Data analysis

Tomorrow, will be closing my surveys. I have enough respondents I think... 

Yesterday, met with my SV for data analysis and next week, there will be another meeting. I feel OK even though I suspect some results will not go as I expect (that's kind of normal, right? You just have to play with the data and provide the proper interpretation)....

We are also busy tying up loose ends. I can't believe we are almost saying goodbye to the place we have called our second home for the last five years. It's been bitter sweet; I've met unhelpful and rude people, but I have also met sweet and kind people along the way. It's been a learning experience and I don't regret any of it. I might have done a few things differently but... 

Hence, this chapter is almost ending. And I am feeling sad, but also excited... It's time to settle this and embark on another journey.

Last phase

I have a couple more months to go, and things are slow but moving. Already wrapped up the Malaysian survey, and at this point in time, I am almost reaching my target for the American survey. Hopefully, I will be successful by this August, I really am looking to avoid extending my data collection period. In this phase, I've learned a few things. It maybe too simple, but sometimes you can overlook minor but consequential things. How I wished I'd known these things before I embarked on my data collection:

1. Make sure to test your survey repeatedly. The online system can get faulty and you have to make sure everything's good
2. It's hard to get respondents. You have to hustle. And you can't be shy.
3. Think outside the box: I tried many different approaches to get respondents. Sometimes, you get help from unexpected sources. :-) 
4. Be optimistic. But always have plan B.
5. Always back up your data, you don't know what might happen!

I can't wait to get analyzing though! 

 

Update: Data collection

The survey links for my study:

• American survey 

• Malaysian survey

Right now I am more or less satisfied with the Malaysian survey but the American one is so slow. I hope I get more participants soon. I need at least 120 to ensure I get good analysis. Fingers crossed. 

ps: I am choosing to ignore one or two minor negative incidents regarding my studies. I was feeling a bit down with people who were not being helpful but more people have been helpful rather than unkind or downright rude so I am very grateful for that.

To be so close to the end, I have to be positive...

Research Funding

Research funding is tricky business. I get that your funding application may not be approved 100% but why is it so hard for you to give prompt feedback, and if you have to deliver bad news, why can't you do it in a tactful manner? Of course explaining the structure of post-graduate programs in the US to you is like trying to explain the process of conception to a child! It's just a waste of time. Anyway, since I am already using my own money it's of little consequence to me. What is apparent to me now is your rudeness, pathetic attempt to showcase your 'authority', your ineptitude, and generally, your lackadaisical attitude about your job.

Lesson learned: that is why nobody likes HR. You are there to support, help, and administer. Not to pass judgment, be critical, and sarcastic. If you hate your job so much, why the hell are you there?

 

Relying on the kindness of strangers

I'm approaching the second half of my data collection period fairly soon.

Right now, (since my study is intercultural) the Malaysian survey has already started and is almost ending. It went quite well, but as usual the sample is fairly young. Snowballing did not yield as many response as I'd hoped. As for the student sample, I was lucky three of my colleagues helped with the data collection, and I was able to get quite a bit. However, it could have been better except for the timing, my data collection period coincided very closely with student's upcoming exams. If I don't get enough respondents, I might have to use the short semester to supplement my data. As of now, I am 20 respondents short of my initial target.

The American survey is in the meanwhile starting in mid-June but am doing some of the prep work right now. I am relying on some course instructors that I have never met or interacted with before, and I am a bit apprehensive. I hope they will help.

In the meantime, we are busy organizing and packing. Things are very chaotic right now and will be for the next three months or so.

 

Onwards: Data collection!

Well, my prospectus defense was done. As awful as it was (at least I think so), it could have been worse. There are a lot of changes, but no change to the theory. I just have to streamline parts of the hypotheses and research questions, add to the literature and change my methodology a bit. It's been made a bit more challenging but I anticipated that there would be changes. I also learned a whole lot about my writing. I am glad that they gave me pointers on what to change. My supervisor has been fantastic, but I think I needed to hear from one of my committee member, who is an expert in my area (well at least parts of it). I badly needed his input and I am glad I got it.

Now, moving on to the data collection. I think it's going to be hard and challenging. It's not easy to ask for data. But I am optimistic that I would get some help from my colleagues. For the American data, I am not so sure, but after the IRB is approved, I will try to sort it out. It's also good that my supervisor is so detailed, sometimes I feel a bit embarrassed about how careless I get when I'm writing. I am learning to be more careful, and to learn to write more like a doctoral candidate, instead of just a lay person. Hopefully, I will get good data and write a good thesis!