Hi PTE students,
It’s already week 12 and stress levels are climbing rapidly. It’s coming to that time we all dread. Wishing much luck to everyone already deep in midterm and exam preparations.
Today, I would like to present a small project born out of my experience with research. I began the thesis journey as early as February 2022, which was in the second semester of my 4th year. It was my first time being involved in anything research-related. I didn’t have much clue on what exactly to do and what direction to take the thesis work. After consultations with my supervisor, we decided on a survey study. This would mean quite a bit of work. I had to collect data, analyse and present it. I watched a lot of Youtube videos to acquaint myself with the type of work I would have to perform. I also received relevant material from my supervisor to guide me.
As of April 2024, I am completely done with everything related to the thesis. Since then, I have been involved in one other survey study. The hardest part both times has been survey distribution and data collection. We have quite a few uni-oriented Facebook groups here and there, and I would see posts from students in these groups asking their fellow students to fill their surveys. I would fill a few out here and there when I had a minute to spare and I admittedly scrolled past quite a few as well.
Having to distribute surveys myself turned out to be a humbling experience. I once walked around the main University building for 2 hours distributing QR codes to students sitting around. I must have distributed at least 40 copies of these QR codes that day and only got 2 responses from this venture. I reached out to parties that I thought might be useful and supportive in my research. Nothing came out of that either. The most effective way, it turned out, was distributing amongst friends and via social media, and asking these participants to distribute amongst friends as well.
After going through this experience twice, I was able to collaborate with a dear friend of Aula Conversations to create a platform for students’ questionnaires to be distributed amongst fellow students. It’s like a big virtual bulletin board where we can all help each other out. It is called Questioshare and is now live here.
How it works
It’s pretty simple. All you have to do is visit the page and fill in the relevant details regarding your survey.
Once you submit it, it is entered into the system to be verified. You will receive a prompt message stating that it is pending verification, after which it can then be displayed on the page.
Available questionnaires can be sorted by major/field, by title or by added date.
So that’s Questioshare. Whether you’re knee-deep in thesis writing or embarking on your first research project, Questioshare is here to simplify the process and make your journey a whole lot smoother.
Now, here’s the deal: Questioshare is all about teamwork. It only works if we as students have each other’s backs. That means taking a second every now and then to see if there’s a survey you can chip in on, and passing it along to friends who fit the bill. Think of Questioshare as our secret weapon—a platform where we can rally together and make each other’s lives a little easier. And a little note to add, it’s not just for the medical students; all PTE students are welcome to jump on board! Let’s show some solidarity and make research a breeze for everyone.
Author’s note: Questioshare could not have materialised without the work and support of a dear friend and I am profoundly grateful for their invaluable contribution in turning this vision into reality.