As for the survey, I think the most challenging part is questionnaire. After discussing for a long time and modifying several times, we finally passed our questionnaires. Then the most interesting part came: sending questionnaires.
Before I decided to do my share of mission, I heard a sad story of my group member. He went to send questionnaires in Central Library that noon. But most of the people he went to refused him for different reasons. Then Miss Lim told us that maybe he was too selective. We should just go to people no matter they are free or not. Then we can get at least ten to twenty people among one hundred to answer our questions. I was encouraged by her words, so I decided to go to Central library to take my chance.
The first one I came to ask was a male, he kept watching me while I was approaching him. I was happy wondering whether he would like to answer my questions. But when I showed him the questionnaire, he told me that he had just done that and pointed to a person at a short distance. The one who came into my sight was Yida, he was sending questionnaires to all the people sitting there. So I had no choice but to shift my destination. I went to Central Library by the lift. In the lift I sent out my first questionnaire. He hesitated a little when I said to him: Excuse me. We are doing a survey now. Can I take you a few minutes to complete this questionnaire? But fortunately, he did not refuse me. To my astonishment, he circled “F” for his gender. Then I took a second look at him, I was convinced that he was a male from his appearance. Maybe he just didn’t want to leak out his personal information.
The first success gave me a lot of courage and I went on my mission. There are some students sitting outside Central Library, so I decided to send my questionnaires there. Although Miss Lim had told us to go to ask people ignoring whether they were busy or not, I still thought that it was impolite and irritating to bother someone who was busy studying. So I looked for someone who was sitting there waiting for others or playing games on his or her mobile phone. Maybe I was blessed that day, no one refused me and I completed part of my mission this way.
However, there were not so many suitable people to ask, so I decided to carry out my second plan: sending them to the passers-by. When I told this to my friends later, they all thought that I was crazy for they never thought that they can success in this way. Actually, I needed a lot of courage to do this kind of thing, but I had no choice for time was so limited. The first one I asked was a handsome boy from Europe. He was walking in a hurry after getting out of the lift. I just wanted to try my luck. So I went ahead and asked him. To my joy, he was glad to help me and carefully answered the questions. This really encouraged me a lot and I went on full of energy. To tell the truth, this plan was not as smooth going as the former one and I got three or four refusals. But as I had said, maybe I was blessed that day. I sent out all my questionnaires within forty minutes though I nearly missed the last bus backing to ETON HALL.
Despite of all the difficulties, I should say that my mission was successfully completed. I had some interesting experiences talking with different people and I really enjoyed myself doing this job.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
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Your distribution experience is very interesting, especially your first respondent. I think the survey really broadens our eyesights. It is amazing to see that there are so many different kinds of people just around us. As people often say, the university is a miniture of the world, because the people you meet in the university will step into the world sooner or later. Just like you, they will be part of the world. Starting to get in touch with them will help you prepare for your future life. Apart from the advantage, doing resaerch on the different characteristics of people will be very interesting in terms of itself.
ReplyDeleteLOL. Tinkle, I cannot stop laughing after reading this --> 'To my astonishment, he circled “F” for his gender. Then I took a second look at him, I was convinced that he was a male from his appearance. Maybe he just didn’t want to leak out his personal information'. I would probably have asked HIM what the xxxx he thinks he was doing =)
ReplyDeleteNevertheless, I'm glad you pluck up the courage to approach people - not everyone is as 'unsympathetic' as myself, hahaha.
Well Tinkle, a lesson you learnt - to get people to answer Qs is hard work. SO the next time someone approaches you for help in answering Qs, do not refuse. Another lesson as you found out, people may not be truthful always in their responses to the questions. What to do then with such a response? Take it at face value.
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