Bramblethorn
Sleep-deprived
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2012
- Posts
- 16,726
Sticking this up here so that next time, I can just link to it...
So, you're a student doing a research project. You need to ask people about BDSM - or some other "alternative sexuality" topic - and you've decided to do it here on Literotica?
That's great! There are plenty of folk here who are willing to talk to genuine researchers and further the understanding of people like us. But before you ask people here to answer your questions, there are a few things you should know.
#1: Information about people's sexuality is sensitive, and can be harmful if it falls into the wrong hands. Furthermore, some folk have been known to use non-existent "research projects" as an excuse to solicit wank fodder. If you want people to share that sort of information, you need to establish that you're legit and (not the same thing) that you understand how to protect our privacy.
That brings us to...
#2: Interviewing people about this stuff is "human subjects research". Any reputable university or research institution will have strict policies on how HSR can be conducted. This typically includes:
- Approval of proposed research by an Institutional Review Board.
- Providing a link to a webpage at your research institution, explaining the purpose of your research, including information about how respondents' data will be used and how their privacy will be protected.
- Providing the name and contact details of the researcher (you) and/or the faculty member overseeing this work, so we can check that you are who you say you are. [nb: it's against Literotica policy to post email addresses on these forums, instead you should provide that info on your website, and just post a link here.]
If you don't follow these rules, you may be risking disciplinary action. At least one grad student has ended up in hot water with their supervisor for conducting unauthorised research on Literotica. So please make sure you understand and adhere to best practice for this type of work.
#3: You're not the only professional researcher on this board. Expect us to hold you to the same standard that your professors would set... oh, and test your survey questions beforehand unless you really, really enjoy having a crowd of people tell you what's wrong with them.
So, you're a student doing a research project. You need to ask people about BDSM - or some other "alternative sexuality" topic - and you've decided to do it here on Literotica?
That's great! There are plenty of folk here who are willing to talk to genuine researchers and further the understanding of people like us. But before you ask people here to answer your questions, there are a few things you should know.
#1: Information about people's sexuality is sensitive, and can be harmful if it falls into the wrong hands. Furthermore, some folk have been known to use non-existent "research projects" as an excuse to solicit wank fodder. If you want people to share that sort of information, you need to establish that you're legit and (not the same thing) that you understand how to protect our privacy.
That brings us to...
#2: Interviewing people about this stuff is "human subjects research". Any reputable university or research institution will have strict policies on how HSR can be conducted. This typically includes:
- Approval of proposed research by an Institutional Review Board.
- Providing a link to a webpage at your research institution, explaining the purpose of your research, including information about how respondents' data will be used and how their privacy will be protected.
- Providing the name and contact details of the researcher (you) and/or the faculty member overseeing this work, so we can check that you are who you say you are. [nb: it's against Literotica policy to post email addresses on these forums, instead you should provide that info on your website, and just post a link here.]
If you don't follow these rules, you may be risking disciplinary action. At least one grad student has ended up in hot water with their supervisor for conducting unauthorised research on Literotica. So please make sure you understand and adhere to best practice for this type of work.
#3: You're not the only professional researcher on this board. Expect us to hold you to the same standard that your professors would set... oh, and test your survey questions beforehand unless you really, really enjoy having a crowd of people tell you what's wrong with them.
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