5.5. Thematic case studies
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thematic case studies
5.5
// At the conclusion of our research project, we sent
questionnaires to a number of our primary contacts. We asked them to pass these along to friends who they thought were less likely to have their voices heard in any other context.
We specifically requested that they encourage friends who
did not write blogs or take part in social activism in the public sphere to complete the questionnaires. We wanted to hear
from those who are less active in society, those who are more afraid of being ‘found out’, and those who are less visible. The
questionnaires presented here are all anonymous; Small Media does not personally know the respondents nor do we have an ongoing connection with any of them.
// We asked our core group of primary contacts to dis-
seminate the questionnaires for us and we stipulated that
respondents should reply with open format answers, as if they were speaking with a close friend. Through their statements, they share with you both the pain and the pleasure of their
everyday lives and we are gratefully indebted to them. We have chosen not to interpret or analyse what our respondents said
to us, as their words are simple, poignant, and self-explanatory. The thematic organisation of their statements clearly shows
what issues are paramount in their lives and they also form a strong basis of evidence supporting the recommendations at the conclusion of this report.
// We based our questionnaires around five themes:
trust, coming out, the virtual world, past/present/future, and the reactions of family and friends.
The responses we received are simultaneously heart-warming,
tragic, inspiring, horrific, and hopeful. We have presented them in their entirety in order to maintain the logical flow and particular way of speaking of each of our respondents.