Usually I make posts the Monday after the previous week so I can talk about what I did on that weekend. However, I am going off my usual course of action because today marks a big day for me, in the research aspect, of this trip.
Today I have officially booked my 50th participant, which is the maximum amount of participants!!! I was not expecting my research to blow up very quickly in the way that it did- but it did- and now I am over the moon with the results I am seeing from the students here. I am still getting emails and inquiries from people as we speak. It has made me feel accomplished to reach this point. I came to Germany worried about how I was going to reach the minimum- now I am coordinating with Heather to adjust funds so I can keep scheduling participants even past the set 50.
Out of curiosity, I have been asking many of the people how they heard about my research since I did not have them in my pre screening emails and I did not have them on any of the lists that I had been collecting from each class. The biggest response I have been getting was word of mouth. I have had multiple tell me someone I have already tested raved about me and their experience in my lab, which made them want to come and meet me and test too. I also had a bunch of people tell me that I stuck out to them as “fun” when I came to classes and public spoke- so they decided to get my email from their teacher. I took this and took it to heart, as it gave me an insight on what being an impressionable person and “stepping out of your box” can do for you. If it is one thing I am definitely taking away from this experience is that first impressions go a lot farther than we actually anticipate. And that these people are not just participants to test or data numbers, they took time out of their own life to come and help yours. I am willing to bet if I did not know that Participant A was going to Italy for her summer break or that Participant B was studying chemistry as well- they would not have gone and told their friends that working with me was fun.
I am just in awe of how this turned out. I came here with an expectation and so far it has blown my expectations out of the park. This weekend I am going to museums with a group of friends I met here while testing. I am a huge sucker for touristy things (as corny as that sounds) so I am so excited to play tourist with people who know this country inside and out.