Exploring the Need for Functional Clothing …
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3 Method
To reach a broad population of adult women and have them disclose weight management information comfortably and anonymously, a self-administered online survey
was deemed suitable for the method of data collection. A self-administered questionnaire was developed and implemented using Jisc Online Surveys (formerly Bristol
Online Survey – BOS) and was available via a web-link. The questionnaire was
inclusively designed, to allow both exercisers and non-exercisers to answer the questions. It was limited to 20 questions and was designed to be completed in 5–10 min to
maximise the response rate. Multiple choice questions allowed respondents to selfreport weight and exercise management, whilst Likert rating scale questions allowed
respondents to comment on their level of belief and preference [27]. An optional,
open-ended question was also included for respondents to express any further views
or opinions on the clothing.
3.1 Sampling Method
The sampling methods of the study were volunteer and snowball [28]. The sample
was limited to adult women. No further inclusion criteria were adopted due to the
scoping nature of the study. The initial sampling strategy was controlled at three main
levels (1) friends/family/colleagues (2) social media public sharing and (3) weight
management programmes. However, permission to recruit participants via weight
management programmes was rejected as the study objectives did not fit with their
current research strategies. To ensure this sample was identified in the analysis, the
questionnaire allowed for participants to identify as a member of a weight management group. The sampling strategy was revised and dissemination of the survey was
controlled at two top levels (1) friends, family and colleagues and (2) social media.
The researcher contacted friends, family and colleagues to ask them to participate
in the study (volunteer method). On completion of the questionnaire, participants
were asked to inform other women who might be interested in completing the survey
(snowball method). A further internal dissemination to colleagues and students at
Loughborough University was achieved by submitting to the Loughborough University staff and student online noticeboard. The researcher also publicly advertised
across social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Follow
up reminders were implemented after three weeks to allow for the final week of
responses. The total duration of dissemination was 4 weeks.
45
3 Method
To reach a broad population of adult women and have them disclose weight management information comfortably and anonymously, a self-administered online survey
was deemed suitable for the method of data collection. A self-administered questionnaire was developed and implemented using Jisc Online Surveys (formerly Bristol
Online Survey – BOS) and was available via a web-link. The questionnaire was
inclusively designed, to allow both exercisers and non-exercisers to answer the questions. It was limited to 20 questions and was designed to be completed in 5–10 min to
maximise the response rate. Multiple choice questions allowed respondents to selfreport weight and exercise management, whilst Likert rating scale questions allowed
respondents to comment on their level of belief and preference [27]. An optional,
open-ended question was also included for respondents to express any further views
or opinions on the clothing.
3.1 Sampling Method
The sampling methods of the study were volunteer and snowball [28]. The sample
was limited to adult women. No further inclusion criteria were adopted due to the
scoping nature of the study. The initial sampling strategy was controlled at three main
levels (1) friends/family/colleagues (2) social media public sharing and (3) weight
management programmes. However, permission to recruit participants via weight
management programmes was rejected as the study objectives did not fit with their
current research strategies. To ensure this sample was identified in the analysis, the
questionnaire allowed for participants to identify as a member of a weight management group. The sampling strategy was revised and dissemination of the survey was
controlled at two top levels (1) friends, family and colleagues and (2) social media.
The researcher contacted friends, family and colleagues to ask them to participate
in the study (volunteer method). On completion of the questionnaire, participants
were asked to inform other women who might be interested in completing the survey
(snowball method). A further internal dissemination to colleagues and students at
Loughborough University was achieved by submitting to the Loughborough University staff and student online noticeboard. The researcher also publicly advertised
across social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Follow
up reminders were implemented after three weeks to allow for the final week of
responses. The total duration of dissemination was 4 weeks.