protocol problems

If I could start all over again...

I would first seek the Statistician's advise and also the Social Scientist's advise before proceeding any further to plan and conduct a survey.

I would not be so short-sighted as to forget human emotions, human favors and the most humane way of doing things. For example, I no longer needed to survey Prof. Bernard Tan's and Dr. Pow's lecture classes anymore, but I should have still done it after they have agreed to it. Such that I will not make myself and my department and my Professor look stupid and also lose credibility.

I would be more realistic and less idealistic about completing tasks. This is one of my weakness, I have such great faith in things that do not warrant my faith at all.

I will not be a scaredy cat but to be more brave and manage my image less, so as not to miss out on opportunities to ask questions and to learn.

In a short span of a week, we visited Prof. Chua Tin Chiu, a very kind and humorous Professor who shared many anecdotes and advise on sampling. We decided not to survey the 2 lecture classes anymore. We decided to generate a list of the whole undergraduate population and pick a random sample of 5000 to email them. And then, we decided not to do it anymore and just take the results of the one class which I managed to perform the survey on, my own SSS1207 class.

In a short span of 2 days, with a little help from my friends, we got all the data into the excel file and I passed over the baton to Xingli, my mentor to analyze.

It has been a strange journey.

I am indebted to Prof. Bernard Tan and Dr. Pow. They have been so kind, so patient and so generous towards me. I must remember to wish them a Happy Christmas at the end of the year.

I am also very grateful for my Professor and mentors for their patience and care for a very inexperienced, very slow and not-so-smart student.

An Update

This blog badly needs an update if its purpose is to document my experience of doing a research project!

So far, I have managed to complete creating a 4-pages long questionnaire. Initially it was 8-pages long but with my Professor's help, it was shrunk to half its original length. That is good news for the trees! ;)

I managed to get permission from 3 lecturers to agree to allow me time to conduct my survey during their lessons. These are lecturers who have once taught me before and this I believe made them more compassionate towards me. The lecturers I emailed who have never met me, rejected me due to time constraints and one Statistics Professor rejected me as he disagreed on my methodology.

I learnt the importance of communication, being able to express myself well in English and also to have good written body language. This is actually one weakness I've struggled with since I was a child. English has always been my weakess subject and I have never managed to get the top grade for it. It was something I could never improve as I did not know how to study for it. Reading did not help me much either as I has always been a very avid reader. Prof. suggested writing 15 minutes a day, a proven method which has boosted a fellow student's grades up, which I seriously am considering!

I have photocopied 1000 copies of my survey forms and they lie waiting for their recipients to fill them in.

The next step would be to toughen my skin, take courage and stand firm. I would need perseverance and courage to speak to the whole LT to do my survey, meet the Statistics Professor to ask for help and to meet the tight deadline in the midst of other responsibilities.

This research project has really challenged my timidity and many times I find myself facing my inadequacies and insecurities. Being naturally timid and nervous, it was not easy even approaching my Professor or emailing another, nor am I very used to accepting corrections and criticisms. It was very scary for me today when I had to call a Statistics professor and speak to him over the phone (way more scarier than writing an email).

Though through a phone call, more "body language" can be passed on to the recipient, such as humility, sincerity, understanding, appreciation etc., yet to one like me, it also means the transference of my poor communication ability, my fear and insecurities. So this is something I must actively deal with as I do my research, to continue to improve my communication skills and becoming more confident and courageous.

As you can see, this project is challenging me in many areas, intellectually, socially and emotionally.

So here is a behind the scenes look at what a project such as this entails. I am very grateful for all the help offered to me and the kind understanding by my supervisors.

Insensitivity towards Ah Meng

I was really amused and disappointed by a short forum letter found on the newspaper on Wednesday, 13th of February. A reader wrote in his fears that Ah Meng's decomposing body, being buried near the Seletar Reservoir, would contaminate the water supply.

I felt that this was a very very insensitive letter. Many people are saddened about Ah Meng's death, so many attended her funeral. It is extremely untimely to be thinking about something like this during this period and even writing to the forum to aggravate grieving people.

I'm amazed that the forum editor allowed it to go through.

This really shows how little people understand about the cycle of life but more so their insensitivity towards the feelings of people.

All things must pass away. So do the fishes in the reservoir. So do the birds in the forest surrounding the reservoir. So do the insects and the toads and the plants and the lizards that roam the areas around the reservoir. No one ever complains about their decomposing bodies posing a hazard to the water supply. This is because the organic material will be recycled and become detritus and nutrients to sustain many cycles and food chains. Why is it that Ah Meng's body is special and must be brought up to the attention of Straits Times readers? And I believe, Ah Meng's body was placed in a coffin, like a proper burial would have.

Lim Bo Seng is also buried near MacRitchie reservoir. I wonder if some people worry about it as well.

Just food for thought. I did not know such a short and tiny letter would stimulate such great reaction in me.