http://sc16.supercomputing.org/2016/04/26/take-2016-hpc-community-survey-voice-heard/
As we begin the next process in our research project, my CTW II class is asked to create a survey. The survey is a primary source which could potentially be useful in the final research essay.
In beginning the process of creating my own survey, I have already had a few challenges and made some question changes. For our first survey assignment we were asked to develop 10 questions and a distribution plan. When I initially came up with my questions, I was not thinking as much in terms of my specific research project, but rather questions that related to sexism on college campuses as a whole. Thus, I lacked a specificity in Santa Clara’s campus.
However, on Monday, while Professor Lueck presented on survey creation, several more questions popped into my head. The new questions related more to Santa Clara and the current events happening on campus. For example, I now have a question on Grace DiChristina, commonly known as “midriff girl” because her case happened on campus only a few months ago. Therefore, this relates not only to sexism on college campuses, but also relates to Santa Clara and the current students.
After coming up with a more specific and concrete set of questions, I found myself facing a new problem. Not only am I unfamiliar with google forms, but I am also facing issues determining what type of question is best for the data I look to collect. In creating my survey, I found myself contemplating what type of question will be most conducive to my research. For example, one of my questions asks, “How did you feel being in a male dominated class?” I would like to use a Likert Scale to gage the participants answers, but I am struggling to create this scale on google forms. I have only been able to find a linear scale which would be confusing to use for my question.
http://www.wearerecurve.com/blog/survey-format-one-little-change-can-lead-world-insight/
As I create my survey, I am running into a few issues, but after our next class meeting I am sure these small problems will be solved. I am less concerned with the challenges I am facing now, and feel more of a sense of excitement as our research process continues.
