Evidence Library

Abstract: Aim: To test the hypothesis that when an interviewer discloses their mental health service user status, participants in a survey about discrimination will be more likely to share their experience. Methods: The participants in this study took part in a quantitative telephone survey. They were assigned to one of three groups: 1. The interviewer was a service user and was open about this. 2. The interviewer was a service user but did not disclose. 3. The interviewer was not a service user. All groups were asked the same questions and their responses were compared. Findings/ recommendations: No differences were found in the levels of discrimination reported to any of the interviewers. Fewer people agreed to take part in the study when told they would be interviewed by a service user. However, fewer questions were left unanswered by the group that were interviewed by a peer. The authors conclude that the peer status of an interviewer does not have a broad impact on quantitative data collected by a structured questionnaire. There may be more of an impact during in-depth qualitative interviews, when the rapport between the interviewer and interviewee makes a significant difference.

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Categories: health
Undertaking research
impact on research
impact of public involvement
journal article

Date Entered: 2014/11/05

Date Edited: 2014/11/05