Gaiscioch Magazine Issue 1 | Page 65

Hello Gaiscíoch Family! My name is Michael Perez (Balry.9450). I am an anthropology graduate student at Florida Atlantic University (FAU). When I first found the Gaiscíoch family I immediately realized that this is the gaming community I had been looking for all these years. I also saw a unique opportunity to work with a very special and valuable community for my M.A. thesis project. I mentioned my project a couple months back, but I do not expect any of you to remember it because, as some of you may know, the academic process can be rigorous and slow. This is why I am just finalizing the last details with my faculty thesis committee and the Institutional Review Board (IRB), who make sure all procedures and aims of my research study are ethical and academically grounded. By this summer, I should be able to implement my research with the cooperation of the Gaiscíoch members and leaders. This is not a call for volunteers just yet; I simply wanted to update everyone in the community about my project. Below is a brief summary of my goals as well as some ethical concerns you may have: This anthropology research study aims to determine the elements that make the Gaiscíoch family a successful community and to expand the understanding of the border between the virtual and physical space. To achieve this I plan on interviewing members of the community as well as posting a survey, but do not worry all information will be kept anonymous, confidential, and secure. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me in-game Balry.9450, via email mperez89@ fau.edu or [email protected], or via phone (954) 588-3296. You may also take a look at my research profile located on: http://www.fau.edu/anthro/ResearchProfiles.php Thank you for reading. Happy hunting! 65