Girl claiming to be a SFU student calls, conducting a telephone survey...I actually answer her questions. Why?Well J* and H* may recall that fateful Psychology Research Methods class that had me on the telephone for hours and hours....We were determining the male - female ratio for telephone hang-ups when speaking with a stranger who pretends to know know you. Only problem is that seniors can talk forever, even when you're clearly a stranger. Don't I know this? Now I experience it every day.
Today, the conversation went a bit like this:
How many people live in your household? Um 2.
Who is the primary meal maker?
We both cook for ourselves.
Oh, that's ummm strange! Ha ha ha.
I am silent.
What is the age of the household members... under 19, 19-24, 25-55, etc.
Um, 25-55. Internally: that's crazy! We're not that old!
She then proceeded to ask a series of "True or False" questions, half of which required a yes or no answer. Some even required a maybe, which she automatically defaulted to a yes. And one of her most annoying responses to my answer- "why does everyone say that?!"
At the end of the survey, she said "Can I ask your name?"
No. (internally: what the hell?)
Okay, um, well thanks.
There are so many ways in which this project deserves an F. With 3 research methods classes under my belt, I think I can say that with authority! Egad!
I only hope she really is a student!
What does this have to do with libraries? Not much. But, I do know that only crazy people take the time to answer telephone surveys, so next time your library pays and exorbitant fee to a marketing company to conduct a user survey - think twice!!
1 comment:
"...only crazy people take the time to answer telephone surveys"? There are some surveys out there that are very important and useful. Admittedly, the ones done by marketing companies for products in a store are a waste of time, however I have also taken part in surveys conducted by the government for useful purposes.
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