Intercept them in the wild: Recruiting hard-to-find participants

Dana Chisnell Whitney Quesenbery Center for Civic Design

Hi. Can I ask you some quick questions?

Why would anybody recruit research participants this way?

What’s happening here?

1.  Observe

2.  Approach

3.  Invite

4.  Read reactions

5.  Respond to objections

6.  Ask

7.  Transition

Observe What are you looking for?

fit for the sample

sanity

eye contact

1

Approach How do you present yourself?

asking for a favor

not crazy or scary

not selling anything

not begging

2

Invite Talking to strangers

smiling

walking

pitching

3

Read How do you know whether they’re willing?

If they’re not leaving, keep talking

If they keep going, walk along for a bit

4

Respond What are their concerns?

credibility

purpose of interview

time

just NO

5

Ask Do they qualify?

minimal qualifications

snap decisions

easy to dismiss

start with a script but be willing to flex

6

Transition Willing to spend more time?

thanks

could I have [specific amount of time]

progressive (quick) disclosure

keep the time promise

7

Practicalities: Planning for intercepts

Goals

§  What do you want to end up with?

§  What are you using the data for?

Locations and timing

§  High traffic, but not traversing

§  Lots of loitering or waiting §  Cafes

§  Community centers

§  Mixed use areas

§  Open markets or malls

Intermediaries People who are connected to the community that you want to meet

Trusted sources

Know the territory

Caution: Be clear about roles

Scripting Flexibly transitioning

§  Pre-visualize

§  Checklist-like

§  Track timing

Transition

Very quick!

Sampling and targets

Have in mind what you want coverage to be

Check on the mix at regular intervals

Look at what you’re learning from whom

Set goals

Choosing whom to approach

Issues in self-awareness

Issues in self-awareness fear and apprehension

bias

getting started

Personal comfort and safety §  Dress for weather

§  Choose shoes for standing

§  Drink water

Personal comfort and safety §  Work with a partner

§  Be aware of surroundings

§  Not after dark, outside

Languages Have materials available in languages

Make the translator a partner

make sure they know the goals of the study

give them the script

get translations ahead of time

Don’t insist on one language or the other

Summary

Choose locations carefully

Use intermediaries and translators

Script but flex

Choreograph the transition

Be aware of personal biases

Work in pairs

Thank you

Dana Chisnell Whitney Quesenbery Center for Civic Design

hello@centerforcivicdesign.org blog: civicdesigning.org