall, I do not think you have malicious intent with this, out of everyone I've seen in regards to this discussion, you seem the most level headed. So I have faith that this is for a good cause.

[VanilleFang]

Done and done.

I am not a raider but I like to use parsers for myself.