I thought you might also be interested in some ofthe problems I encountered in collecting mydata.There were add cases that threw me - one ofthe subjects who I had approached while he was outshopping in town,decided to pull out when it came tothe second round.It was a shame as it was someonewho I would like to have interviewed more closely.
And one of the first-year students I interviewedwanted reassurance that no names would betraceable from the answers.I was sosurprised,because they think nothing of telling youabout themselves and their opinions in seminar groups!
Then,one of people that I work with got a bit funny.The questions were quite personal and oneminute he said he'd do it,then the next day he wouldn't,and in the end he did do it.It's hard notto get angry in that situation but I tried to keep focused on the overall picture in order to staycalm.
The most bizarre case was a telephone interview I did with teacher at a university in France.Heanswered all my questions in great detail - but then when I asked how much access he had todangerous substances he wouldn't tell me exactly what his work involved.It's a real eye-opener...