Stuff this!

We did it!  There are over 1,300 "Lifestyle, Eating Habits and Your Wellbeing" surveys currently making their way to women ages 43-53 all across New Zealand.  What a feat to get the job done!

If you thought that stuffing surveys would be easy. Think again!

Follow these simple steps and you, too, could achieve a nearly 80% response rate.

1. Handwrite each participants name on the "Dear ___" line of the cover letter.  Next, handwrite signatures for both students named as the researchers.
2. Bandage paper cuts.
3. Stick a pen to each cover letter.
4. Bandage paper cuts. Complain about fingers being sticky.
5. Make sure each survey has all of its pages.  
6. Bandage paper cuts.
7. Fold a free post envelope around each survey.
8. Bandage paper cuts.
9. Match cover letter identification numbers with survey identification numbers.
10. Bandage paper cuts.
11. Paperclip cover letter to survey.  Slide a tea bag into paper clip.
12. Bandage paper cuts. Take a break for a cup of tea made from a "reject" tea bag.  
13. Stuff into envelope for mailing.  Place in mailing flats. DON'T LET ANYTHING GET OUT OF POST CODE ORDER!
14. Bandage paper cuts.  Flash the evil eye to other students who look like they are about to place a survey out of post code order.
15. Locate envelopes for randomly selected women to receive small monetary token of appreciation.  Insert $.
16. Seal all envelopes.
17. Bandage paper cuts.  Complain that back hurts from bending over to seal envelopes.
18. Package mailing flats by buckling covers around the flats.
19. Call mail room guys to pick up the bundles of joy.  
20. Breathe a sigh of relief and mutter, "Goodbye and good riddance" as the bundles of joy leave the office.

But, by no means are we done yet.  We still have to send thank you/reminder postcards in a week.  Then, we'll send a replacement questionnaire to non-respondents about a week after that.  Then, we'll send a final reminder postcard.

Phwew!

Then, and only then, the real fun begins... after about two months the answers will be input into a database and the work of cleaning and analyzing data will begin.

And you know what? I can't wait!

Autumn in Aotearoa

The Mãori name for New Zealand is Aotearoa, "the land of the long white cloud.” 

Fiordland trip March 2012

Lately, it seems as though that long cloud has been bringing cold, wind, and rain with it!  But, on a nice day like today, there is plenty of sun and just enough of a breeze to watch leaves softly floating to the ground.

Yesterday, I volunteered at the Lovelock Relay races, an annual event held to honor Jack Lovelock.  Lovelock was from New Zealand and a gold medal winner in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.  

My job was helping Helen keep track of teams as they came across the finish line.  Hands down, the under 12 relay was the cutest event.  This little girl was on a team of other kids no older than 4 or 5.  

Last night, I attended a birthday party where everyone had to dress up as a famous person.  I tried dressing up as Lady Gaga, but only managed to pull off the hair. Sort of.

Still, it made for a fun evening!  There was a Katy Perry, Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson and even a Paper Bag Princess.  

It hasn't been all play, though.  I'm still working on a manuscript on the response rates to a mailed survey based on the type of incentive the women received.  I turned in a rough copy to my advisor, but I have some major work to do. Here's hoping I turn out something brilliant, or at least publishable, when it's done!