New research study - ATVs and helmet wearing

[Drirwin]

Dear all,

We would like to invite you to participate in a 20min online survey study designed to investigate farmer thoughts and attitudes towards ATV riding and helmet wearing. We are a pair of researchers from the University of Aberdeen, School of Psychology (you can read more about our research here: https://research.abdn.ac.uk/applied-psych-hf/).

The study itself involves taking part in an online survey which should take no longer than 20 to 30mins to complete. The survey will include questions about ATV regulations, your thoughts on ATV safety and the use of PPE such as helmets. The survey is anonymous, and so we will not ask you for any potentially identifying information (such as your name). Any farmer, farm worker or contractor in the UK or Ireland is welcome to take part – you just need to be aged 18 or over and have used a sit astride ATV at some point for farming purposes.
For further information on the study, and to take part, just click this link to be taken directly to the survey: http://viis.abdn.ac.uk/snapwebhost/s.asp?k=160321339769

Thanks in advance for all your help!
Jana & Amy

Psychology lecturer, University of Aberdeen: Dr Amy Irwin: [email protected]

Undergraduate thesis student: Jana Mihulkova: [email protected]

 

[Highland Mule]

Done.
Few notes:
Formats horribly on iphone
Asks about agricultural qualifications - I am degree qualified, but in engineering - I put none.
Asks about atv training - seems to suggest all training should be formal and by a recognised institute. I train all my people myself, and record as such. That’s good enough in my opinion, but not covered by your survey.
legal requirements - no option for “none of the above”
Multiple choice questions would benefit from a N/A option (I’ve never been to an ATV ship, so can’t comment on what the posters look like there).

 

[deleted user 436632456]

I got to the "What country are you from?".. No N. Ireland option

 

[Drirwin]

I got to the "What country are you from?".. No N. Ireland option

That I can sort immediately, I apologise for the lapse (we were trying to be as general as possible so thought a more general 'Ireland' option better than separating but I can see that was the wrong decision and will update now).

 

[Drirwin]

Done.
Few notes:
Formats horribly on iphone
Asks about agricultural qualifications - I am degree qualified, but in engineering - I put none.
Asks about atv training - seems to suggest all training should be formal and by a recognised institute. I train all my people myself, and record as such. That’s good enough in my opinion, but not covered by your survey.
legal requirements - no option for “none of the above”
Multiple choice questions would benefit from a N/A option (I’ve never been to an ATV ship, so can’t comment on what the posters look like there).
[/QUOTE]

Thanks so much for taking part - I will into the iphone aspect, it should format ok so will check incase there is a tech issue.
In terms of qualifications - we specifically want to know about agricultural qualifications so you answered correctly with none (not assessing general education level, only specific agri education).
ATV training can be formal or not - we have left the answer box option open for details, though I will tweak the phrasing to make sure this is clear.
Legal requirements - you can choose to not select any which is the equivalent of responding 'none' and is easier to code from an analysis point of view.
Similarly - because you can skip items that are not relevant or you don't want to answer that is the equivalent of responding N/A but again is easier from an analysis point of view (just registers as 0 if you don't choose a response option which is easier than having to go through and recode N/A responses to 0 - its part of the SNAP software).

 

[deleted user 436632456]

That I can sort immediately, I apologise for the lapse (we were trying to be as general as possible so thought a more general 'Ireland' option better than separating but I can see that was the wrong decision and will update now).

Yep, You have got to keep the No Surrender's happy
It's like asking a true scotch man to select England lol.

In all seriousness, more than happy to complete the survey

 

[Drirwin]

Yep, You have got to keep the No Surrender's happy
It's like asking a true scotch man to select England lol.

In all seriousness, more than happy to complete the survey

Thanks so much - the N.Ireland option is now added so please do complete when you have a minute

 

[deleted user 436632456]

Thanks so much - the N.Ireland option is now added so please do complete when you have a minute

Done,
I am actually a statistic.. Helmet probably saved my life when I was 19.
Was out slug pelleting..my ears got really cold...so I decided to put on the Helmet.. the next load... the quad's CV joint seized mid flight whilst in the field... thrown me possibly 20 foot.. quad came down and landed on my head.. smashing the helmet in two... I don't remember much for the next few days after that

 

[Agrivator]

I'm afraid that the results from this survey will be completely biassed.

Most of the 5%? of folk, users or not, who have been brainwashed by all the publicity regarding wearing helmets, will complete the survey and indicate their belief that helmets improve safety.

Most of the other 95% ? who don't wear helmets will be irritated by yet another survey/campaign regarding wearing helmets, will (like me) attempt to complete the survey, but give up in exasperation partway through.

In summary, wearing helmets on bikes is dangerous:

It is inconvenient.

You can't hear.

You can't see.

It is difficult to look behind, and can lead to neck strain.

It might give a false sense of security.

But what do I know. I have been rising bikes on steep and rough hill ground daily for only thirty years, so there might be far more experienced users with converse opinions. But training in riding bikes is vital for inexperienced riders, but only if there is no compulsion to wear a helmet on the training course.

 

[Highland Mule]

I'm afraid that the results from this survey will be completely biassed.

Most of the 5%? of folk, users or not, who have been brainwashed by all the publicity regarding wearing helmets, will complete the survey and indicate their belief that helmets improve safety.

Most of the other 95% ? who don't wear helmets will be irritated by yet another survey/campaign regarding wearing helmets, will (like me) attempt to complete the survey, but give up in exasperation partway through.

In summary, wearing helmets on bikes is dangerous:

It is inconvenient.

You can't hear.

You can't see.

It is difficult to look behind, and can lead to neck strain.

It might give a false sense of security.

But what do I know. I have been rising bikes on steep and rough hill ground daily for only thirty years, so there might be far more experienced users with converse opinions. But training in riding bikes is vital for inexperienced riders, but only if there is no compulsion to wear a helmet on the training course.

You do know that evidence is not the plural of anecdote, don’t you?

Last time this was discussed, I referenced an Irish study undertaken by medical/ A&E units, which showed quite clearly that the risk is far higher when you don’t wear a helmet. Feel free to search for Peer Reviewed evidence to the contrary, but I suspect you won’t find any.

Clearly, you have bad experience of wearing one (the wrong one perhaps?), and I respect your right to put yourself in unnecessary danger, but don’t push your ill-thought prejudices into impressionable others, please.

 

[Drirwin]

I'm afraid that the results from this survey will be completely biassed.

Most of the 5%? of folk, users or not, who have been brainwashed by all the publicity regarding wearing helmets, will complete the survey and indicate their belief that helmets improve safety.

Most of the other 95% ? who don't wear helmets will be irritated by yet another survey/campaign regarding wearing helmets, will (like me) attempt to complete the survey, but give up in exasperation partway through.

In summary, wearing helmets on bikes is dangerous:

It is inconvenient.

You can't hear.

You can't see.

It is difficult to look behind, and can lead to neck strain.

It might give a false sense of security.

But what do I know. I have been rising bikes on steep and rough hill ground daily for only thirty years, so there might be far more experienced users with converse opinions. But training in riding bikes is vital for inexperienced riders, but only if there is no compulsion to wear a helmet on the training course.

Thanks for giving it a go - the survey is in no way linked to a campaign - possibly because you gave up halfway through (which is of course your choice) you missed all the items asking about comfort, visibility, reasons for both wearing AND not wearing etc. We genuinely just want to understand why farmers do and do not wear helmets - now I have to say that I am all for helmets and DO absolutely think wearing one is vital (for reasons Highland Mule has outlined above) but that isn't the purpose of the survey - the survey is to explore all viewpoints and then share that information (e.g. if lots of folk think helmets are uncomfortable or too pricey that's important info to have and might lead to design changes etc). As such I REALLY do want to hear from folks such as yourself who have reasons for not wearing helmets - I might not agree with you on a personal level but its really important information from a research perspective. But, as I say, the survey is voluntary for ethical reasons and so I can't control who does and does not fill it out - I can only hope for as broad a sample as possible so that we get some insight into a lot of different viewpoints.

 

[steveR]

Done,
I am actually a statistic.. Helmet probably saved my life when I was 19.
Was out slug pelleting..my ears got really cold...so I decided to put on the Helmet.. the next load... the quad's CV joint seized mid flight whilst in the field... thrown me possibly 20 foot.. quad came down and landed on my head.. smashing the helmet in two... I don't remember much for the next few days after that

FFS!!! Scarey stuff.

I'm a motorcyclist so well used to wearing "skid lids" and always feel twitchy without one when on a quad!

Survey done.

 

[steveR]

I'm afraid that the results from this survey will be completely biassed.

Most of the 5%? of folk, users or not, who have been brainwashed by all the publicity regarding wearing helmets, will complete the survey and indicate their belief that helmets improve safety.

Most of the other 95% ? who don't wear helmets will be irritated by yet another survey/campaign regarding wearing helmets, will (like me) attempt to complete the survey, but give up in exasperation partway through.

In summary, wearing helmets on bikes is dangerous:

It is inconvenient.

You can't hear.

You can't see.

It is difficult to look behind, and can lead to neck strain.

It might give a false sense of security.

But what do I know. I have been rising bikes on steep and rough hill ground daily for only thirty years, so there might be far more experienced users with converse opinions. But training in riding bikes is vital for inexperienced riders, but only if there is no compulsion to wear a helmet on the training course.

I seem to recall all of the arguments above were used back in the day, as reasons why motorcyclists should not have to wear helmets when legislation was brought in to make their use compulsory!!

As I am (just) old enough to remember riding without a lid, I can state that from my perception, the only issue I have in wearing a helmet, sometimes for hours on end in a day, is if it is not fitting properly. I gave away a near enough brand new full face AGV that had cost over a 100 quid, so a £250 helmet in modern pricing, as it was uncomfortable.

My quad helmets have always been bike helmets as I felt I had more choice on getting a good fit... Granted, there is a better choice nowadays I believe.

 

[Loftyrules]

I'm afraid that the results from this survey will be completely biassed.

Most of the 5%? of folk, users or not, who have been brainwashed by all the publicity regarding wearing helmets, will complete the survey and indicate their belief that helmets improve safety.

Most of the other 95% ? who don't wear helmets will be irritated by yet another survey/campaign regarding wearing helmets, will (like me) attempt to complete the survey, but give up in exasperation partway through.

In summary, wearing helmets on bikes is dangerous:

It is inconvenient.

You can't hear.

You can't see.

It is difficult to look behind, and can lead to neck strain.

It might give a false sense of security.

But what do I know. I have been rising bikes on steep and rough hill ground daily for only thirty years, so there might be far more experienced users with converse opinions. But training in riding bikes is vital for inexperienced riders, but only if there is no compulsion to wear a helmet on the training course.

I'm one of the 5% who do wear one....I haven't been brainwashed it is a personal choice, I have no issues with hearing, or vision when wearing one so maybe give one a try someday soon.

 

[Agrivator]

Thanks for giving it a go - the survey is in no way linked to a campaign - possibly because you gave up halfway through (which is of course your choice) you missed all the items asking about comfort, visibility, reasons for both wearing AND not wearing etc. We genuinely just want to understand why farmers do and do not wear helmets - now I have to say that I am all for helmets and DO absolutely think wearing one is vital (for reasons Highland Mule has outlined above) but that isn't the purpose of the survey - the survey is to explore all viewpoints and then share that information (e.g. if lots of folk think helmets are uncomfortable or too pricey that's important info to have and might lead to design changes etc). As such I REALLY do want to hear from folks such as yourself who have reasons for not wearing helmets - I might not agree with you on a personal level but its really important information from a research perspective. But, as I say, the survey is voluntary for ethical reasons and so I can't control who does and does not fill it out - I can only hope for as broad a sample as possible so that we get some insight into a lot of different viewpoints.

You are obviously strongly biassed to begin with, but you haven't attempted to answer my first point, where I said:

''I'm afraid that the results from this survey will be completely biassed.

Most of the 5%? of folk, users or not, who have been brainwashed by all the publicity regarding wearing helmets, will complete the survey and indicate their belief that helmets improve safety.

Most of the other 95% ? who don't wear helmets will be irritated by yet another survey/campaign regarding wearing helmets, will (like me) attempt to complete the survey, but give up in exasperation partway through.''

Had I been you supervisor, I would have suggested that your first question be aimed at regular users and ask:

''Do you believe that wearing a helmet on an ATV is a necessary aid to safety? Yes or No.

This would have given an indication of the numbers in each camp, and enabled you to direct the ''Yes' and ''No'' voters to two separate surveys. But like most surveys conducted on here, it hasn't been very well thought through.

 

[Drirwin]

You are obviously strongly biassed to begin with, but you haven't attempted to answer my first point, where I said:

''I'm afraid that the results from this survey will be completely biassed.

Most of the 5%? of folk, users or not, who have been brainwashed by all the publicity regarding wearing helmets, will complete the survey and indicate their belief that helmets improve safety.

Most of the other 95% ? who don't wear helmets will be irritated by yet another survey/campaign regarding wearing helmets, will (like me) attempt to complete the survey, but give up in exasperation partway through.''

Had I been you supervisor, I would have suggested that your first question be aimed at regular users and ask:

''Do you believe that wearing a helmet on an ATV is a necessary aid to safety? Yes or No.

This would have given an indication of the numbers in each camp, and enabled you to direct the ''Yes' and ''No'' voters to two separate surveys. But like most surveys conducted on here, it hasn't been very well thought through.

Sigh, first I am not a student I am a Psychology lecturer with 10+ years of designing, running and publishing surveys (so I am the supervisor) - what is your expertise in survey development? Second, we ask participants to rate the importance of wearing a helmet which gets at exactly what you are suggesting whilst avoiding the difficulties associated with a dichotomous yes/no question from a stats perspective. Third, having two separate surveys, each designed to ask questions linked to the participant's initial thoughts about helmet wearing, would absolutely bias the results (and how would those results even be comparable if the questions were skewed to a yay or nay perspective??). To avoid bias all participants must be asked the same questions, in the same manner, to avoid the question itself biasing the response - the questions have been taken from validated scales used to assess attitudes and behaviours for driving a range of vehicles and adapted to ATVs and thus have around 5 years of data detailing the use of most of the items with multiple populations to ensure reliable responses and clear understanding of the question. In terms of ensuring we get a range of perspectives - thus far (though its early days) we have around 50/50 in terms of folks stating they do, or do not, use a helmet so it would appear that people are willing to take part either way - except you of course. Oh and in terms of being thought through - this survey was developed on the basis of the last 20 years of research on this topic, has been checked over by representatives from farming organisations, farmers and regulators, as well as run though an ethics committee, so I very much resent the suggestion that the research has not been thought through.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

I have done it, forwarded the link to my son for him to do. Interestingly he never wears a helmet on the quad, but always on his motorbike. I think I may be a little bit curmudgeonly and set in my ways, but he is young so two view points on why we don't wear a helmet.

 

[Drirwin]

I have done it, forwarded the link to my son for him to do. Interestingly he never wears a helmet on the quad, but always on his motorbike. I think I may be a little bit curmudgeonly and set in my ways, but he is young so two view points on why we don't wear a helmet.

Excellent, thanks very much!

 

[Bruce Almighty]

I've done it.
I don't wear a helmet.
I probably feel most at risk on the road, as the risk will come from another motorist
Our insurers did a big risk assessment last year & said my brother & I didn't need training as we are the business owners, but did say have a helmet & training for family & staff

 

[Tarw Coch]

Sigh, first I am not a student I am a Psychology lecturer with 10+ years of designing, running and publishing surveys (so I am the supervisor) - what is your expertise in survey development? Second, we ask participants to rate the importance of wearing a helmet which gets at exactly what you are suggesting whilst avoiding the difficulties associated with a dichotomous yes/no question from a stats perspective. Third, having two separate surveys, each designed to ask questions linked to the participant's initial thoughts about helmet wearing, would absolutely bias the results (and how would those results even be comparable if the questions were skewed to a yay or nay perspective??). To avoid bias all participants must be asked the same questions, in the same manner, to avoid the question itself biasing the response - the questions have been taken from validated scales used to assess attitudes and behaviours for driving a range of vehicles and adapted to ATVs and thus have around 5 years of data detailing the use of most of the items with multiple populations to ensure reliable responses and clear understanding of the question. In terms of ensuring we get a range of perspectives - thus far (though its early days) we have around 50/50 in terms of folks stating they do, or do not, use a helmet so it would appear that people are willing to take part either way - except you of course. Oh and in terms of being thought through - this survey was developed on the basis of the last 20 years of research on this topic, has been checked over by representatives from farming organisations, farmers and regulators, as well as run though an ethics committee, so I very much resent the suggestion that the research has not been thought through.

Haven’t looked at this particular survey but have had the feeling in the past , what numpty wrote this, the wording has been such that it would seem the author has no practical knowledge of farming and as such the questions have been very poor and therefore I came to the conclusion that any results from such a survey would be a case of garbage in, garbage out..............although you seem quite pleased with your efforts