Posted by twinleaf on November 9, 2008, at 10:49:19
In reply to Re: Research project » twinleaf, posted by seldomseen on November 9, 2008, at 6:31:02
I think that our roles will inevitably change to some degree. Now, we re all here for the same spectrum of reasons, although with different emphases- some people like the fun and support of Social the best, others need information from Medications, still others find understanding and support on Psychology. We all got here the same way: we found the board ourselves and wanted to be part of it. Because we know this about one another, we can become very trusting and can confide a great deal in one another. I would not be able to feel the same common bond with members of a research study who got here, not because of personal desire, but because it is a requirement of their participation in the study.
We don't know what the study is, but just to imagine one among many possibilities: the participants may be studied to see if the degree of their emotional participation here correlates with the degree of improvement in their personal psychotherapies. Interacting with people who are knowingly being studied is not the same as interacting with self-selected babblers. We are here because we gain something valuable from being here. They will be here because that is a condition of their study participation. It's possible that they will be paid a small amount.
We all know that Dr. Bob's principal professional interest is exploring the roles that the new communication technologies may have in psychotherapy. A valuable spin-off of that interest has been Babble. Up to now, anecdotal material from babblers has undoubtedly been used by Dr Bob in his teaching; we knew this was happening, and no-one minded, as far as I know. But this is different; the nature of Babble itself is being somewhat altered so that it can serve as a study vehicle. I do not want to be part of a study in which I do not even know what is being studied! Those of us who have been here a long time are going to be "inferior citizens" compared to the study members, because they will have know much more than we do.
poster:twinleaf
thread:861412
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20081003/msgs/861749.html