Calling UK Habbos!

[Scotland]

Would you be interested in sharing your views on the Habbo Hotel experience by taking part in a research project funded by the British Academy/Leverhulme?
If you are aged 13-18, live in or around Newcastle upon Tyne,Sunderland, Durham City, Darlington,
Hartlepool or Middlesbrough and would like to help our research please
email: [email protected] with your name, age and how long you have
been a Habbo. You will receive full details of the project and how to
take part. All information you supply is confidential.





http://www.habbo.com/articles/3073-calling-uk-habbos

[Hannah]

It's a bit area specific, is it not?
It seems a bit weird that they haven't opened it to everyone, rather than just the specific areas in the UK.

[sex]

probably studying poor northerners habbo habits

[Aiden]

well that dont apply to me :L

[Hidden]

Will be good to get UK opinion, shame it's only 13-18 even tho I don't live there.

[Plebings]

lol brb booking train tickets to darlington.

oh crap i'm too old..

[e5]

Wouldn't do it even if u lived in Newcastle lol. Cool tho

[Inseriousity.]

woo go boro. too old lol

[Becka]

Im not english oops

[Cassiieee]

Well, I can't do it. ):

[Hidden]

They are doing an online survey in april/may for everybody.

[lRhyss]

I'm 18 and live in Newcastle but It seems to sketchy :S

Although I will take part to let you all know what it's about :)

[lRhyss]

***UPDATE***



Just receieved this email back after sending mine off:

"Hi Rhyss,

Good to hear from you. Thanks for your interest in our research project. Please find attached an Information Statement for the project.

If you are interested in taking part in addition to your age you will need to supply your address, phone number and some alternative times when it is convenient for me to ring you to arrange a convenient time for the interview.

If you have any other queries I will be happy to answer them.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Janet Ward (Habbo: Ponytail)

Dr Janet Ward
Visiting Research Fellow,
Hanken School of Economics"

Attached:

"Information Statement
Comparing teen user participation styles in virtual social worlds in the UK and Finland

You are invited to participate in this project funded by a British Academy/ Leverhulme Research Award, which is being conducted by Dr Janet Ward and Dr Johanna Gummerus based at Hanken School of Economics, Finland.

Why is the research being done?
This research aims to compare UK and Finnish teenager’s experience of virtual worlds/social games such as Habbo Hotel. We wish to understand how using virtual worlds fit in with teenagers life styles. In addition, we want to understand the activities teenagers take part in within Habbo Hotel.

Who can participate in the research?
We are seeking young people from 16 yrs and older with at least one year’s continuous use of Habbo Hotel to participate in this research. If you are aged 15 or under you may take part with permission from a parent or guardian.

Participation in this research is voluntary
Participation in this research is entirely your choice. Only those teenagers who give their informed
consent will be included in the project. If you do decide to participate, you may withdraw from the interview at any time without giving a reason.

What would you be asked to do?
If you agree to participate, you will be asked to take part in a face to face interview at your home address. After some initial questions we will ask you to log to Habbo Hotel and show us around your favourite places. There will be some further questions, after this.

For teenagers aged 15 years and under, parents must first sign a consent form. Additionally it is expected that there will be an adult within the premises during the whole of the interview period. They are not required to be present at the interview.

How much time will it take?
We expect the interview will take between 1 and 1.5 hours. You may take a break or refreshment at anytime.

What are the risks and benefits of participating?
There are no known risks associated with participation in this research. You may also request a summary of the results of this project. Please note this will be supplied after the final report has been submitted to the British Academy in November 2014.

How will your privacy be protected?
Our work complies with the ethical standards set by Hanken School of Economics, Finland. Additionally we comply with the UK Market Research Society (MRS), Children and Young People Research Guidelines, 23/2/2012.
This means that everything you tell us is confidential. All research information is kept securely and your name changed to provide anonymity.

How will the information collected be used?
The results will be presented in journal publications and at appropriate conferences. An executive summary will be supplied to the Habbo Hotel. Individual participants will not be identified in any reports arising from this project.

What do you need to do to participate?
Please read this Information Statement and be sure you understand its contents before signing the consent form

Funding /Complaints about this research
The research is part of an independent research project funded by the UK British Academy/ Leverhulme Research Project .

If you have concerns about your rights as a participant in this research or you have a complaint
about the manner in which the research is conducted, you may raise these issues with the researcher Dr Janet Ward. Alternatively, if a person not involved in the research process is preferred, please address your comments to Prof Maria Holmlund, Head of Department of Marketing, Hanken School of Economics. Email address: [email protected] ([email protected])

Further information
If you would like to participate, please e-mail Janet Ward at [email protected] ([email protected])

Thank you for your interest
"


This seems ******* weird

[Hidden]

Yeah I already done that just to see what it was about, but can't take part, nor would I ever let a Habbo discussion happen in my house.

[lRhyss]

Yeah I already done that just to see what it was about, but can't take part, nor would I ever let a Habbo discussion happen in my house.

I really don't want them in my flat, I don't want my friends to know I play Habbo, That's not cool at all :P:P

I'd consider it if I could take my laptop to Starbucks or something...

[Bankai90]

That's some thorough research they conduct. Especially it relates to real life. Weird.

[Daltron]

I think this is a really good initiative as it will allow Sulake to grasp a real direction for where Habbo should be going in the coming years.

I just hope the first stop for Habbos in these research interviews is not the 24/7 Smexy Dance Club.

[Michael]

Sounds interesting, this is a big chance for anyone who lives in those areas to really put their thoughts forward on Habbo because I guess whatever the outcome is will be fed back to Sulake

[Jazz]

Thats quite interesting, be nice to see the results of the research

[lRhyss]

I think this is a really good initiative as it will allow Sulake to grasp a real direction for where Habbo should be going in the coming years.

I just hope the first stop for Habbos in these research interviews is not the 24/7 Smexy Dance Club.


I'm going to go ahead with this and that's exactly where I'm going to take them.

No but seriously. I wouldn't want to take them to arcades/casinos because I can guarantee that the research will then lead to something like "Habbo promoting gambling at a young age, teens addicted" and then Hbabo will disable dice and ban the rooms :/

If I take them to a hangout I can guarantee that something will happen and they will go all Channel 4 on the situation

18+ Rooms consist of "Cool, where you from" - again making people look like pedos...

Game rooms, they may see scamming if noobs are hosting, or even bullying...

Might take them to a death run, and watch me rage... That would be fun :/

[Tyler]

Ok... They go to your own house and watch you play habbo.

[Daltron]

No but seriously. I wouldn't want to take them to arcades/casinos because I can guarantee that the research will then lead to something like "Habbo promoting gambling at a young age, teens addicted" and then Hbabo will disable dice and ban the rooms :/

If I take them to a hangout I can guarantee that something will happen and they will go all Channel 4 on the situation

18+ Rooms consist of "Cool, where you from" - again making people look like pedos...

Game rooms, they may see scamming if noobs are hosting, or even bullying...

Might take them to a death run, and watch me rage... That would be fun :/

I am pretty sure this research is internal, they won't bring anything illegal to the public spectrum, they will subliminally make it more prominent to profit from it.

[lRhyss]

I am pretty sure this research is internal, they won't bring anything illegal to the public spectrum, they will subliminally make it more prominent to profit from it.

I know but, what if something does become of it? Imagine being one of the Habbo's that stopped casinos and caused a hotel mute again :P

[Inseriousity.]

Quite an intrusive research project. That's not to say it's dodgy or anything but research methods are carefully planned out before any research and it just seems a little bizarre given the subject matter to invite people into your house and have them observe you playing Habbo when it could've easily been done over Habbo or something like Skype.

[Tyler]

Well mine just came....

Dear Tyler,

Good to hear from you.Thanks for your interest in our research
project. Please find attached an Information Statement and
Registration Form for the project.

As you will see in the form as you are aged 15 or under we require
parental/guardian consent to interview you. I have attached a
registration form for your parent or guardian to fill in and return if
they are happy to give consent having read the Information Statement.
If they return the form I will then phone them to arrange a convenient
meeting time for the interview. Please note that I live about 1 hour
away from York.

If you or your parent/guardian have any other queries I will be happy
to answer them.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Janet Ward (Habbo: Ponytail)

Dr Janet Ward
Visiting Research Fellow,
Hanken School of Economics

[lRhyss]

Quite an intrusive research project. That's not to say it's dodgy or anything but research methods are carefully planned out before any research and it just seems a little bizarre given the subject matter to invite people into your house and have them observe you playing Habbo when it could've easily been done over Habbo or something like Skype.

Definitly some sort of weird fettish going on here.

I replied and asked if I could do mine over Skype/Teamviewer on a high speed internet connection :/

[ReallyOkay]

Seems like a huge waste of time to me. Habbo isn't even doing anything innovative or exciting in the virtual world market. The experience people have in game has literally not changed since 2010 when wired was introduced. Unless you count removing social features, which isn't progressive at all. Best of luck to Janet tho, have fun going house to house.

[Stadiums]

I replied about it but when I found out that she had to come to your house I thought maybe not..

[Yawn]

wtf.....y only northerners im rly worried now they will **** up the hotel for the rest of us

[Michael]

this reminds me of yurre - did anything ever come from her?

[Hidden]

I doubt they would enjoy watching me play Habbo, I just switch browser and listen to kelly clarkson/loreen/allsaints/tatu on repeat laugh at idiots trying hard and insult puma