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This is something I see often ... a company wants to prove some positive thing about their business, so they commission a study, only to have it torn down in co

This is something I see often ... a company wants to prove some positive thing about their business, so they commission a study, only to have it torn down in comments because it was they who paid for it. I totally get that it's a conflict of interest, but what alternative is there? Seems like a study of this kind is really valuable to be able to contribute to the policy conversation that's currently underway. Would the only ethical option be for AirBnB to put out a public call for someone, anyone, to do this study on their own dime? Who would do such a thing without being paid up front? Would it still be a conflict of interest if the researchers put up a crowdfunding campaign to pay for the study (even if they did so at the behest of AirBnB)?

NathanKP 13y ago
I agree. Rather than arguing against the data in the study its easy to just use the strawman argument of "but it's paid for by Airbnb so it must be biased." But I will say that I would like to see the actual original data in the study instead of just the numerous blog posts about the study. I did some internet searching and was unable to find the original study, just news articles about it. If we had the original study and we could see the data sources and actual data points then we could have a real discussion about whether or not the study is legitimate.
nonchalance 13y ago
The problem is that the underlying "facts" are really misinterpretations. > 62 percent of Airbnb hosts say Airbnb helped them stay in their homes The statement seems to suggest that most people wouldn't be able to afford their homes if it weren't for airbnb, but I'm pretty sure that wasn't the question they posed. If you asked "would you be able to afford your home or apartment without airbnb?", then you'd see far less than 62%. > Airbnb visitors stay on average 6.4 nights (compared to 3.9 for hotel guests) and spend $880 at NYC businesses (compared to $690 for average New York visitors). The monies paid to rent a hotel room is money paid to a NYC business and is omitted from this count. If it were counted, using the average stay numbers people contribute more to the economy by staying at the hotel than with airbnb. Another looming question is whether you should count new yorkers who use airbnb to stay in other places. this study doesn't consider that factor at all, and it's likely that the loss to the NYC economy due to those people exceeds the gain due to others coming into the city.

NathanKP 13y ago

I agree. Rather than arguing against the data in the study its easy to just use the strawman argument of "but it's paid for by Airbnb so it must be biased." But I will say that I would like to see the actual original data in the study instead of just the numerous blog posts about the study. I did some internet searching and was unable to find the original study, just news articles about it. If we had the original study and we could see the data sources and actual data points then we could have a real discussion about whether or not the study is legitimate.

nonchalance 13y ago

The problem is that the underlying "facts" are really misinterpretations. > 62 percent of Airbnb hosts say Airbnb helped them stay in their homes The statement seems to suggest that most people wouldn't be able to afford their homes if it weren't for airbnb, but I'm pretty sure that wasn't the question they posed. If you asked "would you be able to afford your home or apartment without airbnb?", then you'd see far less than 62%. > Airbnb visitors stay on average 6.4 nights (compared to 3.9 for hotel guests) and spend $880 at NYC businesses (compared to $690 for average New York visitors). The monies paid to rent a hotel room is money paid to a NYC business and is omitted from this count. If it were counted, using the average stay numbers people contribute more to the economy by staying at the hotel than with airbnb. Another looming question is whether you should count new yorkers who use airbnb to stay in other places. this study doesn't consider that factor at all, and it's likely that the loss to the NYC economy due to those people exceeds the gain due to others coming into the city.