Research participation effects: a skeleton in the methodological cupboard.

Area of Science:

• Biostatistics
• Epidemiology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Long-standing concerns exist regarding the impact of research participation on study outcomes.
• Existing conceptualizations of these impacts are insufficient for rigorous study.
• This work introduces a novel framework to address these long-standing issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the construct of "research participation effects" (RPE) for a multidisciplinary understanding of biases.
• To encourage empirical investigation into conditions where RPE significantly influences study findings.
• To promote a participant-centered perspective in research design and methodology.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing concepts and empirical work on biases in surveys and cohort studies.
• Proposal of a unifying construct to connect various known biases.
• Conceptual analysis of the research process from a participant's viewpoint.

Main Results:

• The construct of "research participation effects" (RPE) is proposed as a tool for advancing understanding of biases.
• Empirical studies are necessary to determine the magnitude of RPE and inform methodological adjustments.
• A participant-centered view may enhance research methodology broadly.

Conclusions:

• Researchers may underestimate the unique nature of research settings and participant responses.
• Unexpected participant reactions can introduce various biases into research studies.
• Adopting a participant-centered approach can mitigate potential biases and improve research quality.