The Purpose of the Study
The study was an isometric fieldwork study. The aim of the study was to test impulsivity. Impulsivity is a construct in an individual that entails the tendency of a person to follow whims (Baumeister & Vohs, 2013). An impulsive person displays behavior that shows little regard for the consequences of the actions. The behavior of an impulsive person also shows little evidence of reflection and forethought (Baumeister & Vohs, 2013). The focus on impulsivity as a concept is based on the long-term effects of impulsive behavior. The fact that impulsive actions are not conceived with the benefit of objectivity means that there is potential for negative ramifications (Baumeister & Vohs, 2013).
The Procedure for the Isometric Study
Before the commencement of the study, I had to build a rapport with the participants (Mligo, 2013). Building a rapport with the participants of the study is necessary to ensure that that they are comfortable enough to participate and divulge the information required of them. The establishment of a rapport was done by greeting the participants. The greetings were a preamble for the introduction (Mligo, 2013). Introducing the project team helps the participants build trust from a point of knowing the people with whom they will interact.
The participants were supposed to undergo a survey in which they were going to be screened for various variables. It was necessary that I determine whether the employees had been screened before they were enrolled into the experiment to measure impulsivity. The survey was emailed to the participants. They were required to fill and respond to the email to complete the survey, and hence the screening process. I sorted the participants to determine those who had been screened through the survey sent through the email and those participants who had been screened. I ensured that the employees who had not been administered with the screening tool had a chance to fill the questionnaire.
I explained the purpose of the study to the participants. It was necessary for the research to explain the contents of the study. It was necessary for them to understand the contents of the study in which they are encouraged to participate. I also informed the participants of the measures that will be taken to ensure the confidentiality of the responses. Additionally, I assured the participants that they reserved the liberty to withdraw from study whenever they felt uncomfortable with the study. I then invited questions from the participants on any matters on which they required clarifications. When the participants were satisfied, I required that they sign an informed consent form to indicate that they understood what the study involved and that their participation was voluntary.
The experiment was to be performed with the aid of the computer. The instructions were printed on the various computer screens. This enabled a participant who was fairly conversant with computer applications to navigate through the different computer screens to read the instructions and determine what was required of them as part of their participation in the experiment. Nonetheless, I explained the experiment and how the participants could retrieve the instructions from the various computer screens. When I was convinced that the participants could navigate the instructions, he left them to fill the questions by clicking the appropriate links on the computer.
The experiment comprised of six tasks that the participants were expected to finish. Owing to the fact the participants were assured that they reserved the liberty to withdraw from the study at any point, I sought the feedback of the participants periodically. This was also caused by the fact that the various activities took different lengths of time to complete. It was not inconceivable that the participants might require a break from time to time. I then sought the feedback of the participants regarding the various aspects of the project. This ranges from the issues that they found cumbersome and the challenges that they faced while filling the questionnaires. Due to the time-consuming nature of the experiment, the participants were promised a reward upon the completion of the six activities as an appreciation of their time and effort. I collected their contact information to facilitate the disbursement of the rewards.
C. Reflection
Research is important in the development of knowledge. Qualitative studies help derive in-depth information on study various phenomena. Quantitative studies help test prevailing hypotheses and determine the effect o variables on other variables. Field work is an important aspect of performing any of these studies. Through fieldwork, a researcher collects the data that is necessary to answer the research question on which the study is based. It is for this reason that the participation in the fieldwork exercise was very significant.
The preliminaries of the field data collection involve the issuance of the informed consent form for the participants to sign. However, several activities which are important to the integrity of the research process precede the signing of the informed consent form. In this respect, I explained the aim of the study, the sponsors, what was required, of the participant, the confidentiality clauses in the informed consent form, and also gave the participants an opportunity to seek any clarifications.
The participation in the field work activity is also significant to my future career prospects. I endeavor to contribute to the development of knowledge in the field of psychology. Qualitative and quantitative studies are an important approach to achieving this goal. The collection of the qualitative data in the isometric study exposed me to the professional environment in which the studies are performed. The supervisory role that I played in the data collection mimicked the role of a lead researcher in a field study. It helped me appreciate and hone the skills of the principal researcher, the decision-making aspects, accountability, and the initiative to ensure that the data collection exercise continues despite the prevailing challenges.
References
Baumeister, R. F., & Vohs, K. D. (2013). Handbook of self-regulation: Research, theory, and applications. New York: Guilford.
Mligo, E. S. (2013). Doing effective fieldwork: A textbook for students of qualitative field research in higher. Eugene. Wipf and Stock Publishers.
