Being vs. Been

It's correct.

"Despite" is usually applied to a noun, so in this sentence the noun-like "being" serves as the target for "despite".

1. Despite the bad weather...
2. Despite the weather being bad... (which sounds poor but is still correct)

Thanks very much for your help!

Much appreciated!

To be more correct, the target is the whole noun-like phrase: "studies being far from persuasive".

"Being" makes it noun-like and verb-less.

It seems to me that there is an omission of "which are". "Studies which are far from persuasive" turns into "Studies being far from persuasive"

Doll:

But your approach won't work with: "Between you and me, I don't like her being here"...

Yes, it is something different. But this is not a full sentence.

«Yes, it is something different.»

But using the noun-phrase approach, it's the same thing!

«But this is not a full sentence.»

Why not?
Subject: I
Verb: don't like
Object: her being here

Ant_222«Yes, it is something different.» But using the noun-phrase approach, it's the same thing! No. I mean my example , omitting which are, and your explanation is different situations.

«But this is not a full sentence.» Why not? Subject: I Verb: don't like Object: her being here I mean the very first senten

«No. I mean my example , omitting which are, and your explanation is different situations. »

I think mine works in both the situations.

Let's better ask Andy: "Have our replies been of help to you?"

Yes, your explanation does work. Morover, I don't remeber saying that your explanation doesn't work.