​My dissertation focused on assessing the information needs and behaviors of the fat acceptance community. The data collected therein serves to better understand the role information plays in the lives and activities of those from a marginalized group, which could later be used to develop an information system that will address those needs.
I mixed quantitative and qualitative methods to best provide a full picture painted with rich data and thorough context. To accomplish this, I distributed a survey that contained both open and closed ended questions, the latter of which included multiple choice as well as Likert scales. I then asked for participants to volunteer for interviews, which were conducted in a semi-structured format. These interviews gave me the opportunity to dive deeper into the subject matter and contextualize the information already gathered by the questionnaire.

​​This study can serve not only to educate people about how marginalized groups find and use information, but also as a preliminary step toward building an information system to service the fat acceptance community. Through additional preliminary research, I would create user personas and determine the best approach for creating a useful and viable system. I would then build prototypes, and test and fine-tune the product through usability testing. ​
ABSTRACT
Fat people face discrimination every day due to body size, including from family, friends, and medical personnel, and it can be difficult to find adequate, unbiased, and accurate information on a variety of topics. Utilizing a survey, which contained open- and closed-ended questions, as well as semi-structured interviews, this dissertation studied the information needs and behaviors of the fat acceptance (FA) community. Through these methods the researcher uncovered thematic patterns of participants, their needs and behaviors, and their perspectives on the availability of FA-related information. This included areas where adequate information is available, areas where there is some information that is either not enough, or not in-depth enough, and areas where there is a great need for improvement. This study could serve as a gateway to more specific or deeper exploration of the various themes uncovered, or as preliminary user research for constructing a system that would service the information needs of the FA community.
SUMMARY
Population: The fat acceptance community

Objective: This dissertation serves as preliminary research into the information needs and behaviors of a marginalized community. Following assessment of these issues, recommendations can be made to address them through the development of an information system.
Research Questions:
  • ​​What are some of the attitudes of members of the community toward sources of information currently available?
  • How do members of the community search for information on FA?
  • How do members of the community use information on FA?
  • What obstacles do members of the FA community face when searching for and sharing information?
  • What changes would members of the FA community like to see relating to information on the topic?
Methods: Survey and interviews 
Survey: 
  • Open- and closed-ended questions
  • Likert scales
  • Demographic information
  • 173 responses
Interview: 
  • Semi-structured
  • Probed deeper into specific issues compared to surveys
  • 9 interviews
Distribution/Recruitment:
  • Survey distributed via social media
    • Facebook groups, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr hashtags, email listservs
  • Option to provide information at end of survey (stored separately from responses) to follow up with interview
Findings: I uncovered several themes throughout the responses. 
  • Medical information is a constant issues. Widespread bias makes accuracy difficult, and can lead to difficulty in researching ongoing issues or interventions. 
    • Information about nutrition and fitness are skewed toward weight loss as a goal, making it hard for users to locate neutral and informative sources.
    • Equipment may be difficult to find in larger sizes or that can accommodate higher weights, leading to difficulty of use or even misdiagnoses.
  • Practical information is often lacking.
    • Many websites fail to mention weight or size limits for products, which can be an issue beyond the aforementioned medical equipment. Furniture, for example, may not be large or sturdy enough.
    • Clothing availability has improved in recent years, but still has issues. Prices are often higher for larger sizes, and many styles are limited. Additionally, sizes larger than what is sold in mainstream plus size stores are still difficult to find. 
    • Travel and entertainment can be problematic. Airplanes are an oft-discussed issue, but theater seats, amusement park rides, and other forms of entertainment often have weight limits and many are not listed publicly.
  • Information that is available is often surface-level.
    • More in-depth political and activist information is harder to find.
    • Intersectional issues are often ignored.
    • Much of what is available is skewed or hard to find.
Recommendations: 
  • Educate medical personnel about weight bias and promote a Health at Every Size philosophy in health schools.
  • Limit weight bias on medical websites like WebMD.
  • Encourage companies to list specifications on their product or activity website, including physical dimensions and weight limits.
  • Demand transparency and fairness in airline customer of size policies and train personnel in sensitivity and equity surrounding weight bias.
  • Create information system to aggregate and vet information that is available for accuracy and ease of use. Further user testing will be required throughout this process.
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