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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:
RosiesYellowDress · 08/09/2018 21:18

@AllAtHome. You can’t leave your post there you have to conclude some wild conspiracy theory.

I’m hedging my bets the research is posts on the ugly sofa thread, have not hatched a reason why yet.

PeanuttyButter · 08/09/2018 20:32

AllAtHome I thought the same thing. I’m not bothered any which way! Wink

AllAtHome · 08/09/2018 17:58

Imagine if this thread and its responses are the research...

RosiesYellowDress · 08/09/2018 14:15

@counch you don’t need to volunteer just dig around internet & read documents that have covered that topic without your knowledge obviously they don't quote usernames.

Frogletmamma · 08/09/2018 14:04

If its about people having sex in hedges or gifted and talented children they should get loads of data

RosiesYellowDress · 08/09/2018 13:49

😂 @GladAllOver I got Xmas on mind already

I just read something about the nest of vipers, at least they was impressed with how well informed you vipers was.

There are loads of research papers which have used mumsnet some boring, some interesting as to some with permission and some not.

EvilRingahBitch · 08/09/2018 13:09

MNHQ have explicitly said that it’s not trans related. I’m baffled why anyone imagines for a moment that they’d willingly cooperate with research on that topic.

couchparsnip · 08/09/2018 13:03

I want to know what its about now. Trans issues maybe? I am happy to be included anyway.

Jux · 08/09/2018 12:20

Weren't we accused of being vipers by some journo (male) who'd come on here and been ripped to shit? I have some vague recollection of it. I have been proud and pleased to be a viper ever since. Rather like "Louis Walsh is, for instance, a twat" - one of those things.....

Lweji · 08/09/2018 09:11

'friendly non-judgemental space

Maybe compared to others.
I remember the term vipers applied from before 2008. Grin

GladAllOver · 08/09/2018 09:07

I’m going to research my own level of nativity

You're not sure whether you've been born?
I can confirm that you have. :)

RosiesYellowDress · 08/09/2018 02:58

Yes @lweji.

I found a research paper online from scholar that quoted something back in 2008

..... Previous research using Mumsnet has noted that the website was a 'friendly non-judgemental space

😂

Lweji · 07/09/2018 23:59

@RosiesYellowDress, surely, you mean www.researchgate.net/

RosiesYellowDress · 07/09/2018 23:26

@c8

I read that initial reply as ‘yes I agree that there has been some expensive funding for some ridiculous research, now reading your reply to that comment. I wondering if they meant it in throwing shade.

I’m going to research my own level of nativity & guilablness and not post the results

C8H10N4O2 · 07/09/2018 21:39

The list of opt-out names from this study is available for anyone to copy from this thread, and is not binding on any future study.

Those are the names of people who opted out on this thread ie in public. Not the names of people who emailed.

C8H10N4O2 · 07/09/2018 21:38

Sometimes I wonder if in social sciences the more pointless the research, the more funding you can get.

Bloody hell, is that bidding for patronising post of the thread? Or are you privy to the details of the research and speaking with actual knowledge?

RosiesYellowDress · 07/09/2018 21:17

I answered one of my questions by having a read about analysing text on forums by skim reading some of the publications on www.researchgatenet.com

Quangot · 07/09/2018 21:00

"The list of opt-out names from this study is available for anyone to copy from this thread, and is not binding on any future study. It only applies to this study, and MNHQ has no control over how the published list may be used in the future."

So perhaps this thread could now be hidden, and anyone else who wishes to opt out can email MNHQ?

RosiesYellowDress · 07/09/2018 19:11

@rowanMumsnet 😮 not even tub of chocolates celebrations shops own brands are available that are much tastier

Nosey & curious as to what research being done as it’s just text on a screen that to me doesn’t always give true reliable representation.

Is the research being done on just mumsnet or other parenting forums?

Do the results have the possibility to cause outrage?

Will the results be so uninteresting that it will still cause outrage?

Is there any point in seeing if there is any word on the street about this secret research my time is precious as much tv shows to catch up on

BIWI · 07/09/2018 19:06

No it was the first bit of your post!

Look - let's stop the bickering. Some people think it's a problem having their posts used in the analysis, others of us are posting out that it's not an issue. Let's leave it there and agree to disagree, shall we?

BoneyBackJefferson · 07/09/2018 19:05

BIWI

So having the opinion that those that are snide and calling others names should think about what they are doing is patronising.

Ok.

BIWI · 07/09/2018 18:50

@boneyBackjefferson

Those that find them amusing really should be (IMO) more self reflective and ask why they need to make snide comments about others that don't share their opinions.

Now who's being patronising? Grin

marcopront · 07/09/2018 15:30

Just a thought.
All the people saying don't include me using any of my user names.
You do know the only way that can happen is if Mumsnet pass on personal data linking your usernames, don't you? They have made it clear that it is only public posts that will be used.

AE1234 · 07/09/2018 10:27

Don't include me

MNHQ
RowanMumsnet · 07/09/2018 09:09

@Aridane

MNHQ - did you start this thread because

a) the university asked you to do so (ethics committee or whatever), or

b) because legally you were advised to, or

c) you just thought it would be a nice transparent thing to do?

Do you wish you hadn’t bothered? Smile

c)

And yes, sort of Grin But it's been interesting - it feels like GDPR has pushed a big change in how data subjects (ie people) feel about things like this and in the long run that sort of awareness is probably for the good. Having these sorts of discussions play out is all part of the process innit.

OP posts: