Remind me never to do this ever again!

[LBJ10]

I’m serious, if I say I’m doing this again then you guys need to stop me. I have two weeks to get my project finished for class. It is a qualitative research class and we had to do projects that involved interviewing people. It took me forever to get IRB approval so I was already behind anyway. Once I was able to start recruiting people to interview, it was like I had to practically twist arms just to get people to help me. Why are people so unwilling to help me? All they have to do is answer some general questions about how they feel about wildlife. What’s so awful about that? Now I just had someone who agreed to do it cancel on me, after I waited a week for them. I am in full out panic mode right now. There is no way I’m going to get this project done. After I get my interviews done, I still have to transcribe everything and code it and put it all together as my “findings”. AGH!

[Sarita]

I don’t think it’s you. I think this is generally how people are, pretty noncommittal about things that aren’t important to them even if it’s important to you…sorry this is happening to you and I hope you find someone else to interview. Does it have to be a face to face interview?

Sounds like an interesting topic to me.

[LBJ10]

Unfortunately, yes, it needs to be face to face. Otherwise I’m sure any of you guys would do it. LOL
The topic is related to my thesis. My thesis is quantitative though. One of my committee members insisted I take a qualitative research class to see if maybe I’d want to do a qualitative thesis. After this, I’m thinking no way! More trouble than it’s worth. =(

[Kate Monster]

Are you allowed to bribe them? Most people will sit still for cookies or pizza. Especially if they’re fellow students.

[Elrohwen]

That’s a shame that people are flaking out on you 🙁 Maybe if you offer them free food they’ll jump at the opportunity? I’m thinking take them out for coffee and offer to pay or something.

[LBJ10]

Well, technically I’m not supposed to bribe them. There is an ethics code that the IRB makes you follow. If you are to offer them some sort of compensation, then it has to be approved. Although I suppose bringing food with you wouldn’t hurt, especially if you knew the person personally. Most people I have been asking aren’t students though since they need to be people who live outside the city.

[Elrohwen]

Ahh, yeah, the whole ethics thing. lol If it were me, I would let that go for taking someone I knew personally out for a cup of coffee, or giving them some homemade cookies, but that’s really up to you and your decision on how to follow the regulations.

We recently did a survey at work for one of the support groups – they wanted to see if they were meeting everyone’s needs. The only way they could possibly get us to participate was to offer free cookies. Haha. None of us are students and we can easily get cookies on our own, but there’s something about an offer of free food that gets people moving.

[LBJ10]

Okay, I got an interview done tonight. We were at my in-laws’ house and I walked across the road to see if their neighbor would be interested in helping me and she agreed to do it right then! Now I just need to chase down a couple more people. =\

[Sarita]

Good luck! I’m glad you got one interview :~)

[bunnytowne]

I wish we could help.     Maybe a few more neighbors would do it?   Nothing to answering a few questions

[LBJ10]

I did the other neighbor today. I’m glad I’m finally making progress. Especially now that I have to have this stuff done in a week and a half. Yikes!

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