Leading the research<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n\u201cAfter looking at all this data on viral crowdfunding campaigns, I started getting my own questions that were coming up regarding who was in that sample and how representative it was. That was sort of like the birth of my little break from that project,\u201d Davis said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2020, Davis received a Mary Gates Research Scholarship, which encourages students to propose their own projects in a mentored research environment. Though the research was a collaborative project overseen by faculty, Davis wanted to do the bulk of the work from start to finish \u2014 from the statistical analysis and written abstract to communicating with the medical\/science journal throughout the review process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe hands-on experience of getting to lead everything was really impactful for me as a scientist. As a hands-on learner, I learn best when I\u2019m highly involved with something,\u201d Davis said. \u201cGetting the chance to step by step figure out what I\u2019m doing and what my questions are, I feel like it\u2019s my little baby. I was given a lot of autonomy to sort of figure out the direction that I wanted to go. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe constant affirmation that I received from Nora and Shauna mirrored for me the type of mentor and leader I want to be for others.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The study analyzed the 827 most successful medical crowdfunding campaigns on the fundraising platform GoFundMe during a specific time in 2020. The team looked at demographics and characteristics of the campaigns, hypothesizing that the most \u201cviral\u201d campaigns would skew toward a young, white and more heavily male demographic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Analyzing the data<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n\u201cFrom a sampling perspective, this was a really fun study,\u201d Kenworthy said. \u201cAll the work to date on medical crowdfunding had looked at statistically randomized samples to try and get a representation of what the crowd looks like. This was really the first time that anyone had looked at what is going viral in a systematic way, asking, what is hyper successful? <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.uwb.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/07\/headshots-nora-kenworthy-030-web-copy.jpg\")
Nora Kenworthy, associate professor in the School of Nursing & Health Studies.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cIt opened up the doors to some really interesting questions about who gets represented and gets heightened attention and who really is earning enough to be on the front page of GoFundMe or to be covered by the news media in the way that these very successful campaigns are.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The study looked at the data to break down who was represented and the type of campaign, as well as the language used in the campaigns and the social and political environment surrounding them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When it came to statistics and analysis, Davis turned to Elbers-Carlisle for her expertise and perspectives from her own work looking at racial disparities and the social determinants of health and statistics. The two had previously worked together on the RHealth study<\/a>, for which Elbers-Carlisle is the principal investigator. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cI had a very clear idea of where I needed that support, just because at the time I was not super strong with my statistics or analysis techniques,\u201d Davis said. \u201cI\u2019ve learned a lot from Shauna\u2019s analysis class about how to use statistical software and really wanted to lean into her expertise in that area to guide how we should go about processing this data and understanding what\u2019s going on.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A timely topic<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\nAlthough the team hadn\u2019t expected it when they first began the project, the topic of their research would prove to be particularly relevant during the global pandemic. Around that same time, Black Lives Matter protests had also captured the attention of the nation and beyond, bringing with it additional insight into the social and political nature of crowdfunding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was an interesting time with crowdfunding and race,\u201d Kenworthy said. \u201cWe had high-profile crowdfunding campaigns for folks like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, and at the same time we also had these sort of white nationalists and racist groups that were also crowdfunding. It felt like one of those first moments where crowdfunding became very political and really reflected some of the embedded racisms more publicly than it had in the past.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When they first began the project, Davis said they never would have expected to be on crowdfunding platforms as a user. Davis\u2019 family was hit hard during the pandemic, however, and their friends and family relied on Davis to set up and manage several campaigns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt just became so important to highlight the effort and energy that goes into it. It\u2019s a lot of work, and it\u2019s very inaccessible for some people. You have to be showcasing it all the time,\u201d Davis said. \u201cIt\u2019s exhausting, and I could see why a lot of people don\u2019t do it or have to lean on people who have more of the skills or capacity to do it. I was put in that situation, and it was such an interesting place to be in the middle of a global crisis.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Davis said the experience of running multiple campaigns brought an increased understanding of the hard work that crowdfunding requires, as well as the barriers many people face to even getting on the platform. For those who lack the computer skills or even a bank account to set up an account, crowdfunding simply isn\u2019t an option. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Impacts of social bias<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\nThrough analysis, the team found their initial hypothesis to be true \u2014 confirming that there are significant levels of racial and gender disparities among the most highly successful fundraising campaigns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The study found that white men had the greatest representation, with Black and Asian users making up a highly underrepresented minority. Black women, in particular, were significantly underrepresented, making up only 0.6% of highly successful medical campaigns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.uwb.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/07\/Headshot-Shauna_Elbers-Carlisle_Large-1024x682.jpeg\")
Shauna Elbers-Carlisle, associate professor in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences and an adjunct professor in the School of Nursing & Health Studies.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cWhen people ask or question whether racism is a social determinant of health, this is a perfect example where someone\u2019s interpretation of a platform and the deservingness of the beneficiary leads to a decision to support or not support, to highlight or not highlight the campaign, and in doing so produces a disparity,\u201d Elbers-Carlisle said. \u201cThis study is a perfect example of the mechanisms by which racism is linked to social determinants of health and health outcomes.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to the quantitative analysis of the demographics represented, the study also looked at comments and the characteristics of successful campaigns. The team found that crowdfunding can reinforce and amplify racist and sexist perceptions of deservingness. The team members noted that, as with other studies, they found that racial and gender disparities persist in terms of campaign outcomes as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe main takeaway that I really want people to get is that crowdfunding is not an arena that is free from the impact of social bias,\u201d Davis said. \u201cI hope it spurs conversation, especially for the people who run the platforms to consider ways that they could make things a bit more equitable so that individual bias cannot dictate who is getting all of the funding, who\u2019s getting visibility, who gets to be on the front page and have their campaign highlighted.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The journey to publishing<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\nAs the project\u2019s lead, Davis determined when it should come to an end and it was time to submit it for publication. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI feel like I could still write additions to this paper. There\u2019s still just so much going on in the world of crowdfunding,\u201d Davis said. \u201cOnce we got our narrative and analysis down, we were able to take a step back and look at the work, look at the data, look at the campaigns and look at the story that we were able to craft, and it felt pretty complete at that point.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.uwb.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/07\/infographic-research-racial-disparities-crowdfunding-1024x662.png\")
An infographic displaying highlights from the publication, “Racial and Gender Disparities Among Highly Successful Medical Crowdfunding Campaigns.”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nDavis said it was important to them as well to ensure the publication was accessible to a public audience, not just scientists and public health professionals. This required many edits to get the paper\u2019s tone and the language just right, while also adhering to the expectations of a research journal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe journey to publication has been a long one. I wanted to make sure I was completely hands-on with each step of the process so that I could get the most out of this learning experience,\u201d Davis said. \u201cI don\u2019t think any class can prepare you for how long it takes to write an original research manuscript, let alone the countless rounds of edits it takes to get to the final paper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI feel so satisfied with the journey and the final article because I didn\u2019t have to edit out my voice, tone or message in this larger story I was looking to tell.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kenworthy said she makes a point of encouraging her students to publish their research. She also warns them that the timeline for publishing research often takes longer than they would expect \u2014 and in Davis\u2019 case it took even longer due to the pandemic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was such a rich learning opportunity, and I hope that it serves Aaron well with the many future papers that I\u2019m sure they\u2019re going to publish,\u201d Kenworthy said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Critical recognition<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n\u201cSharing this work with my family and community and having them not only understand the work but appreciate the importance of the topic has easily been the greatest takeaway from this process,\u201d Davis said. \u201cI definitely came out of this feeling more confident in my ability to publish future research. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTranslating science in such a way that everyone can benefit from the messages and takeaways has always been my intention, and it is such a joy to hear that I’ve accomplished that.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Davis said it was particularly rewarding when they saw their research cited by NPR<\/a>, as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cIt feels amazing to have a major media outlet like NPR pick up on this work,\u201d Davis said. \u201cThere aren\u2019t a great deal of outlets discussing crowdfunding phenomena, let alone the intersections of crowdfunding and racial disparities, so it was a great surprise to have my work cited through such a popular outlet.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\u201cFrom a sampling perspective, this was a really fun study,\u201d Kenworthy said. \u201cAll the work to date on medical crowdfunding had looked at statistically randomized samples to try and get a representation of what the crowd looks like. This was really the first time that anyone had looked at what is going viral in a systematic way, asking, what is hyper successful? <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt opened up the doors to some really interesting questions about who gets represented and gets heightened attention and who really is earning enough to be on the front page of GoFundMe or to be covered by the news media in the way that these very successful campaigns are.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n The study looked at the data to break down who was represented and the type of campaign, as well as the language used in the campaigns and the social and political environment surrounding them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When it came to statistics and analysis, Davis turned to Elbers-Carlisle for her expertise and perspectives from her own work looking at racial disparities and the social determinants of health and statistics. The two had previously worked together on the RHealth study<\/a>, for which Elbers-Carlisle is the principal investigator. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI had a very clear idea of where I needed that support, just because at the time I was not super strong with my statistics or analysis techniques,\u201d Davis said. \u201cI\u2019ve learned a lot from Shauna\u2019s analysis class about how to use statistical software and really wanted to lean into her expertise in that area to guide how we should go about processing this data and understanding what\u2019s going on.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although the team hadn\u2019t expected it when they first began the project, the topic of their research would prove to be particularly relevant during the global pandemic. Around that same time, Black Lives Matter protests had also captured the attention of the nation and beyond, bringing with it additional insight into the social and political nature of crowdfunding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was an interesting time with crowdfunding and race,\u201d Kenworthy said. \u201cWe had high-profile crowdfunding campaigns for folks like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, and at the same time we also had these sort of white nationalists and racist groups that were also crowdfunding. It felt like one of those first moments where crowdfunding became very political and really reflected some of the embedded racisms more publicly than it had in the past.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n When they first began the project, Davis said they never would have expected to be on crowdfunding platforms as a user. Davis\u2019 family was hit hard during the pandemic, however, and their friends and family relied on Davis to set up and manage several campaigns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt just became so important to highlight the effort and energy that goes into it. It\u2019s a lot of work, and it\u2019s very inaccessible for some people. You have to be showcasing it all the time,\u201d Davis said. \u201cIt\u2019s exhausting, and I could see why a lot of people don\u2019t do it or have to lean on people who have more of the skills or capacity to do it. I was put in that situation, and it was such an interesting place to be in the middle of a global crisis.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Davis said the experience of running multiple campaigns brought an increased understanding of the hard work that crowdfunding requires, as well as the barriers many people face to even getting on the platform. For those who lack the computer skills or even a bank account to set up an account, crowdfunding simply isn\u2019t an option. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Through analysis, the team found their initial hypothesis to be true \u2014 confirming that there are significant levels of racial and gender disparities among the most highly successful fundraising campaigns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The study found that white men had the greatest representation, with Black and Asian users making up a highly underrepresented minority. Black women, in particular, were significantly underrepresented, making up only 0.6% of highly successful medical campaigns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen people ask or question whether racism is a social determinant of health, this is a perfect example where someone\u2019s interpretation of a platform and the deservingness of the beneficiary leads to a decision to support or not support, to highlight or not highlight the campaign, and in doing so produces a disparity,\u201d Elbers-Carlisle said. \u201cThis study is a perfect example of the mechanisms by which racism is linked to social determinants of health and health outcomes.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to the quantitative analysis of the demographics represented, the study also looked at comments and the characteristics of successful campaigns. The team found that crowdfunding can reinforce and amplify racist and sexist perceptions of deservingness. The team members noted that, as with other studies, they found that racial and gender disparities persist in terms of campaign outcomes as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe main takeaway that I really want people to get is that crowdfunding is not an arena that is free from the impact of social bias,\u201d Davis said. \u201cI hope it spurs conversation, especially for the people who run the platforms to consider ways that they could make things a bit more equitable so that individual bias cannot dictate who is getting all of the funding, who\u2019s getting visibility, who gets to be on the front page and have their campaign highlighted.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n As the project\u2019s lead, Davis determined when it should come to an end and it was time to submit it for publication. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI feel like I could still write additions to this paper. There\u2019s still just so much going on in the world of crowdfunding,\u201d Davis said. \u201cOnce we got our narrative and analysis down, we were able to take a step back and look at the work, look at the data, look at the campaigns and look at the story that we were able to craft, and it felt pretty complete at that point.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Davis said it was important to them as well to ensure the publication was accessible to a public audience, not just scientists and public health professionals. This required many edits to get the paper\u2019s tone and the language just right, while also adhering to the expectations of a research journal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe journey to publication has been a long one. I wanted to make sure I was completely hands-on with each step of the process so that I could get the most out of this learning experience,\u201d Davis said. \u201cI don\u2019t think any class can prepare you for how long it takes to write an original research manuscript, let alone the countless rounds of edits it takes to get to the final paper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI feel so satisfied with the journey and the final article because I didn\u2019t have to edit out my voice, tone or message in this larger story I was looking to tell.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Kenworthy said she makes a point of encouraging her students to publish their research. She also warns them that the timeline for publishing research often takes longer than they would expect \u2014 and in Davis\u2019 case it took even longer due to the pandemic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was such a rich learning opportunity, and I hope that it serves Aaron well with the many future papers that I\u2019m sure they\u2019re going to publish,\u201d Kenworthy said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSharing this work with my family and community and having them not only understand the work but appreciate the importance of the topic has easily been the greatest takeaway from this process,\u201d Davis said. \u201cI definitely came out of this feeling more confident in my ability to publish future research. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTranslating science in such a way that everyone can benefit from the messages and takeaways has always been my intention, and it is such a joy to hear that I’ve accomplished that.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Davis said it was particularly rewarding when they saw their research cited by NPR<\/a>, as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt feels amazing to have a major media outlet like NPR pick up on this work,\u201d Davis said. \u201cThere aren\u2019t a great deal of outlets discussing crowdfunding phenomena, let alone the intersections of crowdfunding and racial disparities, so it was a great surprise to have my work cited through such a popular outlet.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\nA timely topic<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Impacts of social bias<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The journey to publishing<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Critical recognition<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n