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Research FAQ
11 years ago
What is your research for?
The research isn't for any one thing in particular, but more broadly, I intend to use the data from the survey as material for a panel at a convention(s) on safe sex, and to help convince convention organisers that this is an issue we need to discuss more openly and take more seriously on a fandom-wide scale.
How will the data be used
The data will be completely anonymised - date, time, IP etc. of the survey will be erased before being entered into its final raw format, which is an SPSS dataset. The dataset will be analysed using a piece of software called SPSS, which is a software package for statistical analysis.
The results of the analysis will be included in a report, which will have two versions; an informal and formal version. The informal version will be aimed at general readership, while the formal version will read more like a scientific paper. The analysis and report will include graphs, tables, descriptive statistics, and inferential/analytical statistics.
I don't, at this time, intend to approach a scientific journal for publication, although once the report is ready, I'd be happy for anyone in the community qualified to do so, to peer-review the work.
What conventions will you be doing a panel at?
I haven't formally approached any yet as the project isn't even approaching completion, but I aim to start at Confuzzled 2015. After that, it depends on what conventions I can go to.
Why is this research important?
We all know that a large proportion of convention-goers have sex at conventions, but we, as a fandom, treat it as a dirty open secret. We have no idea how many of those people have unprotected sex, how many have or have had an STI, how frequently these people have STI tests, and so on. But we still put hundreds or even thousands of people together in one place for several days at a time, knowing many of them use it as a venue for sexual activity, without ever wanting to raise the elephant in the room, which is sexual health.
Conventions are supposed to take the health and well-being of their guests seriously, but have always been reluctant to address this very glaring issue. In some ways, I can't blame them. With the mainstream perception of sexuality in this fandom, the last thing they want at a high-profile event is someone standing around the lobby, or running an event talking about condoms. This research acts as a tool for convention goers to help them make more informed choices about their sexual activities at conventions, and as a tool for convention organisers to inform their policies on sexual health.
What about fake/duplicate responses?
The survey blocks duplicate responses, and while there are ways around that (which I won't discuss here for obvious reasons), it takes an active effort to do so. In addition, SPSS has tools for detecting duplicates and spurious results.
Wouldn't [insert research method] have been better?
The following were the requirements for my data collection method:
1) Maintain anonymity
2) Gather a sample size of 700+ in 2 weeks
3) Can be promoted on social media
4) At a personal financial cost of £25GBP or less
5) Using a method that produces data which can be quickly and readily imported directly into a statistical analysis package such as SPSS
As such, I feel the methodology I used both fit those requirements, and produced a robust dataset.
Isn't 10 questions a bit restrictive?
10 questions means the respondent can answer the survey fully in under 3 minutes, and can still provide a lot of useful data. Even from just 10 targeted questions about someone's sexuality and sex at conventions, we can extrapolate, as a couple of examples:
* Who had unprotected sex with someone that wasn't their romantic partner at their last con
* Of those with a romantic partner, who has sex outside of that relationship (and who has unprotected sex) at conventions
* Many, many other things
This does have limitations, however. The question about STI tests asks whether someone has ever been diagnosed with them, not whether they have an active infection (though, for example, with HIV, this invariably implies they do).
Why are most of the questions only about my most recent convention?
The purpose of the survey is to get a snapshot of a typical convention from someone. Instead of asking someone to subjectively think back to what they think is their most typical convention, I asked about their most recent convention in order to avoid this subjective judgement, and to ensure the respondent is also thinking about the convention for which their memory is going to be most fresh.
What are your qualifications/credentials?
By trade, I'm a Zoologist with experience in research. I've also previously worked as a youth worker and helped to administer research surveys in that position. I therefore have workplace experience with data collection and statistical analysis, scientific communication, and sexual health education.
When will the report, etc. be available?
When real life allows me to complete it. However, it should be completed well before May 2015.
The research isn't for any one thing in particular, but more broadly, I intend to use the data from the survey as material for a panel at a convention(s) on safe sex, and to help convince convention organisers that this is an issue we need to discuss more openly and take more seriously on a fandom-wide scale.
How will the data be used
The data will be completely anonymised - date, time, IP etc. of the survey will be erased before being entered into its final raw format, which is an SPSS dataset. The dataset will be analysed using a piece of software called SPSS, which is a software package for statistical analysis.
The results of the analysis will be included in a report, which will have two versions; an informal and formal version. The informal version will be aimed at general readership, while the formal version will read more like a scientific paper. The analysis and report will include graphs, tables, descriptive statistics, and inferential/analytical statistics.
I don't, at this time, intend to approach a scientific journal for publication, although once the report is ready, I'd be happy for anyone in the community qualified to do so, to peer-review the work.
What conventions will you be doing a panel at?
I haven't formally approached any yet as the project isn't even approaching completion, but I aim to start at Confuzzled 2015. After that, it depends on what conventions I can go to.
Why is this research important?
We all know that a large proportion of convention-goers have sex at conventions, but we, as a fandom, treat it as a dirty open secret. We have no idea how many of those people have unprotected sex, how many have or have had an STI, how frequently these people have STI tests, and so on. But we still put hundreds or even thousands of people together in one place for several days at a time, knowing many of them use it as a venue for sexual activity, without ever wanting to raise the elephant in the room, which is sexual health.
Conventions are supposed to take the health and well-being of their guests seriously, but have always been reluctant to address this very glaring issue. In some ways, I can't blame them. With the mainstream perception of sexuality in this fandom, the last thing they want at a high-profile event is someone standing around the lobby, or running an event talking about condoms. This research acts as a tool for convention goers to help them make more informed choices about their sexual activities at conventions, and as a tool for convention organisers to inform their policies on sexual health.
What about fake/duplicate responses?
The survey blocks duplicate responses, and while there are ways around that (which I won't discuss here for obvious reasons), it takes an active effort to do so. In addition, SPSS has tools for detecting duplicates and spurious results.
Wouldn't [insert research method] have been better?
The following were the requirements for my data collection method:
1) Maintain anonymity
2) Gather a sample size of 700+ in 2 weeks
3) Can be promoted on social media
4) At a personal financial cost of £25GBP or less
5) Using a method that produces data which can be quickly and readily imported directly into a statistical analysis package such as SPSS
As such, I feel the methodology I used both fit those requirements, and produced a robust dataset.
Isn't 10 questions a bit restrictive?
10 questions means the respondent can answer the survey fully in under 3 minutes, and can still provide a lot of useful data. Even from just 10 targeted questions about someone's sexuality and sex at conventions, we can extrapolate, as a couple of examples:
* Who had unprotected sex with someone that wasn't their romantic partner at their last con
* Of those with a romantic partner, who has sex outside of that relationship (and who has unprotected sex) at conventions
* Many, many other things
This does have limitations, however. The question about STI tests asks whether someone has ever been diagnosed with them, not whether they have an active infection (though, for example, with HIV, this invariably implies they do).
Why are most of the questions only about my most recent convention?
The purpose of the survey is to get a snapshot of a typical convention from someone. Instead of asking someone to subjectively think back to what they think is their most typical convention, I asked about their most recent convention in order to avoid this subjective judgement, and to ensure the respondent is also thinking about the convention for which their memory is going to be most fresh.
What are your qualifications/credentials?
By trade, I'm a Zoologist with experience in research. I've also previously worked as a youth worker and helped to administer research surveys in that position. I therefore have workplace experience with data collection and statistical analysis, scientific communication, and sexual health education.
When will the report, etc. be available?
When real life allows me to complete it. However, it should be completed well before May 2015.
Noxy
~noxal
You have my utmost respect for doing this. Thank you. Genuinely.
RaveWolfRomel
~ravewolfromel
I agree, this fandom has never had an outbreak that I'm aware of, but I know we yiff a lot and I am no exception to that and I have not always been perfect, but I have never yiffed outside the fandom, ever. It has been my saving grace. Perfect so far.
Rus_Regnum
~rusregnum
It's a really, really good thing you're doing, dude.
Auspex
~auspex
The format of questions after which sex acts were performed was a bit confusing, if the answer was non-penetrative sex only. The question description pertaining to number of condomed partners says not applicable but the answer form requires a text input expecting a number.
Xolani
~xolani
OP
Put zero.
