Laserfiche WebLink
<br />o <br /> <br />The original intent was to recruit 50 participants for each of the two groups. There was little <br />difficulty in signing up 50 participants for Group 2 (the group that did amend their soil). However, it <br />was much more difficult to find willing participants for Group I. An estimated 90% of the lengthy <br />time spent recruiting participants was aimed at securing Group I participants. The difficulty was <br />likely due to two primary reasons: (1) only about 25% of new homeowners choose to not amend <br />their soil, and (2) we were only offering them $25 to participate, and they perhaps thought that wasn't <br />enough compensation for the perceived inconveniences of participating. By the spring of 1994, with <br />the research study needing to proceed, we were forced to go with the number of Group I participants <br />that we had at that time, which was 30. <br /> <br />As part of the recruitment process, a packet of information was mailed to each verbally-committed <br />participant. This included an overview of the study, the participant's obligations and benefits, study <br />guidelines, and the timeline and process for the study. The information packet also included a <br />research study acceptance form for them to sign and return. (Information packet included as <br />Attachment A.) <br /> <br />INFORMATION PROVIDED BY PARTICIPANTS <br /> <br />Each of the 80 participants was required at the outset to provide the following information: <br /> <br />number of residents <br />estimated value of home <br />type of irrigation, whether automatic underground or manual <br />soil preparation data <br />date of work <br />contractor's name <br />composted manure supplier (Group 2 only) <br />amount applied per 1000 square feet (Group 2 only) <br />methods of soil preparation <br />landscape data <br />date of laying sod or seeding <br />contractor's name <br />sod or seed <br />type of grass <br /> <br />Towards the end of the 1994 lawn watering season a questionnaire was sent to all of the participants. <br />(Questionnaire included as Attachment B.) The objective of the questionnaire was to gather the <br />information necessary to more precisely determine the participants' indoor water use during the lawn <br />watering season. . Questions were asked on the following: <br /> <br />Time periods when residents were away for vacation or business for three days or longer. <br /> <br />Additions or deletions to the base number of residents due to birth, adoption. foster parenting, <br />death, divorce, child moving away from home, child living at home during the summer while <br />going to college, etc. <br /> <br />2 <br />