[Nfb-science] data collection protocol for researchassistants/readers

[John Miller]

Hi Cheryl,
What field are you studying? Is the research project the last thing
between you and completion of your program?
One thought I had was taking digital photos or video and reviewing with
a second long term reader.
>From what you wrote, it sounds important to get the work started and
moving forward right away.
I know that UCSD had a 7-year start to finish requirement for PhD
candidates and this included 1 year personal leave and 1 year parental
leave.
The university has a requirement since they admitted you to accommodate
your research.  They cannot waive requirements just because you are
blind.  
The graduate research phase is the most poorly met accommodation by
universities today.  Please forward your questions to National
Association of Blind Students.
You could ask Jim Mccarthy or others about the means test for the
department of rehabilitation to help out.
I know you could make a plan with department of rehab that they had to
help fund your graduate program so you could get future employment.
This might mean you had to resign your current job to get their help.  I
am not recommending that.  But it would let you know your options.

Does anyone on the list have a story about using a standard deduction or
itemized deduction for tax deductions related to a paid reader?
If you pay a worker enough, then you have to pay them social security
for them to have a tax return.  
I know that NSF grants allow a rider to disability needs.  Is there
grant funding at your university with similar flexability?
I wish you all the best.
Best regards,
John


-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-science-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:nfb-science-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of cheryl fogle
Sent: Sunday, April 15, 2007 9:05 AM
To: nfb-science at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Nfb-science] data collection protocol for
researchassistants/readers

Hello,

I'm wondering if anyone has ever developed a data collection protocol
when using research assistants or readers to collect visual information
and would be willing to share their protocol with me.  I want to
standardize observations among two or more research assistants so that
visual data will be valid in the analysis phase of my Ph.D.
dissertation.

My committee believe that I should only have one assistant during the
4-6 months of my field work, because they think that more assistants
would introduce interobserver errors. They don't understand as we do
that it's necessary to fire people sometimes and other times
readers/drivers leave voluntarily for a number of reasons.  I have been
stuck for several years without making progress on my fieldwork because
I have been trying to fund all travel for myself and travel/salary for
an assistant on one large grant.  This is museums in five states plus
Washington D.C. I have received enough small grants for one trip to a
single museum about two weeks duration.  That is why I'm looking for
ideas on protocols to standardize information.  I'm wanting descriptions
of color of stone tools, photographs taken, handwritten field records
read, and counts on number of places where small stone flakes were
removed to shape the artifact.  I can feel the overall pattern of flake
removals, but I can't tell each individual scar.  I have received small
grants, enough to do a pilot study, and I'm thinking of finally
beginning my research after spinning my wheels on this issue for three
years since I advanced to candidacy.  If I don't act soon, I'm going to
have to apply to my university for an extention.  I work full time and
am considering paying research assistants out of pocket then taking tax
write off for educational expenses.

Any ideas would be welcome.

Cheryl Fogle
Ph.D. candidate, Department of Anthropology
University of New Mexico