tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3955304210599373230.post2779425671668889936..comments2024-03-25T11:13:20.941+00:00Comments on Fuse open science blog: 10,000 steps? Easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy!Fusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02167289608282259405noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3955304210599373230.post-51817402790630874622012-03-20T20:39:15.632+00:002012-03-20T20:39:15.632+00:00Yeah I think that is an important point and I ofte...Yeah I think that is an important point and I often wonder how much my general attitude to life (not just how much running I do) influences what research I find interesting and important. <br /><br />I only ever do numerical data analysis research, so this isn't a thing that would influence how people respond to me in interviews - because there are never any interviews for me. But that doesn't mean it doesn't matter in other ways. Funnily enough, my qualitative colleagues would always include reflections on their position and how this might influence their results in their reports. But with numerical data, that is never required. <br /><br />I guess it probably indicates how much quantitative and qualitative traditions have to learn from each other. <br /><br />Today's current total is 11,166.Fusehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02167289608282259405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3955304210599373230.post-8380388297886340062012-03-20T19:50:07.536+00:002012-03-20T19:50:07.536+00:00I wonder whether you think your healthier-than-ave...I wonder whether you think your healthier-than-average lifestyle affects your research? Do you think it makes it harder for unhealthy people to fess up about the influences on their lifestyles if they feel that the researcher interviewing them is very healthy? Or is that no more valid a suggestion than thinking those with diseases are less likely to talk openly to well people?<br /><br />I suspect that public health research jobs naturally attract people with healthy lifestyles. Is that healthy? Would it be useful for research institutes to employ people with different levels of healthiness in their lives? Would the odd stereotypical slobbish computer geek working in a research department provide different analytical insights? <br /><br />I think these are interesting questions. <br /><br />It strikes me that this would be a big issue in the arts and the social sciences. It's hard to imagine a wholly white sociological research group looking into black gang culture, for example, or an in-depth review of a director's filmography being conducted entirely by a team of watercolour artists (unless looking for a particular set of insights). Perhaps it's less of an issue in scientific study. Or perhaps my premise about the healthiness of public health researchers is wrong.<br /><br />As for the 10,000 steps: I exceed that most days, but wouldn't dream of a six-mile run!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3955304210599373230.post-31797349470025789482012-03-20T13:26:50.182+00:002012-03-20T13:26:50.182+00:0010,000 steps is clearly hard to achieve, even by a...10,000 steps is clearly hard to achieve, even by a fit, active person. So, the target needs verifying as meaningful first (in terms of health benefit). Setting targets can be motivating; but failing to achieve them demotivating. So, next we need research on the psychology of such targets. This may all have been done - someone needs to review the research literature. Let me know when you have a definitive answer. In the meantime, I'll be thinking of other targets to use in our obesity work...Martin Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15782487735953192199noreply@blogger.com