Choosing Participants: Be Careful - Who you Choose Matters

Oh my! I made some participant choices that seriously impacted this study. And I'm still not sure if it was smart or stupid of me. My area of research is focused on LGBTQ populations on campus - an area that I'm passionate and driven by. So, when I decided to write on LGBTQ-identified student affairs (SA) professionals in campus communities, I figured that I could easily tap into my network of colleagues who I know are LGBTQ and are active and dedicated SA professionals. I know these peeps, I know where they work and live, I have a rapport and relationships with them ... this should be easy-peasy! Oh good lord! I forgot a little tidbit of information ... the better you know people, the more they talk. Now, if I had more time and energy to allocate to this class project, the in-depth conversations that I have with my colleagues and friends about this research topic would be priceless. The ability to mine the stories, experiences and critical incidents that my peeps are willing to share would captivate me, my time and attention. The problem is, I don't have that much time right now. And I definitely don't have that much energy. So, reminder to self: be careful and wise when choosing participants. The better your know them or the stronger the rapport that you have with them, the more data you are likely to collect and will need to mine.