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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:
BIWI · 06/09/2018 19:50

I don't know why you think we're frothing, @PortiaCastis. Mostly I'm boggling or smirking. Smile

And just like you can come back as often as you like to castigate posters, so we can keep posting our views too.

PortiaCastis · 06/09/2018 19:59

And I am posting my views thank you very much

BIWI · 06/09/2018 20:34

Of course you are! And I never said you shouldn't Grin

BoneyBackJefferson · 06/09/2018 20:58

BIWI

What makes you think that those opting out are frothing?

SneakyGremlins · 06/09/2018 21:17

I don't see any frothing.

We're given a choice to opt out. Some of us have taken that choice.

BIWI · 06/09/2018 21:52

@BoneyBackJefferson I haven't said you're frothing at all. Or anyone else who wants to opt out. But @PortiaCastis has accused all those of us who are pointing out that no personal data is being used, and it's all public posts that are being analysed, of frothing.

It's interesting, isn't it? Someone disagrees with a post and puts their view forward, and it's derided as 'frothing'.

GladAllOver · 06/09/2018 22:32

Consider this.

  1. We know that other studies have already been done, and will undoubtedly be done again in the future with or without MNHQ agreement or cooperation. Posts and their user names can be copied directly from the website without any assistance from MNHQ.
  1. 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.
  1. So it would be possible for a future study to look at posts just from the opt-out names to see what they have in common, and how they may differ from the mainstream of non opted-out names.
  1. So having one's name on the opt-out list may actually attract attention, and have the opposite effect to the desired one.
IdahoJones · 06/09/2018 22:52

But ... I opted out because I think MN is full of trolls posing as parents. Or that's what I said I did.

BoneyBackJefferson · 06/09/2018 23:27

BIWI

The thing is that those that have been snide, patronising and name calling are those poking those that have opted out with a stick.

Any reasons given, are valid to those that have opted out. 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.

BoneyBackJefferson · 06/09/2018 23:29

GladAllOver

It could well be that the whole point of giving the option to opt out and making shit up analysing the data of those opting out on a public forum could be the focus of the research.

But it all depends on how tinfoil hat you want to be.

Zarashood · 07/09/2018 03:21

Can I be fun and opt in for my other username and opt out for this one. Thanks. Grin

MaisyPops · 07/09/2018 08:36

That had crossed my mind boney.
I can't see why anyone would seriously get research funding for such a shit study.
I know too many people applying for doctorates and post docs in education where it might be useful research, only to find there's lots of funding for weird areas that seem to have no application.
Sometimes I wonder if in social sciences the more pointless the research, the more funding you can get.

MNHQ
RowanMumsnet · 07/09/2018 09:03

@RosiesYellowDress

Opt out.

As I charge a fee albeit it be small to be analysed. Before I now type like someone now univested who can’t be arsed to RT does mumsnet get paid in monies or gifts for this?

No, we get no money or inducements or gifts or anything at all.

OP posts:
GladAllOver · 07/09/2018 09:04

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

I think the problem is that all the most obvious areas of research have already been covered by published papers, so anyone needing validation for their efforts has to find more obscure areas to work.

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:
AE1234 · 07/09/2018 10:27

Don't include me

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.

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

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 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?

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

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 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

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?

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.