In Search of the Fish Annex, Essay Example

The general impression in conducting a viable questionnaire on survey of certain areas or required information requires special skills beyond ones willingness. The problem of unreliable and misleading information proves the exercise to be quite uneasy. Therefore, proper planning on the approach of the matter is necessary to ensure delivery of the expected results from a certain survey. The designing of the survey should be in accordance with particular specifications and aims. Only through constructive planning, careful approach and implementation, that one is guaranteed of essential results from a survey. Clear and specific objectives have to be well defined scientifically before the survey addressing the problem already determined (Kopac 2009 pg.1).

I conducted a search of a fish annex in a town university. The first thing I realized was that, this was a highly populated learning institution holding students from various departments in different faculties. The general set up of the institution constitutes of large and middle sized buildings quite scattered in a large area. This condition is enough to cause a major problem to any visitor who wishes to access certain offices in the institution. Following my intentions of getting access to the fish annex, I thought of conducting a planned search. This was done using a questionnaire kind of survey which involved face to face interview. Since this was an area in which students are contained in one environment, I decided to conduct it alone to avoid problem of sharing same questions to people who had been interviewed earlier. I preferred asking questions since that was the most elaborate way to deal with people who are always in serious learning. In real sense they are fond of sitting down to tackle written questions and therefore mine could not be any problem since there were no instructions to follow. Timing was also important since most of the student were busy and committed in their lecture work and so the best time was when they were free and moving up and down at their leisure time, may be from the shopping malls or from other recreation centers within the institution compound. However, the question were designed to be some how accommodative and not that involving to avoid boredom or inadequate information since most students value their free time since that is their moment of interaction and exercising social diversity among themselves. The questions used in the search were quite systemic, short and to the point. I had to determine the facts needed to answer the problem statement, analyzing the specific objectives questions and data needed. Collection of the information rarely justifies the efforts taken to assemble and present it. However, according to Kopac (2009) pg.1 the survey should not pose questions that give interesting answers but unessential to the investigation. Hence the importance of the findings to the end user should be determined keeping the potential consumers in mind without losing meaningfulness and usefulness of the questions. The whole issue started with a greeting to at least get the attention of the interviewer and attract them into my concern. Identity plays a vital role in most cases to make the interviewers familiarize themselves with you and remove the attitude of “who is this and why should I talk to him or her”. It also draws the attention of interviewers to listen to what you are enquiring about with a degree of attentiveness.

The questions used in the survey were not many to facilitate quick and reliable answers with no boredom. The first was “Are you allowed to cook or have meals in your hostels?” The next question was “Is it that far where you usually go for your shopping?” This was followed by “Are there food malls?” To show that I had interest in what I was asking, I explained my urge and love for fish annex which paved way for my main point of search by asking the question “Where can I get a fish annex around?” It was quite vital to show appreciation to the interviewers for their time and importance in my interest. A systematic way to collect valid data and achieve reliable information from people is a comprehensive assumption in survey. I did not adopt the method of taking notes while talking to ensure a sense of quality in my work. Evaluation was done later on about what each interviewer said.

Following the interview that I conducted, the responses were not that frustrating since this was an area of intellectuals and no much effort were required to carry out the activity. Most of the interviewers were corporative due to my approach and their eagerness to know what I wanted. Ideally the exercise was not just about questions but more of scientific instrument for measuring and collecting particular kind of information or data. Some of those interviewed were social enough to even engage themselves in other discussions apart from what was important hence creating a favorable condition for carrying out the search. However, some were a problem even to stop them maybe they felt is a waste of their time or they just ignored and went on with their business. This was certainly a blow to my search and compromised my skills in the whole issue. However, my interest was attended to.

The data collected was sufficient for the survey and therefore needed to be analyzed to come up with the points of importance to my extensive search. That which was not relevant was a waste in that case and was exempted from the survey. From the search undertaken there was a comparison between what the students could have acted or delivered when questions were used for the survey and when a written questionnaire could have been used for a certain survey. It is quite evident that most of them would prefer a quick question answer way that takes care of their time. Simply the whole issue requires common sense on who to approach and use of well understood questions.

Work Cited

Kopac P A, “How to conduct Questionnaire Surveys.” An article retrieved on August 5^th 2009 from <http://209.85.129.132/search?q=cache:bH3Q0IC5moUJ:findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3724/is_n1_v55/ai_10911143/+how+to+conduct+questioner&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ke&client=firefox-a> (2009) Pg 1.

Wikipedia, ‘David Rosenhan’.  29 June 2009. 05 August 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Rosenhan