Still figuring out my project

I had a good meeting today with my mentors, Jeff and Brad. Originally we were going to go over my IRB, but then, because that's so complicated and I need to revise it again, I decided just to talk to them about the project itself and how to be more specific about it narrow my gaze on what it is exactly that I will be doing. My biggest problem has been trying to come up with the question that I want to answer. Jeff asked me what it was that drew my attention to this story in the first place. I explained to him that I thought it was impressive, compared to the rest of the world, what Tibetans and Indians are achieving despite their situations and different backgrounds. He helped me transform and translate this into the simple question of, "Is it possible for people to get along?" More specific to this project the question could be, "Is it possible for Indians and Tibetans to get along, and if so, how?" but I want the audience to evaluate more than just Indians and Tibetans. I want them to evaluate the question for themselves. Can we get along with others, and what is necessary in order to do this? Somehow I feel like this helps me determine the route and direction of my film.

Progress and Not Progress

I feel like I have finally been making some good progress on my project, and wish that I would have been doing the things I'm doing now two months ago. However, at the same time that I am making progress, I feel like I am not making progress because things keep getting harder and I keep questioning my project and if it will ever make it past the IRB, if I will ever get funding to buy equipment, and if I even like my topic anymore.

After my journal entry last week I am trying to think more in depth about what the story is that want to tell. I can't say I've really defined it quite yet, but I've been thinking about it a lot. I will be talking to my mentors (there are two of them now) about it on Wednesday and hopefully they can help me figure some things out.

Some exciting news however is that I have heard back from both of the charitable organizations I have contacted, and to my surprise, they seem very willing to work with me. I of course will need to talk to them in more detail about the project, but mostly I'm just glad that they didn't reject me right off the bat. However, I did find out something that may set me back, and that is that if I want to film the slums where the Tong-Len organization is helping Indians, apparently (or maybe) I am supposed to send in a script or a proposal to the Indian government and get there approval before I am allowed to film in the slums. I'm not really sure where to start on this, as in who to contact, but hopefully that is something I can find out. I also don't know how easy the government is to work with, and I don't know if having to go through the government is something the IRB will like or dislike (They may like it because if the government approves then they will feel safer about me doing it, but they may dislike it because it just means that I am trying to enter a vulnerable place.) I would like to make the effort though, and we'll see how it goes.

At times I really just want to give up. But then when I find interesting information or hear back from people I am working with, it gets me excited again. I just hope I'm able to pull everything through, and even though Ashley said that sometimes the biggest flops turn into the most success, I kind of really hope that my project isn't a flop.

How well do Tibetans and Indians actually get along?

I just read an interesting article: http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/unease-in-dharamsala/429052/

Lately I have been so focused on looking innocent for the IRB that I have kind of strayed from my original idea or question, which asked "Will Tibetans and Indians get along", and not "Why do they get along", which is what my question seems to have become. This article expresses some of the worries and issues going on between the Tibetans and Indians of Dharamsala. There really are a lot of issues, especially from the point of view of local Indians. They do not seem mad at Tibetans, but actually quite willing to mix with them. The problem they say is that Tibetans do not want to mix with Indians. This is just one of several issues, not to mention the whole deal with the Karmapa Lama (which thankfully seems it is being taken care of nicely without raising more issues).

My point is, I have focused so much on the good lately that I have kind of ignored any negative relationships between Tibetans and Indians, when this could really be a valid point to investigate. My only problem is that I am afraid the IRB will not like the idea of me investigating anything negative if it means negative comments will be attached to people's faces on film. I have tried to avoid this being a risk by deciding that the film should only be screened in the United States, but even still, I don't know if the IRB will see that as enough protection.

However, I also don't want to show Dharamsala as a paradise where everyone gets along if that's not really how it is. How do you determine how "accurate" you want to be versus how "safe" you want to be?

Maybe the answer is in the question that I ask. Maybe my question should be, "What are Tibetans and Indians doing to get along better?"

How to be Creative

This goes in combination with my last post about focusing. It also functions as me trying to be positive despite many my many woes and frustrations currently involved with my project.

In my documentary class the other day we were learning about Dopamine (not sure if I spelled that right). It is the chemical in your brain that causes you to crave new information. In a way it can be very useful because it helps you to want to learn new things. But in other ways it is not so useful, because not all information is important or worthwhile. For example, dopamine could very well be blamed for an hour of youtube watching, when you only meant to watch one video in the first place. This is something I know I've been a victim to because of all the additional videos listed down the right side of every youtube page. This is all information, though most of the time, not very useful.

Focusing

Nephi Henry sent me this article which I read and found very interesting: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/03/arts/design/03abroad.html?_r=1

It mentions how in today's world we are less inclined to focus on what is before us because images and information can be captured so easily through means of a camera or on the internet. The article says that in olden days, when people would go to museums, they would bring their sketch pads and study and draw the things that they saw. But now, we can move quickly through the world's museums, simply snapping a picture of each piece of art to collect it and prove that we've seen it.

It was interesting that I read this when I did, because just a couple days ago I decided that I needed to get a sketchbook to take with me to India in which I can draw, record observations, and take notes. And after reading this article, it has confirmed to me that this is something I should definitely do. I cannot be behind the camera the whole time. I need to explore things for myself first and not just capture them through a lens.

IRB 2nd draft

Application for the Use of Human Subjects
Part A Application Information (Only typed applications will be reviewed; submit 2, unstapled copies to ORCA in A-285 ASB)
1. Title of the Study: Good Samaritans in Our Times: How Tibetans and Indians have come together to help one another.

2. Principal Investigator: Matt Merrill 3. Contact Person:
(if different from PI):
Title: : undergraduate Dept: Media Arts Title: Dept:

4. Co-Investigator(s): Jeff Parkin (Media Arts Department)
5. Research Originated By: (Check One) Faculty X Student Staff
6. Research Purpose(Check All that Apply): X Grant Dissertation Thesis
ORCA Scholarship Honors Thesis X Course Project: Media Arts project credit
X ISP – India Field Study Program
7. Correspondence Request: Mail X Call for Pick-Up

Part B Research Study Synopsis
1. Brief Study Description (Include Purpose of the Research):

I will be creating a documentary film about the relationships between Tibetan refugees and Indians living in and around McLeod Ganj, India, focusing on what they are doing to help one another. The purpose of this project is to create a film with the theme of service and charity, that will inspire those who see it to be more charitable and service oriented.
2. Study Length
What is the duration of the study? 05/11 to 08/11 (in the field). 08/11 to 12/11 (post-field, editing).
3. Location of Research
a. Where will the research take place? Mcleod Ganj, Himachal Pradesh, India
b. Will the PI be conducting and/or supervising research activity off-campus?
X Yes No If Yes, please list sites: Mcleod Ganj and nearby towns, in people’s homes, at charitable organizations, and outdoors.
4. Subject Information:
a. Number of Subjects: 10 - 30 b. Gender of Subjects: Male and Female c. Ages of Subjects: 18 and older
5. Potentially Vulnerable Populations: (Check All that Apply)
Children Pregnant Women Cognitively Impaired Prisoners Institutionalized
Faculty’s Own Students Other. Please describe:

Symbols and Signs

Symbols and signs are very important, but also sometimes very difficult for an outsider to understand. In Mormon culture we have all kinds of symbols: the statue of Angel Moroni on top of our temples, the bread and water of the sacrament, the way we dress, and much of our artwork and what is written in the scriptures can be symbolic. There are probably some other really obvious things that I am missing as well, but I am not as prone to notice them as an outsider might be because I have grown up with them all my life. Yet, I understand what these symbols mean, and the outsider most likely will not.

Buddhism and Hinduism as I have already begun to see, are full of symbols and signs, and as of now I have only learned what a few of them mean. For instance, in Hinduism, Gods are often depicted with multiple arms. This isn't to say that that God literally has that many arms, but that that is the number of powers which that God holds. In another case I read of, there was a figure with three heads looking three different directions - again, not saying that the God literally has that many heads, but symbolizing that the God can see the past, the present, and the future.

I still have a lot of learning to do about Buddhist and Hindi symbols, and I hope that when we are in India people will be willing to explain them to me, because I'm sure there will be many that I do not understand.

Symbols are very important in our world, and I think we use them more than we realize. Symbols are also important in the world of film. They are often difficult to use, but when used become very powerful. Symbols in film can be things that are symbols in real life, or they can be things specific to, or invented for the film. This will be something for me to consider as I make my film in India, but it most likely will not be something I can prepare for. Instead it will probably be something I have to discover while I'm there. But I should be intent on looking for it or else I may not notice it.

Learning about Buddhism

I feel like in most cases the best way to learn about another religion is to ask someone pertaining to that religion to explain it to you. Books on religion (and by books I'm not including scriptures) can try to give you the "facts" of what different religions believe, but when you ask a person what they believe I feel like you find more truth in that answer because they explain it more with feelings than with facts.

So it was in our Tibetan class on Wednesday when TJ told us about Buddhism. Thanks go to Megan for asking him to tell us about his religion. And then once we got into the subject most of us joined in with more questions. He probably only talked about it for 10 or 15 minutes, but I learned a lot in that time.

At times Buddhism can seem very different from Mormonism or Christianity, but at other times it is extremely close. This is how I felt when TJ summed up his religion by explaining that basically he believes that you should be a good, compassionate person, and that you should do things to better yourself as well as love and help the people around you. And in the end I think that's what most religions believe in. The doctrines will always have differences, some greater than others, but when it comes down to it, most people feel and believe in "doing good".

This is something that the Dalai Lama also expresses in his book, "Toward a True Kinship of Faiths: How the World's Religions Can Come Together". There is so much misunderstanding, mistrust, and - in some cases - even hate between the religions of the world, but the Dalai Lama explains that all religions believe in being compassionate and urges us to be compassionate to all, no matter what their religion. He says that by getting out of our comfort zone and learning about other religions we will strengthen our own faith as well as our love for others in different religious cultures.

I am looking forward to learning more about Buddhism as well as Hinduism, and I feel that the faith that people have in these religions will play a large role in my project when it comes down to the question of why people are so willing to serve one another.

IRB Proposal rough draft

Application for the Use of Human Subjects

Part A Application Information (Only typed applications will be reviewed; submit 2, unstapled copies to ORCA in A-285 ASB)

1.     Title of the Study: Good Samaritans in Our Times: How Tibetans and Indians have come together to help one another.
2.  Principal Investigator: Matt Merrill		3.  Contact Person: (if different from PI):
Title: : undergraduate	Dept: Media Arts	Title:	Dept:
Address (+ ZIP):		Address (+ Zip):
Phone:	Email:	Phone:	Email:
4.  Co-Investigator(s): Jeff Parkin (Mentor) (Name & Affiliation)
5.  Research Originated By:   (Check One)             Faculty               X Student                Staff
6.  Research Purpose(Check All that Apply):        X Grant           Dissertation         Thesis                 ORCA Scholarship        Honors Thesis    X  Course Project: Captsone film project
7.  Correspondence Request:          Mail            X Call for Pick-Up

Part B  Research Study Synopsis

1.  Brief Study Description (Include Purpose of the Research): I will be creating a documentary film observing the relationships between Tibetan refugees and Indians living in and around McLeod Ganj, India. The purpose of this project to create a film with the theme of service and charity, that will inspire those who see it to be more charitable and service oriented.

2.  Study Length      What is the duration of the study? 05/11 to 08/11 (in the field). 08/11 to 12/11 (out of field, editing).

3.  Location of Research    a.  Where will the research take place? Mcleod Ganj, Himachal Pradesh, India    b.  Will the PI be conducting and/or supervising research activity off-campus?                              X Yes            No         If Yes, please list sites: Mcleod Ganj and nearby towns, in people’s homes, at charitable organizations, and outdoors.

4.  Subject Information:    a.  Number of Subjects: 10 - 30 b.  Gender of Subjects: Male and Female       c.  Ages of  Subjects: 18 and older

5.  Potentially Vulnerable Populations:   (Check All that Apply)              Children         Pregnant Women  Cognitively Impaired        Prisoners         Institutionalized          Faculty’s Own Students        Other.  Please describe:

6.  Non-English Speaking Subjects     a.  Will subjects who do not understand English participate in the research:    X Yes            No            b.  If yes, describe your  resources to communicate with the subjects: I am learning some Tibetan and Hindi, and the majority of the population speak English, but for those who do not speak English fluently I will find a translator to help communicate with the subjects.    c.  Into what language(s) will the consent form be translated: English, Tibetan, and Hindi

7.  Additional Subject Concerns    a.  Are there cultural attitudes/beliefs that may affect subjects in this study?       X Yes            No    b.  If yes, please describe attitudes and how they may affect subjects. Many subjects may not be used to cameras or being filmed. Also, people may express varying views or ideas about the relationship between Tibetans and Indians.

8.  Dissemination of Research Findings    a.  Will the research be published?    Yes           X No       If yes, where if known?    b.  Will the research be presented?   X Yes            No       If yes, where if known? On BYU campus or through BYU TV and in various film festivals (I do not know which ones yet).

9.  External Funding    a.   Are you seeking external funding  X Yes         No      What agency? I am still waiting to hear back about several grants I have applied for. If I do not get them, or do not get enough from them, I will need to seek further funding possibly from external sources.    b.   Have you received funding?     Yes        X No         c.   Dollar amount?

10.  Method of Recruitment:  (Check All that Apply)    Flyer      Classroom Announcement        X Letter to Subjects       X Third Party       Random X Other: Convenience sampling

11.  Payment to Subjects    a.  Will subjects be compensated for participation?    Yes        X No      If yes, please indicate amount:    b.  Form of Payment:    Cash      Check       Gift Certificate       Voucher       1099      Other        c.  Will Payment be prorated?     Yes         No      If yes, please explain:    d.  When will the subject be paid?      Each Visit         Study Completion       Other

12.  Extra Credit    a.  Will subjects be offered extra credit?      Yes      X No     b.  If yes, describe the alternative:

13.  Risks:  Identify all potential risks/discomforts to subjects.    Although the focus of the film will be on the good of Tibetan/Indian relationships, some subjects when interviewed may have hard feelings toward the other race. In addition, if there are any potential conflicts that I try to observe, some people may prefer that I stay out of them.  There may also be some general discomfort from the presence of a camera.

14.  Benefits:    a.  Are there direct benefits to participants?    Yes    X No   If yes, please list.    b.  Are there potential benefits to society?     X Yes     No    If yes, please list. The finished film should promote service and charity and inspire people to be more loving of their neighbors and to seek to serve them.

15.  Study Procedures (DO NOT LEAVE ANY ITEM BLANK):    a.  What will be the duration of the subjects’ participation? Between 5 and 10 participants will be involved in multiple visits over the course of three months. Another 10 – 20 participants will be briefly interviewed in one one-hour or less visit.      b.  Will the subjects be followed after their participation ends?  Yes    X No    If yes, please describe: c.     Describe the number, duration and nature of visits/encounters. Between 5 and 10 participants will be involved in multiple visits over the course of three months, with each visit lasting about 2 – 3 hours. Some of that visit may be interviewing, but a lot of it may simply be observing them going about their day-to-day business. Another 10 – 20 participants will be briefly interviewed in one one-hour or less visit. d.     Is the study    Therapeutic?     X Non-therapeutic? e.     List all procedures that will be performed to generate data for the research.  Informal interviews will be conducted, and subjects will be observed in some of their daily tasks or interactions with others. Observations and interviews will be recorded on video. f.      List all procedures/questionnaires done solely for the purpose of the research study. Informal, recorded interviews g.     List all procedures/questionnaires participants already do regardless of research.          Their daily activities and interactions with others.

16.  Informed Consent:    a.  Are you requesting Waiver or Alteration of Informed Consent?   X Yes     No   If yes, please fill out the waiver of informed consent and attach it. (Where can I get a model?)    b.  Briefly describe your process to obtain consent: I will obtain written consent from subjects before I begin any interviewing.

17.  Confidentiality:    a.  Are the subject’s social security number, BYU ID number or any identifier (other than study number                   and initials) being sent off site?    Yes    X No   If yes, describe and explain reasons: I’m not sure what this means. b.     Will any entity other than the investigative staff have access to medical, health or psychological information about the subject?     Yes    X No    If yes, please indicate who: c.     Briefly describe provisions made to maintain confidentiality of data, including who will have access to raw data, what will be done with the tapes, where data will be stored, how long data will be stored, etc. Data will be video recorded on cards and then put onto a hard drive. I will be the only one to have access to the raw data and I will either keep it with me or in a locked box when not in use. d.     Will raw data be made available to anyone other than the PI and immediate study personnel?    Yes    X No            If yes, describe the procedure for sharing data. Include with whom it will be shared, how and why.

Part C

The attached investigation involves the use of human subjects.  I understand the university’s policy concerning research involving human subjects and I agree:

1. X Yes     No   To obtain voluntary and informed consent of subjects who are to                                                                                                participate in this project.

2. X Yes     No   To report to the IRB any unanticipated effects on subjects which become apparent during the course of, or as a result of, the experimentation and the actions taken.

3. X Yes     No   To cooperate with members of the committee charged with continuing review of this project.

4. X Yes     No   To obtain prior approval from the committee before amending or altering the scope of the project or implementing changes in the approved consent document.

5. X Yes     No   To maintain the documentation of consent forms and progress reports as required by institutional policy.

6. X Yes     No   To safeguard the confidentiality of research subjects and the data collected when the approved level of research requires it.

Signature* of the Principal Investigator:                                                                          Date:                                     

*Faculty Sponsor Signature Required for All Student Submissions (will not be processed without this)

“I have read and reviewed this proposal and certify that it is ready for review by the IRB. I have worked with the student to prepare this research protocol. I agree to mentor the student during the research project.”

Faculty Sponsor (Please sign and print):                                                                                     

                                                                                   

Required: Thesis/Dissertation – Date of Approval by the Proposal Review Committee:                                                 

Required: Committee Chair/Faculty Sponsor (Please sign and print):                                                                         

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­_______________________________________________________

* If you are faculty submitting by email, please check this box to verify that you are the PI listed on this application and agree to follow the items listed above.   ~   I agree

Only professors can submit applications electronically via email.

Part D  Synopsis of the Proposal—Specific Aims

My goal with the finished film is that I will be able to show it to any audience, whether it be American or foreign, and that it will inspire people to love their neighbors, and to be more charitable and service oriented. This is a message I feel the world greatly needs and I hope that my film will be able to give that message to the people who see it. 

1.     Hypothesis or Research Question

A shared belief in charity and compassion has the power to bring different cultures and people together.

2.     Background and Significance

The significance of this project will be more in the message of the film than in any field research or factual value. Still, as far as I can tell (and I need to do more digging) there has been very little said or studied about the relationship between Tibetans and Indians, and what studies have been made seem to deal with it more from a political point of view. This of course plays a large role in the relationship, but my film will mostly be looking at individuals, not in political positions, and how and why they have found ways to help one another.

While this topic could be studied in many other parts of the world, I feel that Dharamsala will be a prime example because of what’s going on there now. There is conflict still, but also much love and compassion. BYU’s history in Dharamsala will also make it easier for me to make this film because many students before me have already been to the area and the people living there have seen these students conducting research in their towns. So when I come into the area, I will not be a complete alien to the people living there.

Also, because of BYU’s history with this area, I will be fortunate to live with a Tibetan host family in McLeod Ganj during my time in the field. I will do some contacting work before entering the field, to get in touch with a Tibetan charitable organization set up in Dharamsala, but a lot of the work in finding people for my project will have to come once I have arrived in the field.

3.     Description of Subjects

I will be looking for subjects who are involved one way or another in helping others, whether it be Tibetans helping Indians, Indians helping Tibetans, or even just people helping others in general, regardless of their culture. I will also look for people who are being helped by others in order to see how they appreciate or value this help.

4.     Confidentiality

Data will be video recorded on cards and then put onto a hard drive. I will be the only one to have access to the raw data and I will either keep it with me or in a locked box when not in use.

5.     Method or Procedures

Before entering the field I will have a base or an outline of the story of my film and what I suspect may happen while I am there. Once in the field, I will spend at least the first week or two just getting to know the area and the people I will be working with. When I feel that I have established good relationships with these people and they have agreed to be filmed I will start to shoot footage. Filming will include sit down interviews with these individuals as well as watching them in their day-to-day lives and how they interact with others. It will also follow the events or projects conducted by the Tibetan and Indian charitable organizations. In addition, I will want to get some footage of the general area to establish to the audience where the film is taking place.

I will work closely with a few Tibetan individuals as well as a few Indian individuals, preferably people who may know or be connected to each other in some way. It will be important to see and represent the Tibetans and Indians equally, and to find common ground between them despite their different cultural backgrounds. I plan to start by getting in contact with the Indians and Tibetans who are involved in charitable organizations, and then finding Tibetans and Indians that have benefitted from the services of these organizations. On a smaller level I will also talk to others in the streets or in their homes to get a basic idea of how people feel about certain issues involving the relationship between Tibetans and Indians.

6.     Data Analysis

After filming I will review my footage and make notes of what each segment suggests and where I could possibly use it in the overall film.

7.     Risks

Although the focus of the film will be on the good of Tibetan/Indian relationships, some subjects when interviewed may have hard feelings toward the other race. In addition, if there are any potential conflicts that I try to observe, some people may prefer that I stay out of them.  There may also be some general discomfort from the presence of a camera.

8.     Benefits

The finished film should promote service and charity and inspire people to be more loving of their neighbors and to seek to serve them.

9.     Compensation

There will be no direct compensation. If subjects would like, I may send them a copy of the finished film.

10.  References

(Is this a bibliography?)

12. Qualifications

I feel that I am qualified to do this project as a filmmaker because I have been studying film for over a year now and this semester I have been specifically studying documentary film and practicing techniques. I have also been working as a documentary filmmaker for BYU’s center for service and learning for the past six months. The center for service and learning has also helped me to get more involved in and take interest in service and charity, which is the theme of my film. As for qualifications for the location, I served a full-time mission in Mexico, and learned how to adapt to another culture. I am also currently enrolled in Tibetan and Hindi language classes to learn a little of the native languages before going to the field.

Include the following information as necessary in the appropriate appendix.

Appendix E – Consent Document or

Request for a Waiver and/or Alteration of Informed Consent: Any consent modification including a consent script for telephone or oral consent, mail survey, online consent statements require a request for a Waiver and/or Alteration of Informed Consent. You will request to waive the participants’ signatures and you may consider an abbreviated consent statement if the research is low risk. See examples on the forms page.  Read the instructions and add it to your application for consideration.

On the Consent Form. Indicate the number of pages and an area for initials:  For example, page 1 of 2 _____ (initials).   

Ethical research practices and respect for persons as outlined in the Belmont Report require that all subjects be given adequate information to allow them to make an informed and voluntary decision whether or not to participate in the research. The following information includes all the required elements of informed consent needed and how to write an informed consent form.

All elements of informed consent should be present on surveys, interviews (both written and oral), and signed consent forms. Some survey research may not require a signed consent form, but needs to include all elements of informed consent. Informed consent must be sought from all prospective participants (or their legally authorized representative), unless waived by the IRB. Investigators should be sensitive to the possible need for an interpreter/translator for persons who do not speak English. Translated versions of the form must be submitted if research is conducted in a foreign language.

The informed consent must include the following information:

1.                        A statement that the study involves research.

2.                        A description of the procedures to be followed, the expected duration, the conditions of the subject’s participation, and an identification of the experimental procedures proposed.

3.                        The reasonably foreseeable risks and discomforts.

4.                        The expected benefits of the research.

5.                        A description of the extent to which confidentiality of information will be maintained.

6.                        An explanation as to the availability of compensation and the availability of treatment if injury occurs, except where the research involves no more than minimal risk(s).

7.                        A contact person, phone number, and email address to which inquiries about the research project can be made.

8.                        A contact person not associated with the research, phone number, and address to which other questions may be sent (IRB Administrator).

9.                        A statement that participation is voluntary.

10.                        A statement that no penalties will result from non-participation or withdrawal.

Appendix F – Questionnaires, Surveys, Instruments, Interview questions, etc.

Translated tools must be submitted if conducted in a foreign language.

Appendix G – Tutorial Certificate

All researchers must submit their tutorial certificates on each application submission regardless if it was turned in previously. Additionally, all research staff interacting with human subjects must submit an IRB certificate.

Appendix H – All other supporting documents such as letters of support from other institutions or universities, grant applications, vitae, etc.