Paid Research Study $15
I went to the library at UNSW Sydney again the other day, and, somehow, the toilet door gave me another little reminder of research life. 🤣🤣🤣 Usually, there’s always some notice stuck there, but, this time, it was a recruitment poster asking volunteers to join an in-person study about reflecting on experiences. Thirty minutes, with a AUD15 e-gift voucher (about RM43) as compensation. Simple poster, but, my researcher brain terus switched on. 😅😅😅
Participant recruitment looks straight-forward from the outside, but, in reality, it can be one of the most challenging parts of data collection. You need enough participants, the right participants, and, a recruitment method that actually fits your research question. There are plenty of sampling techniques, from probability sampling to purposive, convenience, snowball, and, others. However, each one comes with strengths and limitations. No method is magically perfect bah. Ada kah yang perfect and flawless?
During my previous DBA viva, this is exactly the kind of thing examiners may ask about. Why this sampling method? Why this group? What bias could it introduce? Could another method have been better? The aim isn’t to become overly defensive, but, to show that you understand the weaknesses, acknowledge them properly, and, explain why your choice was still the most suitable for your study. Just admit saja. Examiners mau test if you can see from multiple POVs.
The funny thing is, I only went in to use the toilet. But, one research poster was enough to bring back memories of my own research journey, and my current research. The anxiety came quietly, and, suddenly, all those thoughts about recruitment, sampling, defending decisions, and, whether everything was done properly came rushing back. TBH, begitulah kalau buat research. Nampak macam glamorous but it’s actually ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’.
Research really follows you everywhere, even into the toilet. Stress aku nampak begini malakat di pintu toilet. 😅😅😅
—Davelynn D. Rampas
#DevDukutulJourneyV2