Learnings

Navigating team dynamics and personal challenges

The initial phase of our project posed the greatest challenge, as we struggled to align our understanding as a team. Our subjectivity toward the problem space, influenced by personal biases, made objectivity a difficult goal to achieve. In terms of work ethic, balancing project responsibilities with work and other assignments was at times strenuous. Despite managing to contribute, often at the last minute, it was disheartening to observe a team member not fulfilling their responsibilities when it mattered most.

Through this experience, I learned the value of stepping back from the project. Taking breaks proved vital in refreshing my perspective and fostering more objective thinking. Revisiting literature and data to validate our assumptions was also beneficial. When addressing conflicts with teammates, I found that direct communication was the most effective approach. Adopting an empathetic, blame-free attitude was key in finding solutions that satisfied everyone involved.

Methodological challenges and interview protocol adaptations

During the development phase, my role included working on the methodology for the REB, developing the interview protocol, and providing comprehensive reviews and suggestions for our team tasks. One significant challenge in methodology was ensuring detailed, logically reasoned processes. In terms of the interview protocol, my understanding evolved notably after a meeting with Adi. While previous feedback from stakeholders had been positive, Adi offered practical questions and insights, stressing the need to customize our interview approach for each participant to elicit authentic responses.

To address the methodology challenge, I learned to reference examples and strive for clarity in every explanation, fine-tuning the demographic details to closely align with our research study. For the interview protocol, adapting our questions to be more contextual and straightforward became essential. Additionally, we recognized the importance of honing our soft skills in communication and interviewing. This approach not only helped in obtaining the desired responses but also ensured we offered value to our participants.

Overcoming challenges in REB instrument development and recruitment

In the development of the REB Instrument and Recruitment protocols, my role involved working on the social media protocol, creating supporting graphics, and collaboratively reviewing the overall recruitment strategy. One of the primary challenges we encountered was the fluctuation in team motivation. Initially, during the Industry Project pitch phase, our enthusiasm was palpable. Yet, as we progressed to the REB phase, a noticeable dip in motivation occurred. Additionally, transitioning from a research-focused mindset to one that emphasized the participant's perspective proved challenging. Adapting the provided template to our specific research needs was also a hurdle.

To address these challenges, I found it essential to conduct personal check-ins with team members to offer mutual support. The decline in motivation could be attributed to various factors, including the winter season's effect, end-of-semester fatigue, or individual personal issues. Understanding and empathizing with participants' perspectives became as crucial as adhering to the ethics board's guidelines. We learned the importance of flexibility in making our approach relevant to our team's context. Regular reviews and feedback from our professor and within our group significantly contributed to refining our outcomes and maintaining high standards.