Postgraduate students seeks help with dissertation

[morella]

DUPLICATE

[PeterTimber]

Katia this is a duplicate inquiry from you can you please delet same? =Peter=

[morella]

Yes, indeed, but could you tell me how to do it? I tryed with "edit" but the post is still there
Katia

[PeterTimber]

As soon as I learn how to do it myself!! =Peter=

[PeterTimber]

Either delete everything with the "EDIT" feature and then type in DUPLICATE or send a Private Message to Lee who is a terrestial angel who will make it all go away!! =Peter=

[morella]

Done!! Thank you. Katia

[PeterTimber]

when great minds meet! =Peter=

[morella]

[PeterTimber]

Morella how is the study coming along?? I am curious to know. =Peter=

[morella]

Hi Peter. At the moment I'm still trying to recruite respondents. I've managed to get about 15 of the second generation but those of the first generation are more difficult to reach. A lady who read about the research on this forum has been so kind as to put me in contact with Joe Pieri, though (the author of 2 books about Scotsitalians) and he's been very helpful (would you gess he's 91!!). I'll keep you posted . Katia

[aliza24]

What is the study about? I missed the first post.

[morella]

Hi Aliza
The study is about Italian language maintenance among the Scotsitalian community and its role in shaping the identity of successive generations of Italian immigrants. I'm trying to recruit respondents who would be willing to fill up a short questionnaire - can't wait to get started with the analysis
Katia

[aliza24]

Katia,

Isn't there a way to actually get out into these communities? You're studying in Scotland, right? How far away are you from the communities? (Assuming they have some established communities).

The reason I say that is because I think Italians, in general, respond better to more personal interaction (ex: connecting with the local shop owners, coffee houses, barbers, etc. and trying to meet face to face or at least through known, trusted people vs., say, posting something on the web).

If there's any POSSIBLE way to do something in person- or even by phone if you have to- I think you might find more success in your recruiting.

If there aren't many established communities (like 'Little Italys) then you may have to take another route. Such as: finding restaurants that they eat at, etc. Find some place where they congregate and network through there. Ask the local owner for help. He / she may be willing to even take a stack of surveys and get regulars to fill them out for you.

Italians, as I'm sure you know, can also be distrusting of institutions, higher education, etc. due to their history. So going through someone that they trust may also help your efforts. In other words, recruit someone to recruit for you!

Last but not least- make sure that you express what's in it for THEM. Why should they do this? Prepare a short one or two sentence statement of why you feel this work is important (make it something that THEY will care about).

I used to be in sales, can you tell?

That's just my 2 cents. You may have tried some of these things already but I thought I'd throw it out there just in case. Good luck.

[morella]

Hi Aliza

thanks for your advice. You've touched a very sorry point indeed! So far, those who have come forward are either students or people involved in a way or another with Italian cultural associations or those interested in their genealogy. For this cathegory of people finding "what's in it for them" is not difficult (basically I put the matter in these terms: "if you are a cultural organisation, then finding out about the linguistic habits of your countrymen is part of your raison d'etre, as it were").
Getting the local shop/restaurant owner involved is another matter. Because, as you said, they are distrustful of higher education and because they have very busy lives, they are not very enthusiastic (to say the least); some of those I have approached have agreed to take the questionnaire, brought it home and then presumably lost it. I myself work part-time in an Italian restaurant: out of the 20 papers that I've given out only 5 came back. I've not given up completely the face-to-face approach (after all, even 5 is better that nothing): only, I find it so very frustrating...