Comments on: Collecting drug use data via cell phone http://boingboing.net/2009/10/22/collecting-drug-use.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:27:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: octopod http://boingboing.net/2009/10/22/collecting-drug-use.html#comment-619035 octopod Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-619035 hmm. is cell phone traffic privileged communication in canada? hmm. is cell phone traffic privileged communication in canada?

]]> By: Kyle Armbruster http://boingboing.net/2009/10/22/collecting-drug-use.html#comment-619078 Kyle Armbruster Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-619078 Of course participation is voluntary. I still don't understand why anyone would volunteer. I do psych research myself, and even though I never share personally-identifiable information, I can, of course, connect people with responses. I could get you the names of all of the respondents if you came to me with a subpoena, and I could connect them up to their responses. Luckily for both of us, I don't think anyone is going to subpoena foreign language speaking scores. For a drug study? Utilizing personally-identifiable, public-record information as the identifying factor? Yikes. No thanks. You can write anything you want into a waiver as a researcher, and you can also be the most careful person in the world with that data (most of us are). But if the cops came knocking on my door, I'm not going to jail for you. So the question I have is not really about answering the question; it's about volunteering to be asked, and then answering the question! Unless there's some sort of immunity granted to participants, I don't understand why anyone would participate. Anonymous questionnaires? Sure. Personalized, automated calls to my cellphone? <i>No freakin' way!</i> Of course participation is voluntary. I still don’t understand why anyone would volunteer. I do psych research myself, and even though I never share personally-identifiable information, I can, of course, connect people with responses. I could get you the names of all of the respondents if you came to me with a subpoena, and I could connect them up to their responses. Luckily for both of us, I don’t think anyone is going to subpoena foreign language speaking scores. For a drug study? Utilizing personally-identifiable, public-record information as the identifying factor? Yikes. No thanks.

You can write anything you want into a waiver as a researcher, and you can also be the most careful person in the world with that data (most of us are). But if the cops came knocking on my door, I’m not going to jail for you.

So the question I have is not really about answering the question; it’s about volunteering to be asked, and then answering the question! Unless there’s some sort of immunity granted to participants, I don’t understand why anyone would participate.

Anonymous questionnaires? Sure. Personalized, automated calls to my cellphone? No freakin’ way!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/22/collecting-drug-use.html#comment-619147 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-619147 My friend volunteered for this study. (You want to know why? They paid cash, of course!) But let me tell you, if there's one thing that would make me want to drink it's if my cell phone kept going off and asking me if I want to drink. My friend volunteered for this study. (You want to know why? They paid cash, of course!)

But let me tell you, if there’s one thing that would make me want to drink it’s if my cell phone kept going off and asking me if I want to drink.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/22/collecting-drug-use.html#comment-619153 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-619153 Menthol and Grape. Click. (captcha: whisky Hayns) Menthol and Grape. Click.
(captcha: whisky Hayns)

]]> By: Kyle Armbruster http://boingboing.net/2009/10/22/collecting-drug-use.html#comment-618961 Kyle Armbruster Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-618961 ...who would answer such a question--especially when they obviously know your cellphone number??? …who would answer such a question–especially when they obviously know your cellphone number???

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/22/collecting-drug-use.html#comment-618965 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-618965 When will people realize that malt liquor is just fine on its own? When will people realize that malt liquor is just fine on its own?

]]> By: octopod http://boingboing.net/2009/10/22/collecting-drug-use.html#comment-618970 octopod Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-618970 sounds annoying, but doesn't involve expired auto warranties, so could be weirder. sounds annoying, but doesn’t involve expired auto warranties, so could be weirder.

]]> By: epi_mom http://boingboing.net/2009/10/22/collecting-drug-use.html#comment-619226 epi_mom Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-619226 This is not unusual within survey methods circles and is a fantastic way to reach traditionally hard-to-reach populations. Back in the '90s, a survey guru I know was involved in several surveys with similar methodology; topics included drug use and prostitution. The researchers gave each of the participants a cell phone and the participant would get a monetary incentive for so many calls answered. It usually leads to high response rates and reduces bias, since participants are often more likely to answer sensitive health/behavioral questions for an automated system than they are to tell them to an interviewer. And, yes---public health researchers go to amazing lengths to protect the privacy of their participants. This is not unusual within survey methods circles and is a fantastic way to reach traditionally hard-to-reach populations. Back in the ’90s, a survey guru I know was involved in several surveys with similar methodology; topics included drug use and prostitution. The researchers gave each of the participants a cell phone and the participant would get a monetary incentive for so many calls answered. It usually leads to high response rates and reduces bias, since participants are often more likely to answer sensitive health/behavioral questions for an automated system than they are to tell them to an interviewer. And, yes—public health researchers go to amazing lengths to protect the privacy of their participants.

]]> By: coop http://boingboing.net/2009/10/22/collecting-drug-use.html#comment-618971 coop Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-618971 "who would answer such a question"? Easy, the same people who post incriminating stuff on FB or YT, and then get suprised when the cops, or their mum come calling. coop “who would answer such a question”?

Easy, the same people who post incriminating stuff on FB or YT, and then get suprised when the cops, or their mum come calling.

coop

]]> By: David Pescovitz http://boingboing.net/2009/10/22/collecting-drug-use.html#comment-618972 David Pescovitz Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-618972 @Kyle, as I said, they only call if you're participating in the study. @octopod, Totally! Now I'm getting the auto warranty calls in Spanish too! @Kyle, as I said, they only call if you’re participating in the study.

@octopod, Totally! Now I’m getting the auto warranty calls in Spanish too!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/22/collecting-drug-use.html#comment-618989 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-618989 Participation in research is voluntary - and participants are usually paid for their participation. Thus, the motivation. Also, it should be noted that generally, personal information is kept confidential, and any actual data (i.e. drug usage information) would be kept separate from all identifying information, with no way to connect the two. Participation in research is voluntary – and participants are usually paid for their participation. Thus, the motivation.

Also, it should be noted that generally, personal information is kept confidential, and any actual data (i.e. drug usage information) would be kept separate from all identifying information, with no way to connect the two.

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