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Promoting research participation: Why not advertise altruism?

Williams, Brian; Entwistle, Vikki; Haddow, Gill; Wells, Mary

Authors

Brian Williams

Vikki Entwistle

Gill Haddow

Mary Wells



Abstract

Participation rates have a major impact on the quality, cost and timeliness of health research. There is growing evidence that participation rates may be falling and that new research governance structures and procedures may be increasing the likelihood of recruitment bias. It may be possible to encourage public reflection about research participation and enhance recruitment by providing information about the potential benefits of research to others as well as to research participants and by stimulating debate and influencing social expectations about involvement. Publicly funded and charitable bodies use various forms of advertising to encourage altruistic behaviour and generate social expectations about donating money, blood and organs for the benefit of others. Consideration should be given to the use of similar persuasive communications to promote wider participation in health research generally.

Citation

Williams, B., Entwistle, V., Haddow, G., & Wells, M. (2008). Promoting research participation: Why not advertise altruism?. Social Science and Medicine, 66(7), 1451-1456. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2007.12.013

Journal Article Type Article
Online Publication Date Jan 28, 2008
Publication Date 2008-04
Deposit Date Mar 15, 2018
Journal Social Science and Medicine
Print ISSN 0277-9536
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 66
Issue 7
Pages 1451-1456
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2007.12.013
Keywords Response rate, Research participation, Altruism, Media, Advertising, Mass communication,
Public URL http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/837930





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