AFOL Dissertation Participants Needed!

[1903093]

Hi there,

My name is Jared Yorkston, and I am an undergraduate psychology student at the University of Buckingham. I am currently working on my dissertation project, titled “Using A Grounded Expertise Approach to Characterise Adult Fans of Lego" and I am looking for participants to take part in my survey.

Click the link below to find out more:

https://buckingham.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/lego-diss

Thank you for your time,

Jared Yorkston

What is my research about?

I have devised a scale, that I hope will capture the different ways in which Adult Fans of Lego engage with Lego. I plan to then correlate this with other established questionnaires and to assess how my Adult Fans of Lego scale holds up.

What does previous research say?

Currently, there is little previous research that investigates the engagement styles of AFOL with Lego, and as such, I intend to begin to explore this area. Previous research into Lego has investigated areas such as serious play (Per Kristiansen & Rasmussen, 2014), or how Lego can be utilised in therapies (HSR Psychology, n.d.). Furthermore, the field of psychology has recently begun to explore creativity and expertise, as seen in recent publications (Neale, 2020) and academic blogs (CREATE psychology, n.d.).

What does participation entail?

To meet the inclusion criteria, potential participants will have to be over the age of 18 and have engaged with Lego in the past year. As participants in this research, you will be informed of their rights at the very beginning. Once this has been done, you meet the established criteria and consent to take part, all you will have to do is answer a collection of multiple choice answers I have complied in an online survey, which should take no longer than 20 minutes to complete.

References:

CREATE Ψ. (n.d.). CREATE Ψ. https://createpsy.com/

HSR Psychology. (n.d.). Lego therapy interventions - Specialist interventions - Interventions - Services - HSR Psychology - Clinical and educational psychology service for children and young people, based in Manchester. Retrieved February 24, 2022, from https://www.hsrpsychology.co.uk/services/intervention/specialist-interventions/lego-therapy/

Neale, D. (2020, May). A golden age of play for adults | The Psychologist. Thepsychologist.bps.org.uk. https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/volume-33/may-2020/golden-age-play-adults

Per Kristiansen, & Rasmussen, R. (2014). Building a better business using the Lego serious play method. Wiley. 

[timemail]

Quick point from me. I think it would be better if you define what "Engage with Lego" means for the purpose of this survey. I almost gave up at the first engagement based question (Q7). Engage with Lego to me means contacting the Lego Company either through website, surveys, phone, or emails, whereas you are intending it to mean (I assume) purchasing, building with, designing etc. with ?physical? Lego bricks. Not sure if you intend for visiting of Lego forums, building using virtual tools etc. as "Engaging with Lego".

There might be some basic assumptions made by people which affect what your survey results (especially around frequency of engagement). That said the subsequent questions did to an extent clear up what I think you mean, so completed the survey based on my assumption mentioned above, and only my interactions with physical bricks for the question about frequency of engagement with Lego.

Edited March 29, 2022 by timemail

[JopieK]

I think you should have also added some dimension about occupation. Apart from that, good luck on your research. I imagine you will need to adhere to the FAIR data goals? Will you share the outcomes with us (not only the paper but also the data e.g. via Kaggle)?

[Ondra]

Very interesting survey, i just finished it today!

[1903093]

12 hours ago, timemail said:

Quick point from me. I think it would be better if you define what "Engage with Lego" means for the purpose of this survey. I almost gave up at the first engagement based question (Q7). Engage with Lego to me means contacting the Lego Company either through website, surveys, phone, or emails, whereas you are intending it to mean (I assume) purchasing, building with, designing etc. with ?physical? Lego bricks. Not sure if you intend for visiting of Lego forums, building using virtual tools etc. as "Engaging with Lego".

There might be some basic assumptions made by people which affect what your survey results (especially around frequency of engagement). That said the subsequent questions did to an extent clear up what I think you mean, so completed the survey based on my assumption mentioned above, and only my interactions with physical bricks for the question about frequency of engagement with Lego.

Hi timemail,

You are correct in assuming that by "engage with Lego" I did indeed mean products, sets, bricks etc. I did in fact state that I was aiming to assess "the way in which you have engaged with Lego products" (Introdcutroy statement, p. 1). However, I understand that there was some confusion as to what you interpreted engagement, and whether this was what I had meant, as you rightly pointed out that simply putting "Lego", could be interpreted to mean interactions with the company, not the product. This issue could have been rectified in hindsight if I were to pilot the survey, but due to the time constraints placed on me by the university, they advised that for my undergraduate degree, a pilot study wouldn't be warranted. Similarly, including a definition as to what engagement meant could have also rectified this issue. Unfortunately, because the survey has been launched, I cannot alter it, as this may risk corrupting the data set I have obtained thus far.

I appreciate the time that you have taken to write a response to me, and this formative feedback is greatly appreciated. I will discuss this with my project supervisor when we have our meeting next week. Moreover, I would like to thank you for also sticking with it, despite your hesitation. If you do have any further queries, do not hesitate to reach out to me again via my email: 1903093@buckingham.ac.uk

Once again thank you for participating.

Jared

Edited March 29, 2022 by 1903093

[Peppermint_M]

Filled it in myself just now. 

I'll agree that there was some room for interpretation in the word "engage". TLG's own surveys often have to define the meaning by each survey (e.g. sometimes they mean purchasing product, other times it is using sites like EB). However as I have a lot of LEGO in my life, even if all I have done is fidgeted my LEGO Pencil sharpener onto the LEGO Plate on my notebook and off again a few dozen times, I have engaged with my LEGO daily!

But hey, now you have something to write about in your self-assessment of things to improve in your work and even something to excuse a disparity in your data and your predicted outcomes. Lots of fodder for the dissertation.  

 

[1903093]

6 hours ago, JopieK said:

I think you should have also added some dimension about occupation. Apart from that, good luck on your research. I imagine you will need to adhere to the FAIR data goals? Will you share the outcomes with us (not only the paper but also the data e.g. via Kaggle)?

Hi JopieK,

Initially, when I was drafting up the survey, I did intend to include a way of assessing occupation, as this is similarly included in GECA (Fine & Friedlander, 2016), which is the approach I am using. However, because of the constraints placed on me at the undergraduate degree level, and having assessed so many variables within this survey, I was informed by my supervisor that this would be too much work for what it is worth. I will of course be measuring this in my dissertation write up. I did, however, implicitly include a question that included occupation and socioeconomic status, which was question 6, as the response you gave may have been comprised of these factors. 

Am I correct in understanding that FAIR data goals are in reference to those outlined by the Future of Research Communications and e-scholarship (The FAIR Data Principles - FORCE11, 2014)? I am unaware of these principles, as within psychology we stick to the code of ethics and conduct established by the British Psychological Society (2021). Returning to this your query regarding my adherence to FAIR data goals, I am not obliged to officially (through an appropriate database) pre-register my research design, but I do intend to unofficially pre-register my research design with the university. As mentioned I do not have to do this at the undergraduate degree level, but it is good academic practise if I do so.

Moreover, in the final section, titled, "Debrief: What Was It All About?" I do indeed state that once I have written up the research report, participants can indeed have access to it. If you wish to, then reach out to me via my email: 1903093@buckingham.ac.uk, and I will add you to the list of those who wish to be sent a copy. However, the raw and processed data sets will not be made available to participants, or to make this data-set openly available, as I do not have clearance from the University of Buckingham School of Psychology Ethics Committee to do so. The data set will, however, be uploaded to the university virtual learning environment, Moodle, alongside my dissertation research report write-up so that they are satisfied with the integrity of the data, and that the standards of academic conduct that I work at are also commendable. Additionally, following the practice set out by, and carried out by, the School of Psychology this data set may be used for internal teaching or training purposes, and will only be kept for a maximum of five years.

If you have any questions down the line, feel free to contact me via my email: 1903093@buckingham.ac.uk.

Once again, thank you for completing my survey and participating in my undergraduate dissertation research.

Jared

Reference:

British Psychological Society. (2021, December). Code of Ethics and Conduct. https://www.bps.org.uk/sites/www.bps.org.uk/files/Policy/Policy - Files/BPS Code of Ethics and Conduct.pdf

Friedlander, K. J., & Fine, P. A. (2016). The Grounded Expertise Components Approach in the Novel Area of Cryptic Crossword Solving. Frontiers in Psychology, 7.  https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00567

The FAIR Data Principles - FORCE11. (2014, September 3).  https://force11.org/info/the-fair-data-principles/

6 hours ago, Ondra said:

Very interesting survey, i just finished it today!

Hi Ondra,

Thanks! I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for participating too. If you have any questions down the line, or wish to be sent a copy of the finished write-up, feel free to reach out to me via email: 1903093@buckingham.ac.uk

Jared

15 minutes ago, Peppermint_M said:

Filled it in myself just now. 

I'll agree that there was some room for interpretation in the word "engage". TLG's own surveys often have to define the meaning by each survey (e.g. sometimes they mean purchasing product, other times it is using sites like EB). However as I have a lot of LEGO in my life, even if all I have done is fidgeted my LEGO Pencil sharpener onto the LEGO Plate on my notebook and off again a few dozen times, I have engaged with my LEGO daily!

But hey, now you have something to write about in your self-assessment of things to improve in your work and even something to excuse a disparity in your data and your predicted outcomes. Lots of fodder for the dissertation.  

 

Hi Peppermint_M,

As discussed, I will no doubt mention this point with my project supervisor. I will also include this in my dissertation write-up, and reflect on what could have been done better, and what can be done in future research in this area. I do not fear that this one question will have much sway over the overall integrity of the data set, as subjective interpretation is a given within self-report methods such as this.

Thank you for taking part too, and remember if you want to  be sent a copy of the finished write-up, or you have any questions down the line, feel free to reach out to me via email: 1903093@buckingham.ac.uk

Jared

[JopieK]

I think you have a wise supervisor. Even at graduate (uh, and even doctorate) level one is very limited in adding too many variables, so I really understand that.

[1903093]

8 minutes ago, JopieK said:

I think you have a wise supervisor. Even at graduate (uh, and even doctorate) level one is very limited in adding too many variables, so I really understand that.

Hi JopieK,

Haha, I will have to tell her. I think she's pretty good too, as she has published research using lego, and connect four amongst other things, to assess creativity and problem-solving, and I have a good rapport with her which is important.

Did you want to be added to the list to receive a copy of my write-up? (anybody is welcome to have a copy if they wish)

Jared

[JopieK]

16 hours ago, 1903093 said:

Hi JopieK,

Haha, I will have to tell her. I think she's pretty good too, as she has published research using lego, and connect four amongst other things, to assess creativity and problem-solving, and I have a good rapport with her which is important.

Did you want to be added to the list to receive a copy of my write-up? (anybody is welcome to have a copy if they wish)

Jared

Yes would be very nice!

[Feuer Zug]

Survey completed. Best of luck with your thesis.

[1903093]

2 hours ago, Feuer Zug said:

Survey completed. Best of luck with your thesis.

Hi Feuer Zug,

Thanks for completing my survey. Feel free to reach out to me via email: 1903093@buckingham.ac.uk if you have any questions etc.

Jared

[Toastie]

Hi Jared,

I also completed your survey. All the best for the work on your thesis!

If possible, I'd like to get a copy of your write-up, will be for sure a very interesting read! (tbenter@uni-wuppertal.de)

All the best,
Thorsten

[AmperZand]

Survey completed.

Best of luck with your degree course! 

[1903093]

On 3/30/2022 at 10:06 PM, Toastie said:

Hi Jared,

I also completed your survey. All the best for the work on your thesis!

If possible, I'd like to get a copy of your write-up, will be for sure a very interesting read! (tbenter@uni-wuppertal.de)

All the best,
Thorsten

Hi Thorsten,

Thanks for completing the survey. I have added you to a list of emails of those who wish to be sent a copy of the dissertation write-up.

You can reach out to me via email: 1903093@buckingham.ac.uk if you have any other questions etc.

Jared

On 4/4/2022 at 10:21 PM, AmperZand said:

Survey completed.

Best of luck with your degree course! 

Hi AmperZand,

Thanks for completing the survey. I haven't got long left now on my degree; I finish in June of this year!

Jared

 

Hi everybody,

Thank you to those who have already completed the survey. I have got just under half of the participants that I need to carry out the data analysis process and I have a week left to collect participants before I will be forced to close the survey and begin the data analysis process. To carry out this data analysis, I need to collect 100 participants but have only got 47 as of this morning. If you know of any friends or family etc., who could take part in the survey, sharing it with them would be greatly appreciated. Similarly, if you wish to repost the survey link on social media etc., feel free to.

Thanks all,

Jared

[Toastie]

6 hours ago, 1903093 said:

carry out this data analysis, I need to collect 100 participants but have only got 47 as of this morning. If you know of any friends or family etc.,

Hi Jared,

merde. Now - I believe this Forum is mostly frequented by - uhm - nerds (forgive me, folks, I count me in for sure!!!).

As I think that this is a very cool project - @Jim (sorry for bothering you) - is there any chance to spread the word here on EB?

Best wishes, cross my fingers,
Thorsten

[Peppermint_M]

@Darkdragon and @Shadows Maybe a forum wide announcement? That will catch attention in all the sections and not just here.

[Jim]

9 hours ago, Toastie said:

As I think that this is a very cool project - @Jim (sorry for bothering you) - is there any chance to spread the word here on EB?

Sure. I have frontpaged the topic.

[Scubacarrot]

Done. Good luck with your study. I felt some questions could use some more definition. Especially the engaging question (what does it mean to engage, buy, build, do things online?) and the wealth ladder question (related to what, the world, my peers, my country...)

[Professor Thaum]

Survey completed.

[blackdeathgr]

Done and done. If you remember it by then, feel free to send a copy of your work when completed or give it to EB staff to post it online. It would be fun to read. 

[GeoBrick]

And yet another data point finished.

The above is a good suggestion. It saves time on sending the results of the survey to all.

[Marooned Marin]

Done. Good luck

[1903093]

Hi everybody,

Sorry for not being active over the last week, but I have been busy beginning to write up my dissertation. Thank you to everybody that has recently completed the survey, and especially to those that have been instrumental in drawing attention to the survey! I extended the open time for the survey, so it will now be open until midnight on the morning of the 20th of April (00:00 GMT). I now only need 15 more responses to reach my goal of 100 useable data sets. 

Also, thank you to those that have reached out to me, via my email. If you requested a copy of my dissertation write-up, via email, you have been added to a list and will be sent a copy once I have submitted my write-up. Moreover, I hadn't thought about posting a copy onto the forum discussion, until it was suggested to me, so I will also do that once I have submitted my write up. The university deadline for the dissertation assignment is on the 23rd of May 2022, so expect a copy of it to be posted within the week of the 23rd. 

If you celebrate the Easter holidays, happy Easter. If you do not, then have a great weekend!

Jared

[Jim]

I can link it to technic tonight. You will find 15 users there, I’m sure of that.