Student Research into the Camino de Santiago

[caminoresearch]

Hello everyone!
For my master's thesis I am conducting scientific research into the Camino de Santiago, specifically seeking insights from those who have successfully completed the pilgrimage in the past. Your insights matter! Share your experiences and knowledge to help us better understand this iconic pilgrimage. It takes around 10 minutes to complete the survey.

Participate:
https://uvh.fra1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1BqBMwR7yPUWcse

 

[dbier]

Before I venture, did your advisor review and approve your survey. and did you have a specific Camino in mind? If you're only looking for inputs on the Frances, I'm not the opinion you're looking for.

 

[caminoresearch]

Before I venture, did your advisor review and approve your survey. and did you have a specific Camino in mind? If you're only looking for inputs on the Frances, I'm not the opinion you're looking for.

The research proposal was approved by the ethical committee of my university, and my supervisor reviewed and approved my survey. Pilgrims who finished any of the routes to Santiago are welcome to participate in the study! I hope that this answers your questions.

 

[SabsP]

The survey mentions " the entire Camino". This is of course very subjective. This would indicate there is a fixed place to start.

 

[caminoresearch]

The survey mentions " the entire Camino". This is of course very subjective. This would indicate there is a fixed place to start.

I understand your concern. I realized the ambiguity of this question after publishing the survey and consequently added the third option. What is meant by this option is the entire distance someone walked on the Camino during the first pilgrimage. This can mean anything between right before Santiago de Compostela and your own front door (as long as the whole distance was walked). I hope that this makes it more clear.

 

[oursonpolaire]

I wonder if your religious categories could have been broken down; Christian may have been too broad. I think you would get some interesting differences between RC, Anglican/Lutheran, Protestant/Evangelical, Orthodox. The breakdown of gender identity may produce useful results-- on my past two Caminos, I have met a handful of non-binary and trans pilgrims, likely a growing number (one of whom was a Luftwaffe officer, surely something not envisaged by military planners of the past).

Aside from my quibble on the religion question, many of the other questions are more subtle and interesting than in most other student research questionnaires I have encountered over the years.

 

[Sue127]

@caminoresearch, I have just completed your survey and wanted to raise a point about the style of questioning and whether it is actually going to give a clear picture of change through the Camino. There are many questions about empathy, Compassion, awareness of other etc, which are laudable, however, if you were all of those before walking the Camino, the answer can only be that the Camino didn't change you. How do you measure degrees of empathy? I'm totally in favour of your survey, but just curious about this point.

 

[flewitheagles]

Hello everyone!
For my master's thesis I am conducting scientific research into the Camino de Santiago, specifically seeking insights from those who have successfully completed the pilgrimage in the past. Your insights matter! Share your experiences and knowledge to help us better understand this iconic pilgrimage. It takes around 10 minutes to complete the survey.

Participate:
https://uvh.fra1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1BqBMwR7yPUWcse

I hope you are successful in getting some understandable data. I recognize that every survey is flawed to some degree just like its author and respondents; my comment uncovers my Christian position, no doubt! I pray for some wisdom and discernment for you in helping others see the value (or, I guess, the lack thereof) for the Camino experience in their life!

 

[caminoresearch]

@caminoresearch, I have just completed your survey and wanted to raise a point about the style of questioning and whether it is actually going to give a clear picture of change through the Camino. There are many questions about empathy, Compassion, awareness of other etc, which are laudable, however, if you were all of those before walking the Camino, the answer can only be that the Camino didn't change you. How do you measure degrees of empathy? I'm totally in favour of your survey, but just curious about this point.

Thank you for reply. You raise an interesting point, which I will take into account in my analysis. Of course, to get a complete picture of these developments, one would have to "measure" these traits and values in some way before and after the Camino (although I imagine this to be challenging). Unfortunately, that goes beyond the scope of my study.
However, I still think that the instrument I am using is the second best option. I am sure that even highly empathetic people can experience an increase (or decrease) in their empathy through an experience such as the Camino. The same is true for any of the other traits and values that respondents react to. By asking for increase and decreases with regard to these aspects, I hope to still get a general idea of the potential changes the pilgrimage on the Camino can bring about.