The worth of data bias

Summary: Data for analysis about the FOSS world comes from ex-Microsoft staff, including marketing staff

BY CONTROLLING the data in a study, one can affect the outcome and the accompanying summary/conclusions.

The following couple of reports may wrongly be seen as a good move and "openness":

• Ohloh.net opens data for community use

  Ever since analysts and industry observers started using Ohloh.net data to perform deep-dive studies on various aspects of the free and open source software community, people have been wanting to get their hands on Ohloh's data.

Here is the second report. It all seems innocent and benign until one realises that Ohloh [1, 2, 3] and Black Duck are both companies which former Microsoft employees created. They merged, too. They are disproportionately filled with Windows/Microsoft/C# projects and also have an alliance or partnership with Microsoft (since 3 years ago). Expect misguided and biased conclusions.

Those who control the data can control public perception. ⬆

"Mind Control: To control mental output you have to control mental input. Take control of the channels by which developers receive information, then they can only think about the things you tell them. Thus, you control mindshare!"

--Microsoft, internal document [PDF]