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MNHQ

Heads up: some academic research taking place

664 replies

RowanMumsnet · 30/08/2018 16:53

Hello

Some researchers from a UK university are going to be collecting posts from some boards on Mumsnet over the next few weeks. They will be looking only at posts published from this point onwards. Selected posts will be anonymised (ie usernames will not be stored anywhere), and all processes will be GDPR-compliant.

EDITED BY MNHQ: to be clear, NO private or back-end data is being shared with the researchers and they will have NO access to any extra information about users. They will only be analysing published posts, ie things that are already in the public domain.

The researchers will analyse the text of the anonymised posts as part of their study. The full text of these anonymised posts will not be reproduced in the study - no pieces of text that make you or your situation identifiable will be published.

Once the study is complete, the database containing the anonymised posts will be destroyed.

Obviously we'd love to tell you what the study is about - but we can't because it will skew the results. However once the research has been completed we'll share it with you and you can read all about it. The academics running the study are people we've worked with before, and the topic is one we think lots of MN users will agree is interesting and useful.

IMPORTANT BIT: if you DO NOT want your posts to be considered for inclusion in the research, please shout here on this thread or email us on [email protected]

And of course let us know if you have any questions and we'll see if we can answer them.

Thanks

MNHQ

OP posts:
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MNHQ
RowanMumsnet · 25/11/2019 11:46

@EnFinale

Thanks for the update *@RowanMumsnet*. Now the data have been collected then surely we can know now what the focus/research question was? Smile

Sorry, I didn't get a notification about this one for some reason.

Yes, I don't see why not - it sounds as though they've collected all the data - it was about how parents on MN talk about feeding babies, whether breastfeeding, bottle feeding or mixed feeding. (I think some of you guessed this at the time!)

OP posts:
AnyMinuteNow · 22/11/2019 22:48

Ooo yes. Look forward to hearing also, intrigued.

EnFinale · 15/11/2019 18:30

Thanks for the update @RowanMumsnet. Now the data have been collected then surely we can know now what the focus/research question was? Smile

MNHQ
RowanMumsnet · 15/11/2019 09:02

@EnFinale

Also very interested to know *@RowanMumsnet*...

Right, the researchers say "Collecting the data we needed took a little bit more time than what we initially anticipated (in fact a lot more time!) so things are progressing a little bit slower than the plan.

We, however, have a linguist on board now and we are looking on the best and most meaningful way to analyse the data.

Of course when we have any outputs we will let you know."

So, as soon as I have something I'll pass it on

OP posts:
EnFinale · 15/11/2019 00:59

Also very interested to know @RowanMumsnet...

MNHQ
RowanMumsnet · 06/11/2019 16:29

[quote dipstyque]@RowanMumsnet. Did this research ever materialise?[/quote]

Good question! I can't believe this was a year ago . I'll see what I can find out for you

OP posts:
dipstyque · 06/11/2019 16:27

@RowanMumsnet. Did this research ever materialise?

JuniperBeer · 11/10/2018 07:48

Errrrrm there is nothing to stop ANYONE doing research on a public site. I could just knock myself up some graphs and spreadsheets, not tell any of you and boom! Done! I could publish something on the internet tomorrow. The terms and conditions are very clear.
Only publish what you wish others to see.

Jux · 10/10/2018 22:43

Thank god they now teach critical thinking in schools! Nothing is more greatly needed.

Mind you, MNHQ could send as many emails as they like to us over the week, those who don't read the ts&cs now, won't read them no matter how often they're sent, email, Messenger, text, whatever. They aren't interested or they'd have checked it all out already.

BIWI · 10/10/2018 22:24

Well clearly not, @Jux! The number of posters on this thread alone who don't know about this, or think there's some kind of privacy allowed on Mumsnet would suggest that they don't know this.

Jux · 10/10/2018 19:02

Do MNHQ need to send every poster an email with the terms on it? The terms are there, they're not hidden; I would imagine that if anyone were really concerned - seriously concerned - they'd find them and read them before they sign up and start posting?

Wouldn't they?

scottwelo1 · 10/10/2018 18:10

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

larryharryhausen · 10/10/2018 10:38

Sounds interesting whatever it is, and these research projects usually unearth something valuable.

BIWI · 10/10/2018 07:25

It's probably worth posting this now, from the Terms that MNHQ have - and actually probably a good idea for MN to send this to every new poster when they sign up:

By submitting User Content to us, simultaneously with such posting you automatically grant to us a worldwide, fully-paid, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive, fully sublicensable, and transferable right and license to use, record, sell, lease, reproduce, distribute, create derivative works based upon (including, without limitation, translations), publicly display, publicly perform, transmit, publish and otherwise exploit the User Content (in whole or in part) as Mumsnet, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate. We may exercise this grant in any format, media or technology now known or later developed for the full term of any copyright that may exist in such User Content.

Subject to the rights and license you grant to us under these Terms of Use, you retain all your right, title and interest in your User Content submissions. This means that copyright in your User Content will remain with you and that you can continue to use the material in any way, including allowing others to use it.

BIWI · 10/10/2018 07:20

OFFS! Grin

Do you have any idea what a public forum is all about?!

There's absolutely no privacy once you've posted on MN. Your words of wisdom are now owned by MN (along with you) and are there for all the world to see.

If you want privacy, don't use Mumsnet.

Lweji · 10/10/2018 06:50

ICO will have a laugh....

marcopront · 10/10/2018 05:31

@foxyliz26 but the Mumsnet terms and conditions make it clear that posts aren't private. What legal implications could there be?

If people don't want what they say to be seen, read or analysed by other people, there is a simple solution. Don't post it on a public website.

foxyliz26 · 10/10/2018 00:50

Might I suggest this rider be used for posters who do not wish their views and postings included in any research , especially without knowing who the 3rd party researchers are , if or not they have Legal Training ,

which should have been run by the ICO
please copy and past the legal statement to any postings until such time as I have had time to discuss this with The ICO and Other legal colleagues

Any institutions or individuals using this site or any of its associated sites for studies , projects or research - You DO NOT have permission to use any of my profile or posts in any form or forum both current and future. If you have or do, it will be considered a violation of my privacy and will be subject to legal ramifications

Jux · 09/10/2018 17:50

Brilliant! GrinGrin

Lweji · 09/10/2018 14:47

Grin Grin Grin Grin

MNHQ
RowanMumsnet · 09/10/2018 13:41

Hello

Just because some of you are obviously interested - here's the most recent piece of Mumsnet research we've spotted: a v interesting study of how Mumsnet users talk about and advise each other on the topic of financial conflict within relationships www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2018/10/mumsnet-talking-money-and-men-behaving-badly.aspx. (We didn't know this one was happening!)

Our favourite quote so far from the study: 'The term ‘cocklodger’ interests us because it identifies a type of household arrangement that is not considered in the academic literature, and yet is a frequent point of reference on Mumsnet' ...

OP posts:
BIWI · 09/10/2018 08:36

It's been stickied in chat as well as site stuff since 30 August - how could you not see it! It's also popped up a lot in Active Convos, given how many people have posted on the thread!

marcopront · 09/10/2018 08:08

@toomanyhours
It is a sticky in chat and has been for at least a month.
The research has probably finished by now.
As has been said many times, anyone can read and analyse your posts at any time. What will you achieve by opting out?

toomanyhours · 09/10/2018 06:17

Please remove me too. You should probably
Badly send this messages to everyone's email so they can opt-in or out. I only saw it by accident

BengalLioness · 08/10/2018 20:38

Peoples posts on here make me laugh lol I only joined this forum because every time I put something into google, Mumsnet threads/comments are the first things that come up! Everyone's analysing everyone's posts anyway! I've even taken screenshots and sent them places without asking for anyone's permission! 🙄

Look forward to the study 👍🏼

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