Pilot Survey

N

NewDrugsResearch

Bluelighter
Joined
Sep 3, 2014
Messages
25
Hi Everyone,

Apologies for the slight delay in contacting you with regards to the pilot survey.

As mentioned, I am planning on conducting an online survey with mephedrone users as part of another study for my PhD. This survey will be targeted at a range of users (not just online forum members). However, prior to launching the full survey I would like to pilot the survey with a small group just to test it's usability and acceptability. I am looking at things like how the questions are worded, how the instructions and 'More Info' sections read, the length of the survey, the usability of the interface (which although I can't change I might be able to include extra instructions to make it easier to use) etc. I am also looking to check that responses are stored properly so it you could give a response for each question even if it is not a full answer that would be great.

I would really appreciate it if you could take the time to have a look and then either give me feedback here or PM me directly. It shouldn't take you long to complete - no longer than 30mins. The survey will be open for piloting from Tuesday 18 November 6pm (UK time) to Tuesday 25 November 6pm (UK time). As this is just a pilot, can I ask that you not share the URL for this survey with anyone else.

The URL for the pilot survey is: https://www.survey.bris.ac.uk/kcl/mephpilot1/

If you have any questions please let me know. Otherwise, I look forward to hearing from you and to your feedback.

Thanks in advance

Zoe.
 
Hi Everyone,

Just to let you know that the pilot survey went down for about 10mins today but it is back up again and should be working fine. The URL and close date/time are the same as above.

Zoe.
 
Just a quick update. Some internal piloting has highlighted some issues with some of the follow on questions which I am going to fix up - however, I won't be able to do this until after the version you will be looking at is closed. However, if you notice anything similar please let me know. Just confirm, I won't be analysing the results of the pilot - so if you are forced to change an answer to a question that has problems in order to move through the survey don't worry. Thanks again! Zoe.
 
I just took the survey. Overall, I found it very well-designed. One issue is length, but I'm a bit of an impatient person about these things. I have a few minor suggestions that follow:

There are two questions about when one's most recent use occurred, one about whether use occurred in the last 30 days, and one about whether it occurred in the last year. I think that this would be more elegant merged into one question, as depending on one's answer to the first question, the second question might seem redundant or inapplicable.
...
I found the section about drug use and age of first use tedious (maybe I've taken way too many drugs :P). Perhaps you could have a write in section where people can elect to list selective milestones of use and/or description of key turning points in use? Or perhaps you could just allow subjects to write a paragraph / list of their own choosing about history of drug use.
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re: question 51:

The two parts of this question require you to fill out the second part, about online market access, even if you say you don't usually use online markets (ie, regardless of response to the first part). It just seems cumbersome.
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With the behavioral queries, this is one of the listed behaviors:

"e. Urge to do things (repetitive things e.g., cleaning)"

This is ambiguous: do you mean urge to do things, including repetitious things as an example, or are you only interested in repetitious and/or compulsive behavior?
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In querying frequency/typicality of behavior, I noticed you elected to include "often" but omit "usually". Is there a logic behind this choice? What do you think about including both? I personally think of "often" as "a significant minority of the time", whereas usually is "50% or more of the time".
..
What you mean by "sensory distortion" is unclear. Would this include mild visual static or intense colors? How about music being really "full" or "intense"? I think that the survey items should discriminate between sensory distortion and sensory enhancement.
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I found it problematic that the set of options for temporality of effects did not discriminate between after-effects the day following use (I would call this a "hangover", distinct from a "comedown", the latter being the couple to few hours that follow the drug mostly having worn off) and after-effects spanning multiple days.
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In asking about effects of the drug, you query for frequency but not strength of effects. However...I don't think that the survey could easily be lengthened.
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Overall, I think that you did a great job on the section asking about experienced effects; there was little that I could think to add, excepting maybe:

a question about pleasure dancing (or kinaesthetic pleasure in general)?

a question about increased tactile effects / pleasure (this is a hallmark of entactogens. . .)?
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I found the question about use of mephedrone as a sleep-aid rather hilarious. :P

In the section about motivations for usage, a lot of the items querying curiosity and experimentation seemed redundant.
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In the section on addiction, you don't discriminate between compulsion and craving during use and that following. Eg, while I'm on mephedrone, I will crave the next dose and feel compelled to dose repeatedly (even if not actually following through with those urges). However, while sober or even hung over from mephedrone, I never have urges to use, cravings, etc. It would be good for the survey to tease out this distinction.

But very well done overall!

ebola
 
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Thanks for the feedback! Will definitely follow up on your suggestions. Some of the questions are from existing questionnaires so I'm unable to change them - the sleep aid item is an example as it's from a measure that can be used with a number of different drugs. Thanks again and looking forward to hearing what others have to say....
 
Hi Everyone,

Just a reminder that the pilot survey will be closing later tonight. If you haven't already and you have the time please have a look as any feedback you have would be really helpful.

Thanks!
 
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