What is the focus of your research project?

Karin Grasenick | February 2019

Research results might be relevant for different groups of users who have different needs and interests. Hence, considering diversity traits might lead to innovative outcomes.

• Does your research involve human subjects? (e.g., as participants or test users)
• Does your research involve animals, tissues, cells? (e.g., differentiate the sex or age of cells)
• Does your research involve public policies? (e.g., health, economic or technology policies)
• Will humans be affected by your research in daily life?

If one or more of the above is true, sex/gender and diversity aspects are likely to require further attention in your research project. Continue to consider these aspects and ask questions until you can clearly determine whether and what aspects are relevant.

Gender as “the biology shaped by environment and experience” might also be relevant in animal research: animal-to-animal interaction (role of the physical and social environment in which animals are housed), or the sex of the animal handler (effects on the animal due to sex differences in human odours, sounds, and animal handling) might have an impact (McGregor et al. 2016, p.66, Holdcroft 2007)

Commonalities and differences might refer to skills and capabilities, social and economic background, working and living environment, body composition, physiology, age, lifestyle (e.g., diet, physical activity, use of tobacco/alcohol/other drugs) etc. (see as well: “Relevant Analytic Dimensions and Definitions”).

For instance, “if a potential user group is women of reproductive age then ‘the problem at hand’ requires that the test consider at least four phases of the menstrual cycle (Becker et al., 2005). If a potential user group is pregnant women, then the treatment must be tested over nine months of pregnancy.” (Einstein 2012, p.4)

While it is important to analyse differences, do not forget to recognize and understand similarities (European Commission 2013 p.118).

Diversity analysis in research and technology can help to meet previously unmet needs or open new markets. “For example, heart disease has long been considered a male disease and ‘evidence-based’ diagnostic tests, treatments, and clinical standards are based on the most common presentation and pathophysiology in men. Yet heart disease is a major killer of women as well. Addressing heart disease in women has required changes in research priorities and has led to numerous insights.” (European Commission 2013, p.106)

Variables that interact with biological sex might include gender, age, race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation or sexual identity (McGregor et al. 2016). Make sure to get a good grasp of the differences between sex and gender. (See “Relevant Definitions and Analytic Dimensions”)

For instance, with regard to nutrition, food quality and safety, there might be differences related to sex (e.g., men and women differ in their susceptibility to diet-related diseases, their acute and chronic response to nutrients and the distribution of patterns of genetic coding or polymorphisms) as well as differences related to gender (e.g., risk perception, risk attitude, motivation with regard to one’s own and the family nutrition, the processing of nutrition information, attendance to different elements of dietary advice) (Klinge and Bosch 2005, p.388).

Gender identity and socialization also play a role with regard to asthma and allergies. For instance, it has been observed that boys face peer pressure to hide their condition and not use their inhalants when in the company of peers. Girls, in contrast, are more likely to incorporate their asthma in their social circle (see Genderbasic Project).

If you are working with humans, understanding the characteristics of your research subjects and users is crucial. It can help to consider the “subject” of your experiments as an active partner. For instance, in her study of neurobiological effects of female genital mutilation (FGM), Gillian Einstein paid particular attention to affected women’s perspectives and needs: “Asking participants what matters to them is both a source of agency and a way of uncovering important scientific ignorance that is a result of assumptions and prejudices of biomedicine.” (Einstein 2012, p.17)

“For example, assistive technologies have the potential to help the elderly remain independent; designers should take into account that the majority of the elderly and of elder caregivers are women” (European Commission 2013, p.108).