If you think you get low response rates for research participants at science centers, try recruiting first-and second-year non-science-major undergrads in the summer. So far, since posting my first flyers in May, I have gotten 42 people to even visit the eligibility survey (either by Quick Response\/QR code or by tinyurl), and a miserable 2 have completed my interview. I only need 18 participants total!<\/p>\n
Since we\u2019re a research outfit, here\u2019s the breakdown of the numbers:<\/p>\n
| Action<\/td>\n | Number<\/td>\n | Percentage of those viewing survey<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Visit eligibility survey<\/td>\n | 42<\/td>\n | 100<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Complete eligibility survey<\/td>\n | 18<\/td>\n | 43<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Schedule Interview<\/td>\n | 5<\/td>\n | 12<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Complete Interview<\/td>\n | 2<\/td>\n | 5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Between scheduling and completing, I\u2019ve had 2 no shows, and 1 who was actually an engineering major and didn\u2019t read the survey correctly. I figure that of the people who visit the survey and don\u2019t complete it, most figure out they are not eligible (and didn\u2019t read the criteria on the flyer), which is ok.<\/p>\n What is baffling and problematic is the low percentage who complete the survey but then don\u2019t respond to schedule an interview \u2013 the dropoff from 18 to 5. I can only figure that they aren\u2019t expecting, don\u2019t find, or don\u2019t connect the Doodle poll I send via email with available time slots. It might go to junk mail, or it may not be clear what the poll is about. There\u2019s a section at the end of the eligibility survey to let folks know there is a doodle poll coming, and I\u2019ve sent it twice to most folks who haven\u2019t responded. I\u2019m not sure what else I can do, short of telephoning people who give me phone numbers. I think that\u2019s my next move, honestly.<\/p>\n Then there\u2019s the no-shows, which is just plain rude. One did email me later<\/strong> and ask to reschedule; that interview did get done. Honestly, this part of \u201cresearch\u201d is no fun; it\u2019s just frustrating. However, this week is the week before school starting in these parts; I will probably soon set up a table in the Quad with my computer and recruit and schedule people there. Might not solve the no-show problem, but if I can get 100 people scheduled, if half of them no-show, I\u2019ll have a different, much better, problem \u2013 cancelling on everyone else! I\u2019m also asking friends who are instructors to let their classes know about the project.<\/p>\n On a side note to our regular readers, as it\u2019s been almost a year of blogging here, we\u2019re refining the schedule a bit. Starting in October, you should see posts about the general Visitor Center research activities by any number of us on Mondays. Wednesdays and Fridays will most often be about student projects for theses and such. Enjoy, and as always, let us know what you think!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you think you get low response rates for research participants at science centers, try recruiting first-and second-year non-science-major undergrads in the summer. So far, since posting my first flyers in May, I have gotten 42 people to even visit the eligibility survey (either by Quick Response\/QR code or by tinyurl), and a miserable 2… Continue reading |