| Overview of Training Session 1 Study overview – What is MCAW The benefits of being a part of the MCAW RA Team Session 2 The MCAW Survey overview How the questionnaire looks like How to address potential questions & clarifications Session 3 Logistics Session 4 Professionalism in Working with Malaysian Schools Session 5 Checklist Arriving at Location Survey Administration Procedures Contacting PIs |
| Study Overview (see Factsheet) Benefits *An experience of working on a doctoral-level psychology project with researchers from Penn State University. * Broader knowledge of developmental psychology * Experience in data collection & an appreciation of the logistics that are required * A field experience in working with school personnel and students * Certificate from the Prevention Research Center, Penn State University * A stipend of $__ per class & small local transportation supplement * An experience that you can add to your CV |
| The MCAW Survey Overview The Malay version of the MCAW survey is given to secondary school students, and takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. There is Set A and Set B, which contain the same number of questions, but with difference in the question sequence. English versions (Sets A and B) are available for REFERENCE ONLY by students who have great difficulty understanding Malay. Such students will mark their answers on a Malay version questionnaire, like all others. |
| How the Questionnaire looks like SET A Page Section/ Questions 2 A1 – A8 Sekolah / B1 – B4 3 Sekolah / B5 – B21 4 Sosial / C1 – C20 5 Diri sendiri / D1 – D22 6 Diri sendiri / D23 – D28 Am / E1 – E14 7 Aset Pembgn / F 1 – F31 8 Aset Pembgn / F32 – F58 Total Qs = 149 |
SET B Page Section/ Questions 2 A1 – A8 Sekolah / B1 – B4 3 Aset Pembgn / 1 – 31 4 Aset Pembgn / 32 – 58 5 Sosial / 1 – 20 6 Diri sendiri / 1 – 22 7 Diri sendiri / 23 – 28 Am / 1 - 14 8 Sekolah / B5 – B21 Total Qs = 149 |
| Logistics * List of schools * Schedule for survey – confirmation of RAs for each school * Location of school and how to get there * Number of participating classes in each school * Map of school and location of classrooms |
| Professionalism in Carrying out survey
To ensure the success of the MCAW study through the following: 1. Successful & effective administration of the survey 2. Excellent PR with school personnel and students – your professionalism will reflect who you are as well as the project & team you represent 3. Careful and well-thought out answers to questions by students/teachers – when in doubt, check with the research investigators Behavior – conduct oneself according to the customs and values of the school, college & country. Very important: SMILE J & be friendly. But do not be over-friendly with any student. Watch your language at all times. Conduct yourself very very VERY carefully in school. Work collaboratively with all team members. No smoking/alcohol use anytime before or during work. Dressing – Official & formal dressing only – office pants & shirt. No see-through, bikini straps, strapless, mid-riffs, low-cuts, high-cuts, minies, un-buttoned, ear or nose rings, sunglasses, colorful or punk hair style, tattoos, excessive make-up, long nails, colored nails, slippers, etc. Dress according to traditionally accepted school customs/norms!!! Have your college ID available for display Wear a watch |
| Survey Bag Checklist All RAs are provided with a MCAW Survey Bag with the following items: I. Clip file Map of school Class list(s) with names of students with parent refusals Copy of Parent consent form A copy of the Principal’s approval, and/or Schedule confirmation letter Information sheet for Teachers ‘Pre-survey Instructions to Students’ Class Summary Form II. Documents for students Student consent forms (Malay) MCAW Student surveys (Malay and English, Sets A & B) III. Stationary Pencils and erasers Large rubber bands & paper clips |
| What to do when you first arrive at the school Mode of transportation – RAs are highly encouraged to car-pool in commuting to the schools. RAs are required to arrive at school at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the survey. Always overestimate travel time that would be needed to get to the destination – expect that there will be traffic-jams, thunderstorms, and other hindrances to transportation. Meet up with the MCAW Investigators the moment you arrive at the School. If you’re there earlier, wait for us in the Canteen. The MCAW survey team may be required to check in at the school guard post prior to entering school grounds, or to sign in and out. Some schools may also require that you wear their visitor ID. What to do when you reach the classroom Take note of the class period start and end times. Greet the teacher and inform him/her that you will be fully in charge of administering the survey and answering all questions from the students. If needed, refer him/her to the letter to teachers that was sent out 1 to 2 weeks ago. Greet the students, e.g. ‘Hi everyone’ and introduce yourself & the project e.g. “I’m Susan and I’m part of the team working on the Malaysian youth research project.” Ask students to clear their desks (put all books under desk/ into bag), and take out a 2B pencil and eraser for the survey. If desks are too close together, ask students to move their desks to create a distance between students. Hand out the Student consent forms & the Malay version of the surveys. Only provide surveys to students who have parent consent. English versions of the MCAW survey are available for REFERENCE ONLY for students who have great difficulty understanding Malay. Such students will mark their answers on a Malay version questionnaire, like all other students. For Damansara Jaya, all students will be provided an English version for reference. |
| Survey Administration Procedures Read the Pre-Survey Instructions to the students (see handout). Maintain eye contact as you read. Thank you for participating in the Kajian Perkembangan Belia di Sekolah or the MCAW survey…….. …..If you have any questions..., just raise up your hand and I /we will come to you. If a student enters after the ‘Pre-Survey Instructions’ are read, quietly read them to him/her. Collect their signed Student consent form and give him/her the corresponding numbered survey if the student agrees to participate. If a student informs you that s/he does not want to participate, have the teacher assign her/him extra work, or sit quietly at their own desks. There may be a designated location for non-participating students (NPS) (NPS are students that either their parents refused consent or the student refused consent). Ask the teacher to send these students there; otherwise if students remain in the class, they are assigned extra work or asked to work quietly at their own desks. Also hand out 2B pencils and erasers to those who need them. |
| Training Manual for MCAW Research Assistants Developed by Patricia Ang & Brendan Gomez |
| What to do during the survey Be observant and walk around so that students can ask for any clarifications. When in doubt about a question posed by a student, do NOT guess. Immediately contact an investigator for clarification. Make a note (before you leave the school) of the questions (also Q#) asked by students. Communication between team members will be facilitated through the use of personal handphones and walki-talkies On the Class Summary Form, fill up information on the class size, the number of surveys handed out, the absent students (Class ID), those with parent refusals (Class ID), and student refusals (Class ID). Check that the number of consent forms and surveys given out matches the number picked up. What to do when participants have completed the survey Collect back the following from the students: The malay version of the survey The english version of the survey The pencils and erasers Ensure that you take out everything you brought into the classroom. Check through and arrange the surveys in piles – a pile for English set A, a pile for English set B, and a pile for the Malay version. Count the sets in a pile. Ensure you have the correct numbers you brought into the classroom. Tie each pile with a rubber band and place them in a plastic bag or cover sheet. The English versions will be re-used for the next classes. Check through them to ensure there are no markings on them. The Malay versions will be placed in a crate. Ensure that the cover of each set containing all Malay surveys for a particular class is marked with the class form and name. If you have a break between classes you are surveying, you could wait at the Canteen or your own car. IMPORTANT: Report back to the MCAW Investigators at the School grounds upon completion of your classes and ensure you return all survey materials. |
| Principal Investigators On-Call Both PIs will be available at the school at all times. Contact the PIs on the 2-way radio or handphone for any clarifications or emergencies. |