Maybe they're shy? Maybe they've been hit too many times by companies promising 'research' but actually pushing a pyramid scheme or an expensive sign-up? Maybe it's just the local area -perhaps Nigella Lawson is just a bit too 'out there' for Lithgovians?
The musings of a researcher trying to recruit Focus Group participants.
Either way, With data-collection beginning on Thursday, I only have 1/3 of my places filled for a free meal, a focus group chat, and a sweet treat to take home. This is slightly problematic. You see, especially with qualitative research, a significant study sample is pretty necessary. It's not that the opinions of the 25 people I have aren't valuable and insightful -they will be, but the analysed results will not be broadly (or even narrowly) applicable to the study-population. This means that (a) The results will have some problems passing peer-review, and (b) the questions I am asking (that I believe are extremely pertinent to health, nutrition and science communication) will be lost in the shifting sands of knowledge.
By the way, it's not just me asking these questions. When we (scientists) choose a topic for study, we do a fairly soul-destroying thing called a 'Literature review'. For those that have lived their lives without doing one: (a) lucky you!, (b) this innocently-named gauntlet means you read thousands of published papers in your field. You follow everything that is currently known, every spin-off study, every 'further research' suggestion. You hop across disciplines like an insane frog. You find 'gaps' in Nutrition, Sociology, Neuropsychiatry, media studies, biochemistry, physiology, microbiology, genetics, epigenetics, Psychology, Art, Literature studies, and many many more. Like a studious arachnid, you gather threads and follow them. You weave a story from the silks of all the others -rejecting some, connecting others. Eventually (after your brain leaks out your ears...again), you settle on a question that needs an answer. You are also now (apparently) some kind of amphibian/arachnid hybrid...but anyway, anyway...
That's just the beginning.
Your question may be quite good. In fact, it may be very good. However, you don't get to decide this. Instead, you will approach numerous professors in trembling anticipation with your little question. You'll hand it over in absolute terror, because it is they that will decide whether your question is one that the world/the university supports. It's not awfully different even outside the post-graduate realms. Your question, your thoughts, your enquiry will always be judged as meritorious or not -by funding bodies, by your employer, or by Industry requirements.
So, I did that...and they approved! Yes, I had a few glasses of bubbly that evening :-)
Then, there's another wee gauntlet...ETHICS. You see, unfortunately -Nutrition studies often involve humans. Well, they do for me. I just can't bring myself to decapitate/eviscerate mice on a regular basis in vague hopes that the murine model suddenly becomes applicable to humans...even for a sensational headline. Humans are complicated. In order to study them, you have to assure people (the ethics committee) that you aren't going to do anything to upset them, hurt them, cause lasting (or momentary) psychological damage, or y'know -accidentally kill them. So you devise yet another document and research methodology that ensures absolutely that your research will be as pleasant to participants as a relaxing stroll on a perfect beach in Ibiza (without the obvious hazards of possible drowning/sharp bits in sand/sun-damage/flying sharks/sand-flies/tsunamis/wind-storms...you get the idea). Look, I'm being flippant, but one doesn't have to go too far back into Scientific history to see why this is a pretty important step...Tuskagee Syphilis trials anyone?
Anyway anyway, -the ethics committee (miraculously) approves. It turns out that serving people dinner and talking to them is an acceptable risk. Thank goodness. I had been worried about the evening dinner with my family for decades...
You are elated. You set about doing your research. You print posters, saturate social media, initiate GoFundMe campaigns so you can afford to feed 60 people, rally local sponsorship deals, wangle venues. It's all very industrious and energetic. Then, on a quiet sunday of 'the week' it all begins, you check your booking sheets. Big gaps. BIG BIG BIGGITY BIG gaps. The trouble is, we're out of money and out of time now. It's literally in the 'hands of the gods'.
So, if I'm just a little 'twitchy' for the next 3 weeks you'll understand why. All that work, all that energy...and it's entirely possible that the story will just unravel and float away regardless.
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