Florence Ashley takes note of a psychological and emotional phenomenon impacting research participants, particularly those who may be part of vulnerable populations, and are frequently invited or targeted to partake in research. This phenomenon may lead individuals to be hesitant or reluctant to participate in research, or they may reject participation altogether. What is this phenomenon called? Ashley notes four (4) factors that may lead to this occurring in participants. What are these factors and what does each factor mean?

what is research fatigue

a state of psychological and emotional exhaustion both towards and as a result of research participation.

factor 1

research concentration, which means the more time and effort participants invest in research, the more likely they are to feel fatigued. This can include the time spent deciding whether to participate, planning, and traveling to the site, which can involve financial costs.

factor 2

the burden of research. This is how tiring or emotionally draining a study can be based on its design and content. If participants feel bored, stressed, or uncomfortable with the questions, especially if they are repetitive, difficult, or upsetting, they are more likely to feel exhausted

factor 3

the perception of usefulness. If participants don’t see any real benefits from past participation, they may start to feel the research is pointless or lose interest in future studies. This can lead to frustration, especially for people from marginalized groups, who may feel that researchers are only interested in their own gain rather than as a collaborative partner. This can lead to participants viewing the research as exploitative.

factor 4

psychosocial vulnerability. This means that various mental health conditions may result in a greater potential for research fatigue. Marginalized communities often have fewer resources to deal with stress because of everyday struggles like discrimination and lack of social support. Researchers from privileged backgrounds may unintentionally cause more fatigue by not fully understanding the challenges faced by the participants.