Cardano content is far from scarce. From IOG’s official announcements to thousands of YouTubers exploring the protocol, the digital ether is thick with information. Many Catalyst projects earnestly aim to enlighten newcomers about the Cardano ecosystem, and the dRep role and voting system. Yet, despite these efforts, glaring and damaging misconceptions about Cardano continue to thrive, perplexing both newbies and crypto veterans alike.
You might be asking, why is that? Surely, if we keep flooding the space with accurate information, these misconceptions will eventually wash away, right? Well, the reality is quite contrary. The ‘if we build it, they will come’ approach doesn’t always hit the mark when it comes to shifting paradigms.
The truth is, simply presenting more and more information doesn’t necessarily change minds. Why? Because many communicators lack an understanding of how to truly facilitate conceptual change. The good news? That’s where we come in.
As far as we know, no one has systematically tackled the terrain of Cardano misconceptions, nor have they used research-based methods to shape the best ways to eradicate misconceptions and instigate conceptual change. That’s where our project takes root.
With over 20 years of combined expertise in Educational Psychology and Technical Project Management, our team is set to gather the data and conduct a necessary conceptual change study. Our aim is to gain a precise understanding of the barriers to entry into the Cardano ecosystem, and the specific conceptual challenges faced by dReps, leading to their subpar participation.
Once our study is complete, we’re not going to squirrel it away in a drawer somewhere. We plan to publish our findings in a peer-reviewed open access journal. We believe in open information and making our insights available to everyone, to the benefit of the broader crypto community.
In essence, we are not just building more content and hoping for the best. We are strategically targeting and breaking down the barriers that stand between potential dReps and their engagement with Cardano’s transformative potential. In short, we’re not just building it - we’re paving the path to make sure they will come."
TL;DR:
Our project targets persistent misconceptions about Cardano and dReps, obstacles that curb community participation despite an array of available resources. Guided by a team of experts in educational psychology and technical program management, we propose in-depth research to elucidate these misconceptions, thereby establishing the much-needed empirical basis for enhancing dRep adoption. Our strategy involves recognizing the role of prior knowledge and embarking on a conceptual change study. Our ultimate objective is not just to boost dRep participation and improve the caliber of discussions and decisions, but also to offer open-source findings for future researchers. This will empower the community to create a more effective adoption roadmap for dReps, Catalyst, and the Cardano ecosystem at large.