We're recruiting for Mumsnet pre-election focus groups: would you like to take part?

[GeraldineMumsnet]

Would you like to be involved in three pre-election Mumsnet focus groups we're co-organising?

We're working with the Times and a polling organisation to find out what issues are important to you, which politicians you like / loathe and how likely you are to actually cast your vote.

We're planning on running three focus groups (one at MNHQ and the other two online) and you would need to be able to take part in all three.

If you're selected and take part in all three groups you will receive £100. Travel expenses will be paid for the London group, (up to £15 for those in London and up to £100 for second-class rail travel for those coming to join in from outside London).

1. The first focus group would involve coming to Mumsnet Towers in Kentish Town, London on Tuesday 23 March between 12.15pm and 2pm. We'll provide a light lunch, but we're really sorry we can't accommodate babies/children as we simply don't have the space or facilities.

2. The second focus group is online - so you would just be logging in from home (we'll send you a link) and will take place on Tues 20 April from 11.30am-1pm.

3. The third focus group is also online and will be on Tues 4 May from 11.30am-1pm.

We're looking for a good cross-section of Mumsnetters. The polling organisation has devised the questions.

The comments made during the focus groups will be used by the Times for articles in the lead-up to the general election - please note your real first name may be used and they will want to use a picture of you.

All data from this survey is confidential - participants will be screened by responses to the questions and your MN or real name will not be linked to your responses.

Sorry, but this project is only open to UK residents who are eligible to vote in the upcoming general election.

So if you're interested, and you can make all three focus groups, please click here.

Thanks,
MNHQ

Oh yes... I love being whipped

I volunteer to be Malcolm Tucker character in Mumsnet political party.

"Christ on a bendy-bus. Don't be such a fucking faff arse."

Sp kpw do people suggest it's done so that it is represesntative?

I'm sure they could just use that photo of Justine they always use in the Times rather than real peeps

then make up a name for yourself they can use in the paper

Hang on one cotton pickin' minute here..... co-organising???

With whom?

The Times - it says...

I understand its a bunch of fly by night amateurs one of the big reputable ones WMMC.

That is "polling organisations" obv.

No, No, not Justine for she is London Centric too.

Obviously, I am no good being a granny rather than a mum but I reckon that DD1 who is still on maternity leave could just about make it. The fare is only about £130 by train with three changes and a 5.30 start. Journey only takes 6h47m (each way). As she is still BF she would have to bring DGD2 so I would have to come too, to mind baby during focus group, carry the pushchair, spare nappies and picnic food. Other Granny could have DGS if her broken ankle heals in time....... Yes, perfectly doable, if you are keen enough! What is wrong with you all?

why are you no good being a granny?

can't see a screening question excluding you

loathe
ah
have misused. tis an odd translation " alone in berlin" anyway, they say things like " smack the bitch around the chops"
i amsure they didnt say that in 1940

and olivia
i HEARD that

I would have really liked to to this but I can't afford childcare for 2 children in the middle of the day.

And I am so passionate about politics.

aaaaaaah away wiht your passionate

thats for masterchef

Hmmm..have filled this in the hope that it will 'do' as somehow 'working from home' (though I have the sort of job that it's actually feasible) but have then seen the cost of train tickets from Warrington to London...So assuming I don't stay over night the night before, I'm already up to £170 return train fare, and that's assuming I hang around till off peak on the evening before going home. I'm pushing it already work-wise, but aren't altruistic enough to be out of pocket .

No doubt others have already raised this but how is only selecting people who have childcare but no work on a Tuesday a cross-section?

I'm in London, could easily get to Kentish Town and even have childcare on a Tuesday but I'm teaching so can't make it.

That's one experienced inner-city teacher/parent/working parent/nanny-employing parent/childcare voucher using parent/homeowning parent/state school using parent that can't be part of the cross-section then.

£204.80 to get me to London in time and back, 2nd class rain travel, excluding taxis/tube fares etc

I took part in a market research/focus group thing a couple of months ago (which prob rules me out from this anyway, as there are in theory limits on how often etc, aside from being at work all the days in a school the surveys/groups are taking place so can't take time off).

Anyway, back to my point.

The group I took part in was 2 miles from my home. And I got a £50 reward for one hour of my opinions.

Which is quite good but my pretty much daily emails from that and similar companies offer similar amounts.

CAN I JUST POINT OUT THAT THIS KIND OF THING IS NOT MARKET RESEARCH, AND IT SHOULDN'T BE PRESENTED TO MUMSNETTERS AS SUCH.

I am a market researcher, and I run and analyse focus groups. There are strict rules in the Market Research Society about keeping respondents anonymous, so posting your real names and photographs in the papers would not be allowed.

And also, if it was really kosher market research there would be much more stringent criteria defining who would be recruited, to ensure that you know exactly who the groups are representing - not just a cross section of women on MN who happen to be available on a certain day, when they have childcare.

AND respondents should be incentivised properly for their time, including out of pocket expenses.

I know that MN gets used for all kinds of surveys, but it really, really, really, REALLY, annoys me if you're going to put this forward as genuine market research rather than just an exercise by the Times to generate stories for their paper.

Please, MN, make the distinction between journalism/PR and genuine market research. Our job, recruiting people to take part, can be hard enough, without things like this which will give our industry a bad name.

It doesn't sound like the criteria for a representative group of women.

Well said BIWI

thank you Biwi

am still exceptionally cross about this

i know MN has to garner publicity and being in the times being pseudo political rather than being slated for being a load of megalomaniac lactivist beatches, is a good thing, but it will hardly be a representation of what/who MN really is

so in the end it will be another mispresentative , yummy mummy home counties, boden wearing, don't need to work biscuitbun fight

a real shame

would have liked to participate but live in North East Scotland... for an online forum it seems a bit crap that you have to be there in person to participate.

If it helps Lulu, I've put my name down and I'm none of those. I'm lucky enough to live close enough that I can do it and get home for the school run, and I just don't happen to work during the day (although surely yummy mummy etc etc have a political view point worth hearing too? And being all of those isn't necessarily the blueprint for some Stepford clone? Whatever's on the outside =/= to the individual on the inside?)

yes true BIWI - "Mummy Vox Pop" would be more accurate. 'Tis clearly more about a bit of fun than serious polling. MNHQ need to embrace the fun a little more here methinks.