Soon after entering the research field, I heard many mumblings of distrust among the clients. References to the Tuskegee study were common, with the whole picture painted with that brush. Our clients were dispossessed, which fed into the mindset. Many were convinced we were making big money off them. Or we were using them to have cushy jobs.
At first I was offended. But that didn’t do me any good because you can’t sugarcoat things like Tuskegee. Here’s the one strategy I used:
Have the conversation.
Until you do, the toxicity of the topic will remain. Don’t avoid it. Inquire more about their beliefs, and how they came about. Respond with your own beliefs about Tuskegee. You may agree with them. But make sure to explain the legitimacy of your study in detail before your conversation ends. Opening up will only create more buy-in for your project.
Seth Godin put out a helpful post about this topic.
Bottom line: Listen to your clients. Share your views too.
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