I read a question on Meta about users with high question to answer ratios. I'm curious about how the distributions of user ratios looked across the StackExchange™ sites.


As the type of possible answers veers from "fact" to "opinion", the ratio distribution flattens. i.e. the variance is low.


I know some Python. But it's difficult for me to find questions on Stack Overflow for which I can provide a good answer. So for me I would expect to have a high question to answer ratio.

For a user that knows Python really well, they are more likely to be able to answer any question they see. i.e. the variance is high

On OnStartups, answers are more likely to be based on opinion or experience. Since it is easy to have an opinion it might be easier to answer. i.e. the variance is low.

I've been thinking of writing an academic research paper on this. Is it possible to calculate or get these stats? It would be interesting to consider the ratio of accepted answers, starred questions, etc, as well.

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See: meta.stackexchange.com –  Shog9 Nov 30 '09 at 0:59
What's the correct wording anyhow? Theory leads to observation? –  random Nov 30 '09 at 1:13
Thanks to random for the major editing, I wish all my emails would get edited. –  Vincent Nov 30 '09 at 2:55
Theory is test with "the Scientific Method". Ideas and questions come from observation. –  Vincent Nov 30 '09 at 2:58
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closed as off topic by random, Shog9, John Rudy, Robert Cartaino, fretje Nov 30 '09 at 11:27


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