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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:
SteamTrainsRealAleandOpenFires · 30/08/2018 20:01

Count me out aswell ta.

traceyturnblatt · 30/08/2018 19:45

I don't want anything I post include in this.

Please add my name to what I assume will be a really really long list

MsDidoTwite · 30/08/2018 19:16

Count me out. For these purposes I'm a non consenting adult - or is that a non sequitur since you didn't ask me in the first place?

RuleBreaker · 30/08/2018 19:07

It is bizarre why so many people are getting worked up about this; it’s completely anonymous and anonymised!

Pinkandproud · 30/08/2018 18:51

Anyone could do any kind of research they wanted without needing any kind of permission in any case, it’s an open website which anyone in the world can view! That’s kind of the point, surely....

EggysMom · 30/08/2018 18:46

Count me out, thank you.

I prefer to choose which research I participate in, I read the agreements, I sign the agreements.

RatSoup · 30/08/2018 18:41

This sounds interesting. Can we know the name of the University (Universities)? I'd like to see what else the team have done in this line.

Ihavethepower · 30/08/2018 18:39

Placemarking for more MNHQ comments.

woman11017 · 30/08/2018 18:36

I don't want any of my posts to be included either. Thank you.

MargaretCavendish · 30/08/2018 18:36

I wonder whether MNHQ are letting them check for (exclude?) posts by the same person under different usernames. As otherwise I agree, I don't see why they involved them at all.

picklemepopcorn · 30/08/2018 18:29

They aren't asking permission, they are courteously giving us the option to be excluded.

picklemepopcorn · 30/08/2018 18:28

I think it sounds interesting, and as Margaret said, everything is out there anyway.
Frankly, any student could study any element they chose to, without involving MNHQ.

chemenger · 30/08/2018 18:27

Many, many more people see what we have written on this totally public forum than will ever read the paper and or thesis that this work will be reported in. I have no problem with my posts being used.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 30/08/2018 18:24

They got it past ethics because everything posted on MN is entirely open to public view anyway. It's like analysing the text of letters to the editors in a newspaper - you don't have to ask the letter writers (or even the newspaper) because they've already published their words

I get that. But in which case why are MNHQ asking our permission? As this is a public site I assumed there must be some special case for why MNHQ was asking us to opt out... Surely it will skew their research if a pile of people opt out (who all belong to the group "don't want to take part in research when we don't know what it's for")

PhilomenaButterfly · 30/08/2018 18:22

Ooookaaaaaay. Confused

MargaretCavendish · 30/08/2018 18:18

Also interested in how they got this past the ethics committee - as far as I know people generally opt in to take part in research, as opposed to assuming consent if someone doesn't specifically opt out.

They got it past ethics because everything posted on MN is entirely open to public view anyway. It's like analysing the text of letters to the editors in a newspaper - you don't have to ask the letter writers (or even the newspaper) because they've already published their words. Or if I did a study counting whether more redheads use Liverpool Street station than Waterloo - I can just count them, I don't have to ask because I'm just watching them do something already entirely public. I know a lot of people like to think of MN as somehow private but it really, really isn't.

EastMidsGPs · 30/08/2018 18:06

I don't want any of my posts to be included.
Thanks

LuluJakey1 · 30/08/2018 18:01

I don't want any of my posts to be included thank you.

MNHQ
RowanMumsnet · 30/08/2018 17:45

Got it @Hatstand, thank you

OP posts:
MNHQ
RowanMumsnet · 30/08/2018 17:39

@MIdgebabe

If someone's words were quoted in a publication, would they be able to see the publication and comment/remove consent at that stage? Does mn hq get a veto on any Publication!

We (as in MNHQ) haven't sought a veto - we've worked with these researchers before (not on pieces of research, but we know their work and have collaborated on activities in their area of interest).

We will check out for you your question about whether users whose words are used will be consulted before publication.

OP posts:
Hatstand · 30/08/2018 17:36

Please don't include any of my comments either.

MNHQ
RowanMumsnet · 30/08/2018 17:34

@Stephisaur

Thanks for putting this in chat :)

Sounds interesting. I’m sure none of my posts would be included but consider this my consent if they are :)

Thank you!

OP posts:
MNHQ
RowanMumsnet · 30/08/2018 17:33

I'm off in a moment so just wanted to say do please add a post here or email us on [email protected] if you don't want to be included and we'll make sure your user names are on the list for the researchers.

Any other questions posted tonight we'll do our best to respond to promptly tomorrow.

Thanks
MNHQ

OP posts:
MIdgebabe · 30/08/2018 17:32

If someone's words were quoted in a publication, would they be able to see the publication and comment/remove consent at that stage? Does mn hq get a veto on any Publication!

Stephisaur · 30/08/2018 17:32

Thanks for putting this in chat :)

Sounds interesting. I’m sure none of my posts would be included but consider this my consent if they are :)

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