Some interesting stats

I went on a hunt today for some statistical information on Theatre Australia. What was I looking for? Some correlation between people who post "I'm 12 and want a job" threads, their lack of response/replies to their own threads, and the relationship between the quality of their post and their replies/lack of. First, I need to make clear that the statistics are:

• generalised, since there are obvious irregularities (to be explained later)
• incomplete, since many users' information did not fully transfer between old and new Theatre Aus. sites
• Taken from a small sample of new threads (18 in total), of which ALL users had registered, and does NOT include any threads by Walter Plinges - because WPs are anonymous, there is no way to track their visits over a period of time
• Threads were taken from the last five pages of recent posts, as well as a small percentage which are from the past few years.

It should also be made clear that I have used PUBLICLY AVAILABLE information about users visits and postings. I do not use names here or single anyone out to keep their privacy, although as I said, it's publicly available to those willing to search. Here are the conclusions. Of all the users, the ONES MOST LIKELY TO RETURN, and view or post to other threads on a different day than their original posting are:

• The ones who (either or in combination) write clearly, offer a great deal of information about themselves (ie. their experience, skills, or facial/body features), and state where they are and what type of roles they are interested in. These people are also more likely to reply to their own original thread about seeking work, and also view threads which were mentioned in advice given or which might be relevant to them (auditions postings, etc). They are more likely to have filled out their profile completely.

Of all the users, the ONES LEAST LIKELY TO RETURN, and view or post to other threads on a different day than their original posting are:

• The ones who (either or in combination) do not write clearly, offer little information, write perhaps one or two sentences, add information not related to their question/search for work, offer no information about their location or their skills, and provide very little information on their profile or have irrelevant information listed there. They are the least likely to reply to their own threads, view relevant threads mentioned in the advice, or view any other page at all.

Of all the users, the ONES IN THE MIDDLE are members who post a new thread, perhaps post to one or two other threads, view a few pages, but in general do not actively do much. They mostly have information on their profile, which is relevant, and when they add their "work wanted" thread, they do provide relevant information in clear English. However, they provide little information, but it rates better than the ones least likely to return. Interestingly, I came across this old thread, which sums things up as to why some people don't return: http://www.theatre.asn.au/node/9090 (This thread suggests further that the better the information is provided to us regulars by the new member, the better/more courteously/more helpfully we reply; which then encourages the new member to spend more time on the site) Of course, there are anomalies, like a member who is in the least likely category who comes back and posts to other threads. Generally speaking though, this too is poorly written and infrequent. The above will not come as a surprise to anyone, but I thought no one would have actually looked into the correlation (between adding a new "work wanted" thread and the quality/quantity of further postings) before. If anyone wants to follow up on this statistical analysis, let me know. It's a small sample, which makes the stats not particularly reliable. (Then again, if it comes as no surprise, the stats might be more accurate than I realise!)