EXPLAINER: Research Fatigue in Greenland – and how to avoid it

Some parts of the Greenlandic population experience that lots of researchers want to speak to them. Watch this video to hear how we can make sure that research becomes a good experience for everyone.

By Ole Ellekrog

The expression ‘Research Fatigue’ is often heard in the world of Greenlandic research. It describes the situations in which some parts of the population are asked to participate in a lot of research projects at once – enough to make them fatigued.

’Research Fatigue’ is most often experienced in places with a small population but a great scientific interest. And Greenland is just such a place.

Another place where this has been the case is in the small ’Energy Communities’ in the northwestern United States where newly discovered oil has garnered the attention of many, including researchers. This has made the University of Montana produce educational material on the topic. Material that this video is partly based on.

How to fight ‘Research Fatigue’

Arctic Hub’s explainer presents several recommendations for how to avoid ‘Research Fatigue’. For instance, it is recommended that researchers:

• Make sure that people are properly informed about the research before they agree to participate.
• Explain why their research is important for the participants.
• Always inform their participants about the results of the studies they took part in.
• Coordinate with other researchers working in the same area or in the same field of study.

The last recommendation could, for example, be done in the Arctic Hub Connect workshop which takes place once a year.

Watch the video above to learn more about ‘Research Fatigue’; what it is, how it happens, and what we can do to fight it.