Understanding Credit Scores | University of Cambridge Research Project | Participants Required...

ms2268

Hello there!

My name is Matthew Sparkes; I am a researcher from the University of Cambridge (research.sociology.cam.ac.uk/profile/dr-matthew-sparkes). 

We are conducting a study to explore the way credit scores influence the lives of people who live in the UK. 

Our study asks questions about people’s understanding and awareness of credit scores, how they influence the way people access credit and for what purposes, and whether people discuss these matters with family and friends.

This information will be used to inform policy, provide evidence for discussion in the media and provide a rich resource for social researchers and educators in our universities and colleges.

Your point of view is important to us – it helps to ensure that the study represents all types of people across the UK. In the project we want to get the views and experiences from people of different ages and backgrounds, and with different credit scores, to enable us to represent the diverse nature of the UK population.

Your participation is completely voluntary, but we hope you will be able to help us as we rely on the good will and voluntary co-operation of those who are approached to take part to make the study a success.

For more information about the project please refer to the project website (understandingcreditscores-cambridgeproject.co.uk). If you wish to discuss any matter or confirm your interest in taking part, please contact us via the following email address: ms2268@cam.ac.uk.  

If you are interested in taking part, I would contact you to arrange a convenient time and place for an interview that should last approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes, depending on your circumstances. Follow-up interviews may take place six-months later if this fits into your arrangements.

Thank you for your time considering this request.

Yours faithfully,

Dr Matthew Sparkes

Principal Investigator

University of Cambridge

MalMonroe

ms2268 said:

Hello there!

My name is Matthew Sparkes; I am a researcher from the University of Cambridge (research.sociology.cam.ac.uk/profile/dr-matthew-sparkes). 

We are conducting a study to explore the way credit scores influence the lives of people who live in the UK. 

Our study asks questions about people’s understanding and awareness of credit scores, how they influence the way people access credit and for what purposes, and whether people discuss these matters with family and friends.

This information will be used to inform policy, provide evidence for discussion in the media and provide a rich resource for social researchers and educators in our universities and colleges.

Your point of view is important to us – it helps to ensure that the study represents all types of people across the UK. In the project we want to get the views and experiences from people of different ages and backgrounds, and with different credit scores, to enable us to represent the diverse nature of the UK population.

Your participation is completely voluntary, but we hope you will be able to help us as we rely on the good will and voluntary co-operation of those who are approached to take part to make the study a success.

For more information about the project please refer to the project website (understandingcreditscores-cambridgeproject.co.uk). If you wish to discuss any matter or confirm your interest in taking part, please contact us via the following email address: ms2268@cam.ac.uk.  

If you are interested in taking part, I would contact you to arrange a convenient time and place for an interview that should last approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes, depending on your circumstances. Follow-up interviews may take place six-months later if this fits into your arrangements.

Thank you for your time considering this request.

Yours faithfully,

Dr Matthew Sparkes

Principal Investigator

University of Cambridge

Hi. Have you contacted the forum team before posting? If you have, please could you state that at the beginning of your post?

If not, please could you contact them?  forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.

Please refer to the Forum Rules -

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/site/forum-faqs/?_ga=2.268715825.1366645115.1657472989-1113758814.1635189664&_gl=1*1ffuhdp*_ga*MTExMzc1ODgxNC4xNjM1MTg5NjY0*_ga_X74CWQS9F0*MTY1ODU4OTk0Mi4xOTQuMS4xNjU4NTkwMjc4LjE0

Which, under number 4, state - 

"Journalists, businesses, broadcasters, professional advisors and researchers should contact us before posting or if they would like information".

You may or may not be who you say you are, we on this forum have no way of actually knowing. Please ensure that your request is verified before you ask people to disclose their personal information, details or views on, or via, a public forum.

I've also been involved in university research projects in the past and have always, without exception, had to obtain permission beforehand.

Many thanks.

A concerned forumite.

ms2268

MalMonroe said:

ms2268 said:

Hello there!

My name is Matthew Sparkes; I am a researcher from the University of Cambridge (research.sociology.cam.ac.uk/profile/dr-matthew-sparkes). 

We are conducting a study to explore the way credit scores influence the lives of people who live in the UK. 

Our study asks questions about people’s understanding and awareness of credit scores, how they influence the way people access credit and for what purposes, and whether people discuss these matters with family and friends.

This information will be used to inform policy, provide evidence for discussion in the media and provide a rich resource for social researchers and educators in our universities and colleges.

Your point of view is important to us – it helps to ensure that the study represents all types of people across the UK. In the project we want to get the views and experiences from people of different ages and backgrounds, and with different credit scores, to enable us to represent the diverse nature of the UK population.

Your participation is completely voluntary, but we hope you will be able to help us as we rely on the good will and voluntary co-operation of those who are approached to take part to make the study a success.

For more information about the project please refer to the project website (understandingcreditscores-cambridgeproject.co.uk). If you wish to discuss any matter or confirm your interest in taking part, please contact us via the following email address: ms2268@cam.ac.uk.  

If you are interested in taking part, I would contact you to arrange a convenient time and place for an interview that should last approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes, depending on your circumstances. Follow-up interviews may take place six-months later if this fits into your arrangements.

Thank you for your time considering this request.

Yours faithfully,

Dr Matthew Sparkes

Principal Investigator

University of Cambridge

Hi. Have you contacted the forum team before posting? If you have, please could you state that at the beginning of your post?

If not, please could you contact them?  forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.

Please refer to the Forum Rules.

Which, under number 4, state - 

"Journalists, businesses, broadcasters, professional advisors and researchers should contact us before posting or if they would like information".

You may or may not be who you say you are, we on this forum have no way of actually knowing. Please ensure that your request is verified before you ask people to disclose their personal information, details or views on, or via, a public forum.

I've also been involved in university research projects in the past and have always, without exception, had to obtain permission beforehand.

Many thanks.

A concerned forumite.

Thank you for your post. 

Yes, I did receive permission to post this from MSE's Forum and Community Editor). I have been liaising with the team for a number of weeks, and only posted once he confirmed approval. 

I take ethical principles of academic research very seriously, including the confidentiality of people's circumstances, details and views. The project I described above has received ethical clearance form the University of Cambridge, and upholds the highest standards of academic conduct. 

Many thanks for your diligence here. I would be happy to answer any questions relating to my work or the project. 

Best wishes, 
Matthew 

ms2268

Good morning,

I am reposting details about my understanding credit score research project with permission of the Forum Admin team.

I have been trying to recruit for some time through various avenues, but so far have only managed to speak with a handful of people about their views on credit scores and what impact it has had on their access to credit. 

I know how important this topic is to forumites on Money Saving Expert, and I hope my research can help contribute to a broader debate about the role of credit scores in our society. 

If you might be free to contribute to this project, I would be extremely grateful.

There is more information about the project on this website: www.understandingcreditscores-cambridgeproject.co.uk/

If you wish to ask any questions, or are happy to register your interest, I can be reached on this email: ms2268@cam.ac.uk

Thank you for your time and consideration. 

Kind regards

Matthew 

(University Profile: www.research.sociology.cam.ac.uk/profile/dr-matthew-sparkes). 

MorningcoffeeIV

ms2268 said:

I have been trying to recruit for some time through various avenues, but so far have only managed to speak with a handful of people about their views on credit scores and what impact it has had on their access to credit. 

The problem is that you've posted on a site where people are generally more interested in financial matters than average, and so most here understand that credit scores are only a gimmick and play no part in lending or access to credit in the UK.

If you want to reach those who believe in credit scores and how they respond to them, you'll need to go somewhere where the level of understanding is far lower. The Daily Mail website, for example.

ms2268

Thank you for your comment and suggestion. (Sorry for the delayed response, I did not get a notification.)

Actually, the points you have just made would be invaluable to my research project. I am not just searching for those who 'believe in credit scores' but also those who understand what they are, how they work, and how this may or may not influence the financial decisions they make. 

To try and get a balanced sample I have so far approached the CRAs, StepChange, Citizens Advice, The Money and Mental Health Charity, and ClearScore.

And I think you and the others who use MSE forums, and are very knowledgeable about credit scores and financial matters, would be invaluable to my project. I would really be grateful if you (and others who use MSE) would be willing to take part. Please do email me and I can share further information about the project. 

Thank you for your time, 
Matthew 

ms2268

Good morning,

I wanted to post an update about the research project I discussed above.

Over the past 6 months, I have been interviewing people about their understanding of credit scores and the unequal impact they have, as part of a research project I am conducting from the University of Cambridge. So far, I have spoken with 28 people who found out about the project from StepChange, the Money and Mental Health Charity, Equifax, UK Mortgage Prisoners, and the MSE forum.

Many contributors are very knowledgeable about what credit scores are, and others feel like their credit scores are not a true reflection of who they are as a person. All are concerned about the impact their credit score has, and the unfair (and sometimes biased) way data is collected and used.  

I know these are issues some people feel strongly about and they are regularly discussed on MSE forums, such as ‘What your credit score really means’.

If anyone else would like to contribute to the project, please do get in touch with me by email on ms2268@cam.ac.uk. I would be very grateful for your contribution. 

This is the last time I will post about the project here, but I will share the insights contributors have provided to me on relevant forums and through reports in the hope these will assist others. 

Thanks for reading.

Matthew