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> ----- Original Message ----- > From: Petra Boynton > To: [log in to unmask] > Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2006 5:53 PM > Subject: Re: Sue's research > > > Sue > I'm sorry to hear about the problems you've encountered in the past. I > wonder if there's a way of discussing what's happening with your research > currently? > > Feel free to counter these suggestions but I wonder if some of what you're > experiencing is what most researchers encounter? How could it be. Most researchers have affiliation, a career position, or a husband, or are independently wealthy. > For most people - particularly those not working on a degree programme > studying student participants, recruitment is a long, thankless, tiring and > often very futile task. It is very difficult to get people to join in with > research. Then think how much more difficult it is for me. I disagree anyway. For most researchers it is long and tiring, but not futile, not in the long run. That's not to say you're not having more problems than most, but > I wonder if it might help you feel more encouraged as a researcher to know > that what you're experiencing is similar to what a lot of researchers go > through? I have conducted research before. I would be happier if you did not tkae that condescending attitude. In Canada, doing a MA means to do a proper piece of research. I interviewed ten women about menopause and wrote a thesis. If you feel this isn't the case maybe sharing those thoughts here > could help others give advice or support (should you wish it). I can' see that's waht you want me to do. > > In terms of your observation "People aren't interested in people without > credentials doing research for them, on them, it seems" again I'd wonder if > this is always the case? In my experience (and it is only my experience so > may not be representative) often people do not ask about credentials - in > fact we have to remind people of them. And I don't have that option - recall Dustin Hoffman as Tootsie. He could pretend to be a woman, but in a crunch he could always call on that extra bit of power. Whilst I agree things like having a > university logo or other identification *may* encourage responses it could > equally put people off. Given the sheer volume of non-academics and > non-researchers doing their own research on the internet now - it is > becoming more commonplace for people not to have any academic links, > background or credentials behind their work. Agreed. They have wealthy husbands and/or great jobs making films. That doesn't stop people > participating, although as mentioned above, not everyone wants to take part. > > A thing that strikes me is the idea that so many people are doing 'research' > these days - PR companies, magazines, commercial companies, academic > institutions (which includes undergraduate, postgraduate, postdoctoral and > other research) - just to name a few. Aside from people feeling suspicious > about research, there's also a lot out there to choose from. And it seems > increasingly if you can't offer incentives to participants they're not > interested. So again, that might be another reason for problems with > recruiting participants. > You're full of excuses. An incentive something like what your group has to offer? Affiliation? > I've been struck by many of your postings about how your treatment by your > university has affected your confidence Not my confidence. You are mistaken. as a researcher (and more generally > as a person). Not as a person, either. I wonder if other people here might have some practical > suggestions about how to move on from this? > I would think that's not a good idea. I don't expect any understanding. thanks for trying. I'm sure you';ve made an impact on someone. Sue McPherson > bw > PB > > > At 17:39 02/05/2006, you wrote: > > Regarding David Fryer's message, Michael, no, it didn't escape me that I had > not been mentioned. > > You mention my research, but it isn't simply that people "are interested" or > "not interested." My past, or should I say, the gap in my cv, and in my > life, affects the way people respond to me. You may feel "shattered" by the > info coming your way, but the stress is probably a good stress. > > My life - and my research - may be coming to an end. People aren't > interested in people without credentials doing research for them, on them, > it seems, especially if they have no property or man. I have already hinted > at what the university here did for me - destroy my reputation, take away > any chance at a career and a future of any kind. I feel positivly > distraught, sometimes, at the realization of what has become of me, and at > the kind of people that have let this happen. And now, in the community, it > is difficult to make friends when one has nothing. You mention gender, and I > feel I must comment on this. > > As far as sex is concerned, it is a myth, and always has been, that women > want sex more than men, or the same as men. Biologically, women are > different from men. And culturally, their genders. One only has to look at > the spam (ie. real spam) to see whose interests in sex are being catered to. > If women like to act as sluts, or seem to enjoy sex, it is because it is > that for which they are rewarded, by men, in general. The work that women do > in the work place can be done by any man or woman. But it's women willing > to put out, or who have the right husband or father who have a better chance > at getting ahead. I didn't know all this before I struck out on my own, at > midlife. When we were young we sort of just fell into marriage. Afterwards, > we started to think about it. To get work, and or funding, it is mainly on > the basis of how one plays one's part at being female. And yes, it is still > the male, usually, who has the power, shared with some women like Tessa > Jowell who remain in denial about the influence of marriage/sex on their > success. But then, of course, that's what women have to do - make the right > kind of connections, in order to have a chance at success. Hence, John > Prescott and that single woman: > http://suemcpherson.blogspot.com > > I'm not so much interested in men and women as men and women with sexual > interest as the reason. I'd rather meet them as people with mutual > interests. It's their life experience that I find interesting. If I ever do > run into a person who could become something more, then that's what it will > be. But that's not what I am seeking. I'm still trying to go ahead with my > research. > > Sue McPherson > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: MICHAEL SWINDLEHURST > > To: [log in to unmask] > > Sent: Monday, May 01, 2006 7:54 PM > > Subject: Sue's research > > > You left me out completely? I guess you're not interested in participating > in my research. > > > > Is it only people who express a direct interest in what you are doing, to > talk about on the list, you are interested in. > > > > I am still struggling. I thought what I was doing was useful > > > > Sue > > > > Sue, > > > > As you saw, the letter from Rebekah and David was primarily addressed to me > so I concentrated on those overall issues the letter was about. As regards > the mention of Petra, it was to provide an example of what I hoped personal > disclosures may attract responses from you scientists. By contrast, you have > offered a direct path to your own research for anyone who may be interested > and for those who may wish to participate in it. I am certainly one of those > but have not been able to concentrate on it yet due to all the recent > postings and health problems this end. To be honest, I am shattered by the > many interesting things that have arisen in these strings and still need to > catch up on sleep lost from it. You, yourself, have come up with so many key > issues I strongly agree on, it has not been possible to respond to any of > them with the time I feel they require and deserve. It will be easy to go to > your own site to learn more about your work and contribute as I intend to do > in the coming week when I am more awake. > > > > By the way, on one the many key issue you have raised, that of gender, to my > mind this contains the the roots of much of what is good and bad about the > world. My experiences as a 'male'(?) became similar to many other male > friends I have had down the years - woman only want us for 3 things: sex, > money and servitude. You, I and all other members of the list would hardly > be in communication if this were true and I would not have the partner and > female friends that make my life whole, rich and worthwhile. Sorry - there I > go again with personal disclosures. I must try and catch up on some sleep > now. > > > > Mike S > > > > > > ___________________________________ > > > COMMUNITYPSYCHUK - The discussion list for community psychology in the UK. > To unsubscribe or to change your details visit the website: > http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/COMMUNITYPSYCHUK.HTML For any problems or > queries, contact the list moderator at [log in to unmask] or > [log in to unmask] > > > ___________________________________ > > COMMUNITYPSYCHUK - The discussion list for community psychology in the UK. > To unsubscribe or to change your details visit the website: > http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/COMMUNITYPSYCHUK.HTML For any problems or > queries, contact the list moderator at [log in to unmask] or > [log in to unmask] > > > > > Petra M Boynton, PhD > Lecturer in Health Services Research > Department Primary Care and Population Sciences, UCL. > Open Learning Unit, Archway Campus > 4th Floor, Holborn Union Building, Highgate Hill > London, N19 5LW. > > Tel: 0207 288 3325 Mob: 07967 212925 > > The Research Companion Messageboard - share your experiences and get support > here! www.psypress.co.uk/boynton > > > > > ___________________________________ > COMMUNITYPSYCHUK - The discussion list for community psychology in the UK. > To unsubscribe or to change your details visit the website: > http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/COMMUNITYPSYCHUK.HTML For any problems or > queries, contact the list moderator at [log in to unmask] or > [log in to unmask] > > ___________________________________ COMMUNITYPSYCHUK - The discussion list for community psychology in the UK. 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