Systematic Blockchain Knowledge Survey Among College Students

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Agnostica

[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)

Entity (Incorporated)

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

10

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language

No

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

Conduct a large-scale survey across multiple universities to uncover student attitudes and misconceptions about blockchain/Cardano, building profiles to guide Cardano's future outreach efforts.

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

No

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.”

No dependencies.

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

Yes

[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

• Open Source Repository: All project outputs, including survey tools, data analysis scripts, and educational materials, will be hosted on https://agnostica.global, GitHub and other repositories. This will facilitate easy access, collaboration, and contributions from the community.

• Continuous Availability: The repository will be made available from the beginning of the project, with regular updates as new findings and developments occur. This ensures transparency and allows the community to follow along with our progress and contribute throughout the project's duration.

Distribution of Findings:

• Open Access Publication: We will publish the results of our research in open access journals to ensure that anyone interested can view and utilize our findings without any subscription or payment barriers.
• Community Distribution: In addition to academic publication, we will disseminate our findings through various relevant social media channels and platforms that cater to both the academic and the Cardano communities. This ensures our research reaches a broad audience and engages stakeholders directly involved in or benefiting from decentralized academic publishing.

Additional Resources:

• Educational Materials: Any educational materials developed during the project, such as tutorials or webinars on how to use the survey data or insights for developing decentralized applications on Cardano, will also be released under the same open source license and shared widely across educational and developer platforms

[METADATA] Horizons

Education

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

Our solution is a comprehensive survey to gauge and analyze the awareness, attitudes, and perceptions of blockchain technology and Cardano among a diverse group of university students. Leveraging the network of 150 universities through Washington State University, we will specifically target both computer science and general psychology students.

Survey Objectives:

1. Student Knowledge & Misconceptions: Identify gaps in understanding, common misconceptions, and overall awareness of blockchain, Cardano, and related technologies.
2. Attitude & Interest: Gauge student interest in contributing to blockchain development and understand attitudes toward different aspects of blockchain technology.
3. Student Profiles: Develop detailed profiles to aid Cardano in effective outreach and recruitment efforts.

Expected Outcomes:

1. Research Publication: Produce academic publications highlighting key findings and contributing to blockchain education research.
2. Resource Database: Build an open-access database that Cardano community members can utilize to tailor recruitment strategies.
3. Stronger Institutional Links: Strengthen ties between Cardano, universities, and potential educational partners through collaboration.

Survey Approach:

• Questionnaire Design: Craft thoughtful questions to reveal critical insights, supported by pilot testing for clarity and impact.
• Execution: Deploy surveys across institutions, ensuring diverse participation.
• Analysis & Sharing: Conduct detailed data analysis and share results openly, with strategic recommendations for Cardano’s educational outreach.

By systematically addressing gaps in knowledge, interest, and understanding, our solution lays the groundwork for creating future blockchain experts and innovators within the Cardano community.

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

Our project will yield significant positive impacts on the wider Cardano community:

1. Talent Pipeline Creation: By identifying students interested in blockchain, especially those specializing in computer science, our survey will help cultivate a robust talent pipeline for C
2. ardano. This will enhance the network’s long-term growth and development prospects.
3. Targeted Outreach Strategy: The detailed student profiles will guide Cardano’s recruitment efforts, enabling them to tailor strategies to engage students more effectively. This will ultimately boost participation, diversify contributors, and strengthen community ties.
4. Awareness and Education: By highlighting gaps in knowledge and misconceptions about Cardano, the survey data will inform better educational resources, improving blockchain literacy among university students. This will elevate Cardano's reputation as an innovative and community-focused blockchain network.
5. Research Contributions: Publishing our findings will enhance Cardano’s position as a forward-thinking network, willing to invest in research for better community outcomes. Academic publications will cement Cardano’s reputation as an advocate of blockchain education, attracting partnerships with institutions.
6. Stronger Institutional Partnerships: Our collaboration with universities will solidify Cardano's relationships with academic institutions, creating pathways for deeper integration, shared research, and joint educational initiatives.

These cumulative impacts will not only enrich the Cardano ecosystem but also empower future innovators to take the reins and shape the future of blockchain technology within this inclusive and forward-thinking community.

[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

Our capability to deliver this project with high levels of trust and accountability is grounded in several key strengths:

1. Academic Expertise: Robert, an associate professor at Washington State University, has substantial experience in conducting large-scale surveys and academic research. His established relationships within the academic community will be instrumental in reaching universities and students, ensuring comprehensive data collection.
2. Institutional Support: Our affiliation with Washington State University provides access to robust resources, including secure data collection and analysis tools. This ensures that our survey methodology and results adhere to rigorous academic standards.
3. Team Composition: Our team includes professionals with expertise in survey design, data analysis, blockchain technology, and project management. This multidisciplinary approach ensures that all aspects of the project are covered with precision.
4. Validation of Feasibility:

• Pilot Survey: We will conduct a pilot survey at selected universities to refine our methodology, verify questions, and estimate response rates. The pilot will serve as a feasibility check to ensure smooth scaling to larger populations.
• Engagement Metrics: Monitoring engagement levels and student response rates will help us measure the success of our outreach strategies and refine them as needed.
• Iterative Feedback: By analyzing early responses, we will adjust the survey to eliminate ambiguities, address misconceptions, and ensure that the final survey provides actionable insights.

1. Transparency and Reporting: We will maintain transparency by sharing regular progress updates with the Cardano community, ensuring stakeholders remain informed and confident in our approach.

These factors collectively provide us with the necessary credibility, resources, and methodology to deliver the project efficiently while ensuring high standards of quality and accountability.

[PROJECT MILESTONES] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Milestone 1: Pilot Survey Development and Launch (Month 1-2)

• Milestone outputs:
• Develop a comprehensive survey questionnaire.
• Identify and secure participation from at least five pilot universities.
• Obtain institutional approvals for survey distribution from institutional review board (IRB)and others as required.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• Survey instrument is approved and refined.
• Participation agreements are signed with all pilot universities.
• Evidence of milestone completion:
• Completed instrument and agreements reached.

Milestone 2: Pilot Data Collection and Analysis (Month 2-3)

• Milestone outputs:
• Distribute surveys to pilot universities and collect initial responses.
• Analyze pilot data to identify trends and refine questions.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• Collected data represents diverse responses across different student demographics.
• Finalized survey questionnaire based on pilot feedback.
• Evidence of milestone completion:
• Pilot data collected and survey finalized.

Milestone 3: Full-Scale Survey Distribution (Month 4-6)

• Milestone outputs:
• Expand survey distribution to the remaining targeted universities.
• Coordinate with university contacts to maximize student participation.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• Survey is successfully distributed to all targeted universities.
• Evidence of milestone completion:
• Ongoing data collection

Milestone 4: Comprehensive Data Collection and Analysis (Month 6-8)

• Milestone outputs:
• Collect and process all survey responses.
• Conduct statistical analysis to identify key insights into student knowledge, attitudes, and misconceptions about blockchain and Cardano.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• Achieve a minimum of 1,500 student responses.
• Generate comprehensive data tables and summaries for further analysis.
• Evidence of milestone completion:
• Minimum number of surveys collected, survey closed, analyses begun.

Milestone 5: Reporting and Dissemination (Month 8-10)

• Milestone Outputs:
• Draft an academic publication with findings for open-access journals.
• Create a community report summarizing results, actionable insights, and recruitment profiles.
• Share results with participating universities and the Cardano community.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• Academic publication is submitted for peer review.
• Community report is publicly accessible and shared across Cardano platforms.
• Evidence of milestone completion:
• Publication submitted, all data made publicly available.

Final Milestone: Continuous Engagement and Feedback (Month 10-12)

• Milestone Outputs:
• Host virtual feedback sessions with Cardano developers and universities to discuss the findings.
• Collect input to inform potential follow-up surveys or studies.
• Acceptance Criteria:
• Virtual sessions are conducted, and feedback is documented for potential next steps.
• Evidence of milestone completion:
• Feedback sessions hosted and archived, feedback documented and archived.

[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

• Robert Danielson, PhD: Chief Research Officer & Lead Researcher
• Over 10 years of experience as an educational psychologist.
• Expert in both quantitative and qualitative research methods across various age groups.
• Authored 25+ peer-reviewed publications and secured nearly $2M in research funding.
• Recognized expert in conceptual change education, including a forthcoming book chapter.
• Leads research efforts, designs methodologies, analyzes data, and reports findings.

• Alex James, MA: Chief Executive Officer & Technical Program Manager
• Over 10 years of technical program management experience across multiple sectors.
• Master's degree in qualitative research methodologies.
• Specializes in technology adoption and value realization.
• Blends academic and professional expertise for project execution.
• Oversees program management, instructional design, content development, and advises on qualitative research methods.

[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

1. Survey Design & Planning (15% - 9,000 ADA):
2. Development of the survey instruments.
3. Coordination with university partners to ensure access and collaboration.
4. Research methodology design.
5. Data Collection & Participant Recruitment (25% - 15,000 ADA):
6. Recruiting student participants from psychology and computer science departments.
7. Managing logistics for distribution across 150 universities.
8. Incentives and rewards to encourage participation.
9. Data Analysis & Reporting (25% - 15,000 ADA):
10. Quantitative and qualitative data analysis of survey results.
11. Drafting and preparation of reports and research articles for publication.
12. Collaborating with partners to compile profiles for Cardano and universities.
13. Publication & Community Sharing (15% - 9,000 ADA):
14. Publishing findings in open-access journals and the Cardano community.
15. Sharing the insights and student profiles with the Cardano community and universities.
16. Project Management & Administration (10% - 6,000 ADA):
17. Administrative costs for project coordination and management.
18. Regular progress updates, communication, and quality assurance.
19. Contingency & Miscellaneous (10% - 6,000 ADA):
20. Unforeseen costs or adjustments required during implementation.
21. Buffer to handle unexpected challenges, ensuring project continuity

[VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

The proposed 60,000 ADA budget represents excellent value for money because of the lasting impact and benefits it will bring to the Cardano ecosystem. Here's why:

1. Strategic Insights for Recruitment and Development: The survey will provide critical data about the next generation of developers and innovators, identifying gaps in knowledge and interest levels. This will empower the Cardano community to tailor educational materials and outreach programs to attract and nurture new talent.
2. Strengthening University Partnerships: With collaboration across 150 universities, this project will forge stronger relationships between Cardano and academia. Universities will receive valuable insights about their students' interests and career aspirations, fostering a symbiotic relationship for future partnerships.
3. Open Access Publication: By sharing the research openly, the Cardano community can use the insights for targeted marketing, strategic recruitment, and development plans. Universities will also have access to these profiles for updating their curricula and encouraging students to pursue blockchain education.
4. Expert-Led Execution: The team behind the project is experienced in research methodology and data analysis. With Robert Danielson and Alex James leading the initiative, the research will be conducted with rigor and accuracy, ensuring trustworthy results.
5. Comprehensive Data: The scale of this study ensures that findings will be highly representative and relevant. The data analysis will yield detailed insights into both psychology and computer science students, providing the community with nuanced information.
6. Resource Optimization: Each cost category is optimized to deliver maximum impact without excess. Incentives for students, data collection logistics, and reporting are all carefully budgeted to ensure efficient spending.