Thread by @DrPetra

Today’s #ResearchTip is if you request information from another person as part of your research/practice and they share ideas,resources and tools with you, remember to thank them and acknowledge their labour. We’re all busy but don’t let this slide. Set a reminder if necessary /1

This is especially important during the pandemic when everyone is stretched to the limit and minoritised folk especially disadvantaged. If YOU ask THEM for help and they take time to respond, even if you don’t like what they share or it isn’t as useful as you hoped, thank them /2

Note also if they send information you can now work with (after thanking them) so you don’t persistently ask questions you could find answers to yourself. And where possible if you are requesting considerable amounts of time/labour/expertise formalise and budget for it /3

Thank you notes, a kind email or a reply that doesn’t just say you were grateful but why they were so helpful is a balm in these unkind times. Offer to formalise thanks as a reference or affirmative statement if that would be useful/relevant /4

I’d especially add if you are making requests as part of your own personal development, research/teaching or EDI work to ensure that you don’t accidentally replicate unethical or exploitative practices by requesting help that you fail to acknowledge (at all or adequately) /5

If help seeking is part of your teaching/learning/research strategy make “saying thank you” a core component. If you’re teaching and encouraging students/colleagues to ask others for their time/ideas cover how to do this appropriately and check first that folk want to be asked /6

A thank you will make it more likely a person responds to requests from others in the future. If you don’t say thanks you’ll put them off, closing down opportunities for other people. Set a good example and acknowledge the help you ask for /7

While we are talking about asking people to help with your work, remember it is fine to refuse requests if you’re busy. And if you respond to somebody’s request for help and they don’t thank you it’s okay to not assist them again in the future.