Extending the Deadline: A Final Push to Reach My Minimum Survey Targets

-

One of the most important aspects of data collection in a PhD research project is knowing when to pause, reflect, and adapt. For the past few months, I’ve been collecting responses for my survey exploring the influence of China’s Higher Education Exchange Programs (HEEPs) on Papua New Guinea–China relations. The survey has been a key part of the quantitative phase of my explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, and I initially planned to close it on July 2, 2025. However, after reviewing current response rates, I have decided to extend the closing date to July 9, 2025.

Screenshot of the change.

This additional week will allow me to concentrate efforts on reaching three groups that are yet to meet the minimum response target of 80 participants per group. These are: PNG students currently studying in China, and students enrolled in the Chinese Language Programs (CLPs) at the University of Technology (UoT) and the University of Goroka (UoG). While other participant groups—such as alumni of Chinese universities and public servants involved in Chinese-sponsored training—have shown strong engagement, the student groups in China and in the CLPs remain underrepresented.

These groups are critical to the overall goals of my research. Students currently studying in China provide first-hand insights into life under Chinese Government Scholarships, STEM programs, district-funded education, and private sponsorship. Meanwhile, students in the CLPs at UoT and UoG represent a growing category of domestic learners influenced by Chinese soft power through language and cultural exchange. Without sufficient representation from these voices, the analysis would miss a key part of the broader picture.

To increase participation, I’ve used a multi-platform outreach strategy that includes LinkedIn, WeChat, WhatsApp, and email. I’ve also received support from alumni, family, and colleagues who helped distribute flyers and survey links in person and online. Despite these efforts, communication challenges with institutional contacts—particularly at UoT and UoG—have slowed the process. This final week offers a chance to redouble my follow-up through emails and private messages.

I want to reassure all prospective participants that the survey is voluntary, anonymous, and takes just 10–15 minutes to complete. The links are categorized into seven groups to help streamline analysis, but internal survey questions such as Question 8 allow me to accurately recategorize any misdirected responses during data cleaning. So even if you’re unsure which link is right, your participation still counts.

As a reminder, the research is focused on how different categories of education exchange—including scholarships, training, and language programs—affect PNG's foreign policy thinking and bilateral cooperation with China. These are not just academic questions; they touch on future policy, national planning, and educational development. Your insights will help ensure that PNG voices are central to this important conversation.

With this extension to July 9, I encourage anyone who has not yet taken the survey—and who fits into one of the seven categories—to do so. I also invite those who have completed it to share the links with others in their networks. Your participation is crucial to building a more comprehensive and inclusive study.

The journey of this research continues to be both intellectually demanding and personally rewarding. Thank you to everyone who has supported the process so far. Let’s make this final push count.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Commercial liberalism and the six norms

-
Image
Liberal internationalism is defined by Griffiths, O'Callaghan and Roach (2008, p.190) as a project to transform international relations so that they conform to models of peace, freedom, and prosperity allegedly enjoyed within constitutional liberal democracies. The same scholars go further by dividing liberalism into three distinct groups. They say these are the three ways to implement the project. The way they present liberal internationalism as a project makes their work interesting. Three distinct groups Firstly, commercial liberalism is about free trade between states. States bilaterally or multilaterally via a platform like APEC pursue the goal of trade liberalization. Griffiths, O'Callagahan and Roach (ibid.) argued that economic interdependence would decrease the likelihood of going to war. Republican liberalism is about democratic peace. The scholars argued that the spread of democracy among states so that governments will be accountable to their citizens makes it di...
Read more

FPA: Organizational Process Model

-
This model centers on the fact that different bureaucracies have different standard operating procedures. These procedures are made in order to allow day to day operations to be carried out. Thus, a foreign policy decision is made based on these standard operating procedures. It is hard for a bureaucracy to make a decision or let alone function out of character or contrary to their standard operating procedure. The reading Chapter 4: Foreign policy shares a straight forward explanation of the OPM: "An alternative to the rational model of decision making is the organizational process model. In this model, foreign policy decision makers generally skip the labor-intensive process of identifying goals and alternative actions, relying instead for most decisions on standardized responses or standard operating procedures. For example, the U.S. State Department everyday receives more than a thousand reports or inquiries from its embassies around the world and sends out more than a ...
Read more

Allison's rational actor model

-
There are 3 common models of foreign policy decision making according to Graham Allison: rational actor model organizational process mode government politics model.  We will discuss the 3 models and compare them with the 3 levels of analysis. However, I challenge you to use your own initiative to learn about the other models of decision making. This will help you as future decision makers or analysts to understand how decisions are made and the processes. When one wakes up from bed he or she decides whether or not to brush their teeth, comb their hair and have a shower. These decisions are paramount, they affect and influence how the individual interacts in a social setting. This highlights the fact that as human beings we make decisions every day. Decision making is defined as the thought process of selecting a logical choice from the available options. In the case of the ‘Kibung peles boy’ analogy; the male student had a choice of approaching the girl to ask he...
Read more