Strategies for Attracting Participants: An Examination of ChatGPT Utilization in Computer Science Education through Qualitative Research
## Streamlining Qualitative Research Participant Recruitment: A Case Study in Human-Computer Interaction
In the realm of qualitative research, particularly in the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), participant recruitment can prove to be a challenging task. However, a recent semester-long project at an unnamed institution demonstrates how leveraging social media and email can streamline this process.
### **Leveraging Social Media and Email for Recruitment**
The team behind the project utilised a combination of social media platforms and email to reach out to potential participants. They drafted both social media posts and emails for recruitment, and prepared a screening questionnaire to gather general information about prospective interviewees and gauge their willingness to participate in a follow-up interview.
#### **Social Media Recruitment**
The team's efforts on Twitter yielded interesting results. They received several bot-like responses, which seemed suspicious due to strange email addresses or incorrect basic information. However, they were able to filter these out and engage with potential participants who showed genuine interest.
#### **Cold Emailing**
Cold emailing, specifically targeting CS and HCI educators on Mastodon and university websites, resulted in 14 questionnaire responses and 11 educators interested in conducting interviews. Following up with these participants was crucial for securing interview participants. This was done by sending a follow-up email asking them to schedule an interview date and time, and thanking them for their time and interest in the research.
### **Organising Interviews**
Using a website like Calendly can help organise availability and schedule interviews, especially when conducting several interviews. The team iterated through several versions of the questionnaire to ensure that their questions were not leading.
### **Overcoming Challenges**
Despite the challenge of recruiting participants, the team was able to successfully complete seven interviews with eleven interested interviewees. The recruitment process needed to happen fast, within about two weeks. Ensuring privacy and consent was a priority, and the project received Institute of Review Board (IRB) approval.
The research project focused on educators' opinions on the use of ChatGPT in CS education. The team's approach demonstrates that, with careful planning and strategic execution, social media and email can be effective tools for recruiting participants for qualitative research in HCI.
- To enhance the junior paper on ChatGPT's impact in CS education, the research team developed their research skills by employing cold emailing tactics, targeting CS and HCI educators through Mastodon and university websites for questionnaire responses and follow-up interviews.
- The team's education-and-self-development effort to streamline recruitment provided invaluable insights, as they organized interviews with eleven interviewees within two weeks, leveraging learning resources such as Calendly and iterating on their questionnaire to ensure unbiased results.
- Personal-growth opportunities were unfolded during this research initiative, as the team showcased the effectiveness of utilizing email and social media in qualitative research skills development, overcoming participant recruitment challenges and maintaining ethical standards through IRB approval.
