Post Data Collection Thoughts

Some final thoughts on the process of collecting data:

Partners:

From doing one half of the survey with a partner, and the other half without, I think it is important that two people go to every neighborhood. While Toby and I did not encounter any problems on the UES while doing the survey, when I was in the Flatlands alone I was asked many times what I was doing and to stop using a video recorder.

Other Important Tools to Develop:

Some people wanted to know exactly what I was doing and why. I think that it would be helpful to develop a simple one-page explanation of the project with the primary researchers signatures on Hunter College stationary in order to quickly and succinctly explain to curious observers what we are doing.

Paper Recording vs. Electronic Recording of Data:

Using paper data collection was much less efficient than using an electronic data collector. I found the paper to be cumbersome and using the Flip Camera as well as recording each address was annoying and has a large potential to lead to errors in data collection. Using the electronic device last year was much more streamlined and not only saved time but ensured that each photograph was tagged to the address, which decreases the chance of a mix up.

Types of Advertisements:

Making a distinction between large corporation advertising (such as Kool Cigarettes giving every bodega in NYC the same sticker/poster) and small business advertisements (such as the words "cold beer" on an awning) is very important. I think that there is a huge difference between the two that is not clearly shown in the current data collection method.

Canarsie Area

I did the Canarsie area tonight; it was a very different experience than the Upper East Side. Most of the stores in the area were either laundromats, nail salons, or hair salons. There were also houses in between the many shopping stores.

I surveyed Flatlands Avenue from E79th Street through Remsen Avenue. Since most of the stores were one that I mentioned above there were few advertisements. However the stores that had advertisements were the usual cigarette ads, high fat meats or supermarket items. There were also a few liquor stores that were not really seen in the Upper East Side.

While I was taking the pictures and holding the papers, a passerby asked what survey I was doing. However I didn't actually have to get into it since the person just kept on walking. Other individuals walked around me so that they wouldn't disturb my picture. Again this was different than the Upper East Side where no one really cared what we were doing.

First two days

Hello all. Yesterday and today were my first two days on the job. I can only say that it was very informative. Incredible to see the differences between Kingsbridge and Riverdale. Today, Yat and I surveyed a relatively commercial area of Riverdale and found more residential buildings then businesses. We were able to note several stores in a shopping center and businesses on the opposite street. Yat has the video and am sure will upload.

Kingsbridge

Street survey for Kingsbridge has been done. We went in the evening from 6:30 until almost 9pm, for a total of about 2 1/2 hrs. 28 videos have been uploaded to FLIKR and Kathy has many more photos, w/ more than one photo for many addresses. (Kathy brought her camera, and to maximize time, we used both cameras.) We did find some vitamins displayed in store windows and even one health food store, but again like East Harlem, quite a number of fast food/bodega type establishments. We did about 20 blocks of varying sizes, both sides of the street.

Only did the Upper East Side

Heidi and I were only able to do the Upper East Side thus far. We haven't had a chance to do Brooklyn with the unpredictable weather and holiday week.

Reminder about Completion Dates

Today is July 10th, about one-third of the way through the month and we are fast approaching the end of the project.

I wanted to remind everyone that our goal is to get all the data collected and entered by end of July.

So please plan so that you can complete your survey of the neighborhoods and get all the data entered (photos loaded to Flickr and data sheets entered into Excel).

Thanks! ;-)

New Research Staff ~

We've had a shift in research staff on the project. Sehrish had to leave in order to focus on the program she is involved in at Princeton, and Kathy Alexis will be joining us and working with Yat. Best of luck to Sehrish and welcome Kathy! ;-)