Rita. First of all, let me set one thing straight. This would not be "my research" - it would be the research of kickas and all its members. And like you, I have not been diagnosed with AS either, so in this sense I would be "excluded" from any research that might take place under these conditions.
The reason for suggesting only people who have a confirmed diagnosis of AS participate is because it makes the data more credible for anyone looking at it from the outside. Not that I am an expert, but when you do research you want to eliminate as many of the variables as possible. If you have people with different conditions participating, the data that would come from the study would not be able to contribute in the slightest to building on the existing body of knowledge on any one condition. I know that many members here have multiple conditions, so perhaps it could be some use there - Pete has just started up a poll to address this.
But you see what I mean? This would be nothing personal towards anyone, and I think you are looking too much at the word "exclusion" without putting it in context. And of course the parameters for such a study should not be drawn up by one person only, without input from the community.
Bro
