Administering the survey

After the IRB application, training, approval, and pre-research preparation (see previous post) has been completed, it comes time to collect data.

This involved, for me, sitting at a desk in a clinic waiting room, with a small sign that encourages volunteers to approach my desk.  When someone does stop by, I would briefly introduce myself and the project to them, then hand them an informed-consent form and a survey.  Most people took about 5 minutes to complete it, and the majority were enthusiastic about filling out the survey.  Occasionally, people would frown and walk away.

The hardest part is to get people interested in your project and approach the desk.  The staff members in the department I was working were supposed to suggest to their patients to visit my desk and fill out a survey.  However, it doesn’t always go according to plan – those staff members become extremely busy, and patients don’t approach you.  My project did not involve any type of remuneration for participants as I did not have funding of that magnitude.  This made it exceptionally hard to attract people to your project.

Imagine walking into a clinic for an appointment – you are worried about your health, you are worried whether or not insurance will cover the visit (or the results of the visit), you have taken time off from work/school to make this doctor’s appointment happen.  The last thing on your mind would be to find out what that person is doing at the extra desk in the waiting room, let alone help with the survey project.  So, for those who did approach me (the minority of the participants), I am thankful.

For the rest, although I am still thankful, it came with a little bit of effort.  I had to strike up a conversation with those sitting closest to me, waiting to see a doctor.  I would try to steer the dialogue to favor their interest in my purpose in the waiting room.  This is how I would get the majority of participants – make small talk with them, establish rapport, give them a little background information about myself, and request five minutes of their precious time.

Collecting data is one thing, but analyzing them is the interesting part of the project – its what all scientists are most interested in – What are the results? How can we synthesize our findings into the current working body of knowledge? To what extent will these results be useful, and to what end?

I’m a couple of weeks away from starting my analysis, and will write about that experience as well, when the time comes.

Preparing to administer a survey research project

After IRB approval has been obtained, the next step is to set a starting date.  After this, a little preparation is required to start administering the survey at the chosen location.

First, copies of the actual survey needs to be made, along with copies of the informed-consent forms, letters to the staff of the department where the survey will be administered (so all the staff know what you are doing in their waiting room), and copies of the flyer to advertise.

In addition, you have to prepare a small sign to set on your table to attract people to your desk in the waiting room.  You will also have to obtain a couple of clipboards and a dropbox with a lock/key, where patients can deposit their surveys.

Next, you will have to attend a meeting with the hospital manager, the physician you are assigned to, the head nurse, and the research coordinators of the program through your college of medicine.  Here, you discuss how you will approach patients, what days and times the survey will be administered, where your desk may be placed in the waiting room, and the like.

Finally, someone from the hospital department where you are conducting your research will give you a tour of the facilities and the staff.

Once these responsibilities have been met, the survey administration can start.