Quote from: darkblade on January 29, 2015, 05:21:20 AM
Complete 
. Just curious, are we considered a representative sample (of trans preople)? Or do we not care about having a "representative" sample in transgender research and just hope for a big enough sample size to do decent statistics?
Good question and one we have thought about.
Most people trying to do surveys have limited access to the community and too often the access is by 'word of mouth to like feeling groups. A classic I have had looked at the value of dealing with therapists, unfortunately it was got hold of by a group that hated therapists and delivered one point of view, and second survey was captured by a group who had a positive experience, so both surveys were meaningless.
By offering access to very large groups we hope to overcome those issues, but of course it is still biased. Researchers have access to people who have the internet, who are motivated and who are willing to fill in surveys. I remember a talk by a geneticist who said it had taken years to get samples from 1000 people, I said I could give access to 15,000, they just about cried.
Research is important, politicians listen to scientists., even if they personally disagree, they have to listen in the end. As a young girl being transgender was almost unknown and facilities were none existent. I will not let trans*kids go through my life, I want my community to be cared for, to have facilities and to have rights. I will in any way I can break down the barriers so that we are treated like normal people, I am a normal woman. The children who identify as trans* will have normal healthy lives. If Susan and I can facilitate that we shall. But we will not compromise the safety of our community in any way.
