Winning Poster Prize of the BSA Medical Sociology Group Annual Conference 2012 - Trust me, I'm a researcher - The role of trust in the human research enterprise by Marilys Guillemir.

1. “Trust me, I’m a researcher”
The role of trust in the human research enterprise
Research question: What is the role of trust in Key findings:
“I was truthful with my
research, from the perspective of researchers and • Trust is an implicit rather than explicit feature of
answers because
research participants? research
subconsciously, the
person on the phone •
Why does this matter? was nice to me, and it
Trust is vital to all aspects of the human research was a trusting thing…” • For research participants, institutional trust is more
enterprise. However there is no empirical evidence
important
about the actual role of trust in research.
 Institutional trust is based on general
reputation, perceived rigour of research
Methods: governance practices, and commitment to
Qualitative individual interviews (in progress) with 15 using the research for the public good
“I probably subconsciously thought with the university
researchers and 22 research participants involved in
like Melbourne, with such a big renowned university, • Participants value researchers being open,
sensitive (high-risk) projects encompassing different
that they would have some sort of checks and respectful and “nice”, but do not perceive this as
research designs (in-depth interviews, longitudinal
surveys) processes in place”. trust.
For participants:
Why would I participate in research? Implications for research practice:
 Desire to help • Face to face interaction can be beneficial but is not
 Contribute essential for enabling the foundations of trust in
 Social obligation
research
 Curious
• Revalidates the importance of the ethics review
1. Do I trust the “It’s the university I trust…” process as part of institutional trust and
institution? governance
(reputation, • A failing in the research ethics review processes
governance and If BOTH
Interpersonal trust could damage institutional trust.
public good) acceptable,
with researcher
decide to Authors Contact: Marilys Guillemin
2. Is participation participate Centre for Health and Society
Marilys Guillemin
too risky? University of Melbourne, Australia
Lynn Gillam m.guillemin@unimelb.edu.au
Foundations of trust Paul Stewart
established
Doreen Rosenthal Poster prepared by
Emma Barnard
Hannah Walker