Please or to access all these features

Site stuff

Join our Innovation Panel to try new features early and help make Mumsnet better.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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:
Lweji · 12/09/2018 21:04

It's highly unlikely that sensitive threads are picked apart.
If nothing else because no researcher could ever be sure if it was even remotely true.
Research will look into trends and averages, probably.

BoneyBackJefferson · 12/09/2018 20:09

mumsastudent

It will be quite interesting to see what assumptions have been made about the people that post on MN.

GladAllOver · 12/09/2018 19:43

Everything on here is anonymous
Are you suggesting that the backgrounds of every poster should be checked to see if they are vulnerable?

mumsastudent · 12/09/2018 18:48

I am curious as to how the ethics of this gets passed in the universities - from my experience the hoops you have to go to do this do not seem to cover this situation (ie are some of the people considered vulnerable - discussion about personal aspects, issues of mental health, details about children, foster care etc etc) ?

Aragog · 12/09/2018 17:52

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.

Same. I really don't mine.

PortiaCastis · 12/09/2018 17:06

Feckin hell that'll distort the research

IdahoJones · 12/09/2018 16:47

Oh this is more fun - homework cheating spam!

Mam4kaSan · 12/09/2018 14:48

This reply has been deleted

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

BarrackerBarmer · 12/09/2018 14:26

Count me out please.

MyMagicStars · 11/09/2018 21:30

I'd like to opt out please.

Lweji · 11/09/2018 15:25

@EscapeFromHubby

Not this study, by any chance? Wink

Lweji Mon 10-Sep-18 10:55:10
www.indy100.com/article/people-with-depression-use-language-differently-heres-how-to-spot-it-8262771

deadcat · 11/09/2018 14:43

Count me out thank you

EscapeFromHubby · 11/09/2018 13:00

This isn't the first time MN has been used in research. I've just been reading about a study into the language of depression and guess what - MN forums were used as a control group!!! They analysed the language used by posters in internet forums. No idea whether or not those researchers had MNHQ approval or not but they did it anyway. This is what happens when you post on an open platform. People will use what is on that platform for anything they like, with or without your permission. Personally I have no problem with any posts/comments I have made being used.

RedToothBrush · 10/09/2018 20:06

Does that sound less sinister?

No not really.

RosiesYellowDress · 10/09/2018 18:23

@lewji Is that why everyone it’s seems to be very nice nice on here. They said posts across boards.

I still got my bets on ugly sofa thread as one being analysed - who has ugliest oldest furniture in their home, my 2nd bet is Boris one - narrowing down the statics on his shenanigans

Lweji · 10/09/2018 16:25

Meanwhile, I've spotted a hole in the theory that this thread was the subject of investigation.
The number of opt outs could not be counted. Damn.

RosiesYellowDress · 10/09/2018 14:51

No hidden motive or any specific reason for my asking other than adding to my knowledge, sometimes I like to learn about stuff other than useless facts, so I ask questions.

abadoo · 10/09/2018 14:19

Can mine from today get left out please. Ta

Lweji · 10/09/2018 14:03

the copyright just means someone can't copy them

They can copy, they just can't paste. Wink

Even books, with copyright, can be read and analysed. Film critics live off film analyses. Why the sensitivity about public posts on a public forum?

Research means that posts are diluted into numbers or categories. It's highly unlikely that any individual post or poster is singled out or becomes viral.

Unlike sites and media that do copy posts verbatim and dissect them.

drspouse · 10/09/2018 12:39

Well, if the content was scraped they probably won't be included BUT the copyright just means someone can't copy them. Academics can analyse copyright books without asking permission of the copyright holder.

RosiesYellowDress · 10/09/2018 12:25

Probably a real twatish question but say if you posted on a public forum your comments as images/photos instead of text and include a ©️ and some small fine print waffle on them, who then owns the rights? also would it change how your posts(images) can be used other than purpose it was intended?

Obviously when reading small print of terms & condition of signing up on websites I don’t have right reading glasses on

yes I know it means jack 💩 once something is on internet

Lweji · 10/09/2018 10:55

Mumsnet as a control forum. Grin

You're being watched. Not me, because I'm special and my public posts are invisible. Grin

www.indy100.com/article/people-with-depression-use-language-differently-heres-how-to-spot-it-8262771

RosiesYellowDress · 10/09/2018 10:50

@BIWI my pearls of wisdom that I share are special, I just don’t want others to miss out like my kids are... by not listening!

It does at times provide entertainment seeing someone jump in million pages later, totally slate and rip apart the OP first post disregarding any of OP further updates throughout thread.

@popco your best bet is to start a new thread in different sub section of the forum

teepeewigwam · 10/09/2018 10:38

😃

Popco · 09/09/2018 22:24

This reply has been deleted

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

Swipe left for the next trending thread