Society for Medical Society for Medical Anthropology Membership Anthropology Membership

SurveySurvey

20062006Zoomerang Survey ResultsZoomerang Survey Results

Response OverviewResponse Overview

Survey launched September 16, Survey launched September 16, 20062006

Survey closed on November 13, 2006Survey closed on November 13, 2006 Three invitations were sent outThree invitations were sent out Visits to the surveyVisits to the survey 836 836 PartialsPartials 76 76 CompletesCompletes 714714

Whether currently a member Whether currently a member of the Society for Medical of the Society for Medical

AnthropologyAnthropologynn = 714 = 714

How long have you been an How long have you been an SMA Student and/or a Regular SMA Student and/or a Regular

Member?Member?nn = 591 = 591

6

17

25

17

20

16

0

5

10

15

20

25

Less than 1 year1-2 years3-5 years6-10 yearsMore than 10 yearsMore than 20 years

In percentages

Whether currently a Student Whether currently a Student Member or a Regular MemberMember or a Regular Member

nn = 585 = 585

33

67

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

StudentMemberRegularMember

In percentages

Years as Student Member & Years as Student Member & Regular MemberRegular Member

# of Responses Received =# of Responses Received =531531

For example:For example:

2 years as student member, three years as regular 2 years as student member, three years as regular member. member.

Regular member since around 1970. I don't Regular member since around 1970. I don't remember the student years!remember the student years!

Never a student member; 4-5 years as regular Never a student member; 4-5 years as regular

member. member.

Key benefits of SMA Key benefits of SMA membershipmembership

69 70

29 3126

95

49 49

42

35

17

7

0102030405060708090

100

Benefits

Professional identity as a medicalanthropologist

Events/panels/workshops at theAAA conference

Business meetings and receptions atAAA

Awards prizes (Polgar, Hughes,Rivers)

Awards book prizes (Basker, NewMillennium)

Professional Journal (MAQ)

Column in Anthropology News

Informative website

Special interest groups

Articulating policy statements

Research opportunities

Others

In percentages

What would make SMA What would make SMA membership more attractive membership more attractive

41

26

21

65

5957

5

24

18

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70Independent Meetings

Active MASA

Student-run Journal

Global directory

More active role in healthpolicy

More active collaboration withforeign med anths

Additional prizes

More useful website

Other

In percentages

Attendance at SFAA/SMA bi-Attendance at SFAA/SMA bi-annual meetingsannual meetings

21

16

20

26

53

0 20 40 60

None

Vancouver(2006)Dallas (2004)

Atlanta (2002)

San Francisco(2000)

In percentages

Independent MeetingsIndependent Meetingsnn = 714 = 714

17%

16%

26%

41%Likely

Somewhat Likely

Unlikely

Can't say/Don't Know

In favor of independent In favor of independent meetingsmeetings

For example:For example:

I think a med anthro meeting would be great and I think a med anthro meeting would be great and hope that this comes to fruition!!! hope that this comes to fruition!!!

I think the idea of a separate meeting from SfAA I think the idea of a separate meeting from SfAA is a good one; because of the overlap in is a good one; because of the overlap in membership between SMA and SFAA (including membership between SMA and SFAA (including my own), I hope this separation would happen in my own), I hope this separation would happen in a manner that will not produce avoidable conflict a manner that will not produce avoidable conflict or hardship for the SfAA.or hardship for the SfAA.

I think it would be great to either develop I think it would be great to either develop independent meetings and/or drop the SFAA coop independent meetings and/or drop the SFAA coop arrangement all together. SMA gets drowned out arrangement all together. SMA gets drowned out by the volume of applied blather at SFAA. by the volume of applied blather at SFAA.

Not in favor of independent Not in favor of independent meetingsmeetings

For example:For example:

The joint SMA/SfAA meetings are my favorite The joint SMA/SfAA meetings are my favorite professional meetings, because professional meetings, because (a) they attract like-minded colleagues, (a) they attract like-minded colleagues, (b) they help situate medical anthropology within (b) they help situate medical anthropology within the broader discipline, and the broader discipline, and (c) it kills two birds with one stone (two meetings (c) it kills two birds with one stone (two meetings for the price of one). I don't see the value of an for the price of one). I don't see the value of an independent SMA meeting, and I fear that it would independent SMA meeting, and I fear that it would lose some of its relevance to public health and lose some of its relevance to public health and related disciplines. related disciplines.

Mixed feelings about Mixed feelings about independent meetingsindependent meetings

For example:For example:

I have mixed feelings about the separate meeting I have mixed feelings about the separate meeting issue. I am more interested in SMA than SfAA, and issue. I am more interested in SMA than SfAA, and would therefore probably attend the former rather would therefore probably attend the former rather than the latter if both were held independently (I am than the latter if both were held independently (I am not able to attend both on a regular basis - too many not able to attend both on a regular basis - too many meetings already on my regular calendar). On the meetings already on my regular calendar). On the other hand, it would make for a more focused other hand, it would make for a more focused conference-going experience, so I don't object. But if conference-going experience, so I don't object. But if you opt for a separate meeting, please bear in mind you opt for a separate meeting, please bear in mind that a great many societies seem to hold their that a great many societies seem to hold their meetings in March or April. I regularly have conflicts. meetings in March or April. I regularly have conflicts. Avoiding those two months if possible might be a Avoiding those two months if possible might be a really good idea.really good idea.

Barriers that might prevent Barriers that might prevent attendance and/or actions SMA attendance and/or actions SMA could take to facilitate could take to facilitate participationparticipation

# of responses received = # of responses received = 216216

For example: For example:

Funding would be a barrier. It is difficult to afford Funding would be a barrier. It is difficult to afford other meetings in addition to the AAA meeting… other meetings in addition to the AAA meeting… if we did have separate SMA meetings, having if we did have separate SMA meetings, having them at centrally located airport hubs which tend them at centrally located airport hubs which tend to have lower fares and setting low registration to have lower fares and setting low registration fees and offering lower cost hotels with room fees and offering lower cost hotels with room sharing options would help. sharing options would help.

Ideal time of year to hold Ideal time of year to hold independent meetingsindependent meetings

nn = 490* = 490*

24

13

27

36

0 20 40

Spring (April toMay)

Winter (Februaryto March)

Fall (September toOctober)

Summer (June toAugust)

* Excludes 99 N/A and 52 Others, please specify

In percentages

How often should independent How often should independent meetings be heldmeetings be held

nn = 541* = 541*

*Excluding 154 respondents who indicated that they do not support an independent SMA meeting

Frequency of visits to SMA Frequency of visits to SMA WebsiteWebsitenn = 714 = 714

In percentages

Usefulness of Items on Usefulness of Items on WebsiteWebsite

0 20 40 60

SMA awards

Research/Fundingopportunities

Conferences

Interest groups

Job opportunities

Teaching resources

News about SMA

Most Useful

Useful

Somewhat Useful

Not Useful

Least Useful

In percentages

Parts of the website that need Parts of the website that need improvementimprovement

48 47

2729

19

22

11

15

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Academic resources

Funding

Interest group

Jobs

Newsletter

News and Views

None

N/A

In percentages

Ranking of MASA’s proposed Ranking of MASA’s proposed projectsprojects

In percentages

Whether subscribed to the H-Whether subscribed to the H-MEDANTHRO ListservMEDANTHRO Listserv

nn = 714 = 714

39

61

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

YesNo

In percentages

Whether postings on H-Whether postings on H-MEDANTHRO Listserv adequateMEDANTHRO Listserv adequate

nn = 277 = 277

4

23

70

4

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Too high

Too low

Just about right

N/A

In percentages

Whether content of H-Net Whether content of H-Net postings generally relevant to postings generally relevant to

interestsinterestsnn = 276 = 276

17

68

114

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Very relevant

Somewhat relevant

Not relevant

N/A

In percentages

Reasons for not subscribing to Reasons for not subscribing to H-MEDANTHRO listservH-MEDANTHRO listserv

# of responses received = # of responses received = 361361

For example:For example:

Too much e-mail traffic in my life. Too much e-mail traffic in my life.

Too many listservs now. Can't bear another one. Too many listservs now. Can't bear another one.

I have such limited time and am already on too many I have such limited time and am already on too many listservs -- I just do not have them time to read listservs -- I just do not have them time to read them. them.

Whether ever nominated a Whether ever nominated a book or paper for any of the book or paper for any of the prizes that the SMA awardsprizes that the SMA awards

nn = 714 = 714

83%

8%

9%

No

Not heard

Yes

Reasons for not nominating a Reasons for not nominating a book or a paper for SMA book or a paper for SMA

awardsawards# of responses received = # of responses received = 345345

For example:For example:

Did not feel the need so far, but will do so in the near Did not feel the need so far, but will do so in the near future. future.

I am unfamiliar with the nomination process and didn't I am unfamiliar with the nomination process and didn't know who it was open to. know who it was open to.

Deadline gets forgotten amidst other obligations. Could Deadline gets forgotten amidst other obligations. Could benefit from an additional reminder. benefit from an additional reminder.

Suggestions from Respondents Suggestions from Respondents to SMA Executive Boardto SMA Executive Board

# of responses received = # of responses received = 208208

Board members will review each of Board members will review each of the suggestions.the suggestions.

Thank youThank you

Society for Society for Medical AnthropologyMedical Anthropology

AAA Meetings, San Jose, November 17, 2006AAA Meetings, San Jose, November 17, 2006