Survey of MASwheat users and site support
MASwheat users were asked to voluntarily show the uses they gave to the site and state their interest in its continuity. One hundred and forty two valid responses were received between May 6 and June 21, either by e-mail or through an on-line survey.
The following tables summarize the country of origin and main occupation of current MASwheat users, and the uses they gave to the information obtained from the site.
Country where the users are currently working
| Country |
%
|
| United States of America |
28.9
|
| Australia |
10.6
|
| United Kingdom |
7.7
|
| Argentina |
6.3
|
| Canada |
5.6
|
| Italy |
4.9
|
| Germany |
4.2
|
| India |
3.5
|
| Switzerland |
2.8
|
| Israel |
2.8
|
| Austria |
2.1
|
| France |
2.1
|
| Others |
18.3
|
Responses from 31 countries were received. Only the data for countries with three or more responses are shown, the rest were grouped as "others".
Type of institution users work for
| Type of institution | count |
%
|
| Teaching institution | 48 |
54.9
|
| Public institution 1 | 78 |
33.8
|
| Private sector | 15 |
10.6
|
| not determined | 1 |
0.7
|
1 Public institution whose main activity is not teaching.
Main occupations of MASwheat users
| Student | Teacher | Breeder | Researcher |
%
|
|
|
|
|
x
|
53.5
|
|
|
|
x
|
|
12.7
|
|
|
x
|
|
x
|
11.3
|
|
x
|
|
|
|
6.7
|
|
|
|
x
|
x
|
6.7
|
|
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
3.5
|
|
x
|
|
|
x
|
1.4
|
|
x
|
x
|
|
x
|
0.7
|
|
|
x
|
|
|
0.7
|
|
nd
|
nd
|
nd
|
nd
|
3.5
|
Main uses of MASwheat information
The site provides protocols for Marker Assisted Selection (MAS Protocols), protocols for DNA extraction, gel separation procedures and other laboratory methods (grouped as "Other Protocols"), and an educational component, composed by a package of PowerPoint slides devoted to explaining MAS concepts and applications (Teaching Materials). Several users reported that they also used protocols as class material.
| Information item |
% of users accessing
|
| MAS protocols |
75.4
|
| Other protocols |
31.0
|
| Teaching Materials |
30.3
|
Support to MAswheat
99% of hte users who responded to the survey, or submitted e-mails, expressed an explicit support to the dissemination of information provided by the site