Gaining Access: Difficulties

Unfortunately, I have learned the hard way how important it is to have a plan B. As most of you probably know, my original intent for the field working project was to study a nursing home and investigate that subculture. After emailing the place I had chosen as my field site and receiving no reply, I decided to make a trip over and speak to the director in person. When I did so, she informed me that because of privacy reasons, I would not be allowed to observe there. Naturally, I was distraught. Up until then, I hadn't really had a plan B in mind that was in the same area of study as the nursing home, and after thinking about my project for so long, I really did not want to give up on the idea of studying the elderly. So, I turned to the only other thing I could think of: a senior center. This made more sense to me, once I thought about it, because I hoped that it was a place that would not have the same kinds of privacy rules, seeing as it is more of a place that members of the community can choose to go to for some time as opposed to a place where people live. With the due date for the field notes fast approaching, I cursed myself for waiting until the last minute, but immediately got to work on finding a new field site. The first place I thought of was a senior center in Needham, MA where my grandmother has volunteered in the past. I figured that maybe she could help me get my foot in the door, but after careful consideration and some advice from Dr. Cook, I decided to try for Salvatore Mancini Center. This is a better choice for me, because it's Providence location is far more ideal. I also liked the idea of studying someplace that is a part of the Providence community. Thus began the journey of gaining access to this new field site. That same Monday, I tried to call Salvatore Mancini Center, but being a holiday, they were closed so I sent them an email. I was petrified that, like the first field site, I would get no for an answer, but I was determined to keep on trying. I made a phone call on both Thursday and Friday, and left a voice mail with my contact information and a description of my project so that hopefully they would get back to me. After waiting over the weekend since they are closed, I decided to make another call on Monday and finally the persistence paid off, because I was able to get in contact with the director's secretary. Again, I laid out all of the information about my project for her, and she told me that she had to run it by the director, but assured me that she would get back to me, hopefully within the week. It's a slow process, because at a place like Salvatore Mancini Center there is plenty of other things going on that would put a project like mine at the bottom of the priority list but hopefully after a little more persistence, I will get the green light to start my research. But in the end, the most important thing to remember is how important it is to have a plan B, and that if you are planning something it is always best to contact the people that you need permission from as soon as possible.