In April 2007 we will post the first installment of a series of blogs we are presenting on the roll of the participant in the research and evaluation process. This “Participant Primer” is meant to demystify the different methods the Improve Group uses while working with human subjects and the data they provide. I’ve never really liked the term “Human Subjects,” it always reminds me of looking at people under a microscope or plot lines in an old episode Star Trek. What the term really means is someone like you who may provide us with information or data pertinent to our research. We thought this series would give you a little more background about why we ask for your help and how we handle the information you contribute.

Our upcoming series of blogs will include information on:

• Focus Groups
• Interviews
• Surveys
• Observations
• Secondary Analysis

For more information about working with human subjects see a previous Inside Groove blog posting under the Evaluation category of our blog called Working with vulnerable research subjects - by Deborah Mattila.

-Staff author Susan Murphy