DNA test research - interviewees wanted

[MariaA]

Hi!

My name is Maria and I am a Master's student in the Netherlands. The course I'm doing is called Intercultural Communication in which I study diversity and all aspects involved. I'm currently in the process of writing a thesis about the effects of DNA- testing on the test-takers' sense of ethnic identity. For this I am looking for people who are willing to do an interview over Skype or Talky (no account needed for this one). However, if you really would not like to do it through (video) call then through PMs would be fine too. You will be completely anonymous and the interview data will only be used for educational purposes. I am looking for participants who received DNA results with some rather unexpected results, such as a high percentage of an ethnicity you were unaware of having; a low percentage of the ethnicity you thought would be high; or (an) ethnicity/ies you have which you hadn't expected at all. If you wish, I can send you my paper after completion.

Please know that with "interview" I mean that it will be more like a pleasant chat. I will not ask you questions about your family situation as this is not relevant for this study. I only want to discuss your own sense of your ethnic identity before and after the test.

Please let me know if you'd like to participate by replying to this post or send me a PM. Your help would be greatly appreciated! 

[sugarfizzle]

Welcome to Rootschat.

I hope you get some response, but most of the 'regulars' here take the ethnicity report lightly.

Some improvements recently, but still way off the mark for most of us.

Regards Margaret

[Gadget]

Yes welcome from me too 

I'd like to know more about your research - what is the broad subject area and what is your detailed methodology - is it qualitative and self selective? 

Gadget

[MariaA]

Thank you both!

The subject area is identity and the methodology is indeed qualitative. Due to time constraints,  it will be convenience sampling rather than self-selective. 

Best,
Maria

[Gadget]

I will be really interested in your results but my ethnicity results were strongly correlated with my genealogical research so there were no real surprises. Thus I can't help with the research but I wish you well with it 


Gadget 

[MariaA]

Aah ok!  I understand.

Thank you!

Maria

[davidft]

Maria

I am willing to answer questions and have sent you a PM


David

[mam i ddau]

I'd be happy to answer questions for you!

[Ruskie]

As Margaret says, most of us here don’t take the results very seriously.

Companies like Ancestry with their incessant advertising are promoting their DNA as a quick way to discover your ethnicity, which of course it is not. (false advertising?) 

We regularly have people asking about ethnicity percentages, so I think you will probably have some volunteers for your research.

I am a little surprised with some of my results, but generally they are as expected. I would be willing to answer your questions too though I’m not too sure how useful my answers will be as my results were not dramatically different.