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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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:
ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 31/08/2018 18:23

So just because some people don't ask before they do something, means that if you are asked you must always say yes? Hmm

GladAllOver · 31/08/2018 18:26

So although you let the whole world see what you write, you want to stop one particular reader just because they asked?

TheFallenMadonna · 31/08/2018 18:52

What are the good reasons? You would be if anything less identifiable in this research than you are actually on the MN boards.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 31/08/2018 18:53

Yep. It's the principle of the thing, I don't want to take part in research when I don't know is what it is for. The researchers were courteous enough to ask MN, and MN were courteous enough to ask us so I am respectfully declining.

I'm very aware that my posts are publicly visible, and that they are probably used for a number of purposes. This does not mean that I have no right to refuse to be a research subject if I am asked.

TheFallenMadonna · 31/08/2018 18:56

Sassitudeandsparkle - do you think MN are lying about this? They have said it is university researchers. I doubt anybody who wanted to do it for commercial reasons would even ask. Because everything is already available to be viewed by anyone browsing the site!

BIWI · 31/08/2018 19:28

@GorgonLondon

But what are the reasons why you would opt out?

Anyone could (and probably is) already reading what you've been posting.

BIWI · 31/08/2018 19:58

... and you may think my post was patronising - but it is incredibly frustrating how many MNetters don't realise what they're doing when they post here (or on any other site), and then they complain that somehow MNHQ are in the wrong

GinIsIn · 31/08/2018 20:14

I wish to be excluded

Norugratsatall · 31/08/2018 20:29

I can't get worked up about this. Happy to be included.

PortiaCastis · 31/08/2018 20:40

I'd like to opt out thanks very much

Maryzsnewaccount · 31/08/2018 20:47

I don't want to be included because I sometimes post when pissed I'd like to know what it's all about. They don't usually ask; what's different this time?

While I'm not stupid, and I know that anything I write on here can be read by anyone, I don't like the idea of someone deliberately collating my posts from lots of different threads and putting it all together. I know some people on here (and on related sites) do it all the time, and I know it's all open so they can if they want. They don't have to ask, but since in this case they are, I'm saying no.

If they want to tell me what it's all about, then I might change my mind.

SassitudeandSparkle · 31/08/2018 20:51

Here is (or can be) anonymous, FB/Twitter is not. You know your audience with FB and Twitter and have the ability to restrict it - not so here. We depend on MNHQ for that. The title of this thread doesn't make the purpose clear at all. I only came on because I heard what it was about - there is nothing about the title that says posts will be analysed.

I can't see this producing rigorous academic results which is why I think it is commercial. Possibly this research has been commissioned by MNHQ to target their adverts - they say they've worked with them before.

If you think the researchers are going to be reading threads on MN I think this is unlikely. MNHQ will give them data from specific boards, presumably with those of us who have requested to be excluded from this 'research' omitted from that data. I don't think their data processing is someone reading a screen looking for keywords, the data will be processed by some kind of software and that's why MN have mentioned it IMO. Data transferred, held and processed off-site by a third party.

PaulDacreRimsGeese · 31/08/2018 21:32

Opt me out please. If I had some idea what it was about i'd consider it.

WaitrosePigeon · 31/08/2018 21:42

Opt out.

toriap2 · 31/08/2018 22:00

Please do not use any of my comments or data thankyou

MaisyPops · 31/08/2018 22:04

Please count me out as well. I do not want any of my posts using.
Thank you.
@mnhq do we get confirmation that you've added us to the list of people who have not given consent?

BoneyBackJefferson · 31/08/2018 22:46

But what are the reasons why you would opt out?

Because I like to know what I am being involved in, and if I don't know I can't give informed consent.

Quangot · 31/08/2018 23:51

Why should anyone need a "reason" to opt out? It should be enough to just say they'd rather not take part.

balljuggla · 01/09/2018 00:05

I would also like to opt out please.

TheSassyAssassin · 01/09/2018 01:13

Doubt I'll be on any relevant threads but would like to Opt Out anyway, thanks!

WhiskyIrnBru · 01/09/2018 01:37

Opt out

Cagliostro · 01/09/2018 02:24

I’m intrigued, and am ok with my posts being used (in the unlikely event I say anything interesting enough 😳😂)

Rosetintedglass · 01/09/2018 07:23

Id like to opt out thank you.

BertieBotts · 01/09/2018 08:14

I reckon I could make a pretty good guess as to who it is and what it's about and I don't think it's sinister, in fact I'll be interested to read it.

littlepill · 01/09/2018 08:43

Yes but the point is we shouldn’t have to guess!

How can you opt in/out if you don’t have all the details?

I would expect more from university research.