Health survey raises more questions
There has been further confusion on the methodology of a survey studying the sexual behaviour of the LGBTI community, commissioned by the Queensland Health Department, which made the rounds at only one venue in Fortitude Valley last weekend.
Research company Enhance Research only undertook “recruitment” for the maligned survey at the Wickham Hotel at the weekend and only outside of the premises on the footpath.
A spokesperson for the Health Department claims that the recruitment drive at the Wickham was a pilot “to see how the approach was received by patrons”.
The department said that the response on the night was generally positive and that further venues will be included in the survey recruitment drive.
“Recruitment for research was undertaken as people entered and left The Wickham Hotel rather than from inside as this was not only a faster way to recruit participants but also less intrusive for patrons,” a spokesperson told the Star Observer.
“Not all venues can be used to gather research as Queensland Health will request permission to approach a venue’s patrons before conducting any research.”
The survey had already attracted criticism from the LGBTI community, most notably from the executive director of the Queensland Association for Healthy Communities, Paul Martin, who said the survey “needed to prove its credibility” and questioned the survey’s transparency and independence along with its methodologies.
