how to approach experts via email for dissertation research?

Wiggynut

Hi all

i'm hoping someone with some experience of contacting experts for the primary research part of my dissertation might be able to give me some tips.

I'm doing my dissertation on stop motion and would like to contact a few experts via email to get their opinions on a few questions that I have in mind.. but I'm sure they get contacted all the time and if they are like me press the spam or delete button if they are really busy so what is the best way to 'hook' them into reading the email?

starting with 'I'm a student and would like to know blah blah blah' might not be the best way?

I have contact with a few experts via a specialist forum and I know they will respond as they have previously and know that I'm doing this subject but there's a couple of others that would be very useful to talk to.

There are four/five questions and it's their opinion and thoughts on the subject that matter so it's not a yes/no/maybe type questionnaire.

any ideas - I'm hoping to send this off to folks in the next week so I'm currently looking into the best way to word or grab their attention - maybe a pic of my stop motion puppet giving them a certain look that will help?

any helpful tips or pointers to sites that can help would be great.

:j

MrsManda

I haven't done this for my dissertation as I don't start that until next year (hopefully) but I have contacted various experts to ask for opinions in the past and have usually had replies.

The general points:

1. I always open with a paragraph saying why I'm interested in the subject.

Be specific - most subjects are wide ranging and experts often deal with a tiny specific part.
('i'm currently studying X and have become particularly interested in Y because...).

2. why I'm contacting that particular expert -
I read your paper on 'Z'/went to your lecture on 'Z' and was interested in your view on...

3. I was wondering if you'd mind giving your thoughts on a few questions I have with regards to 'A'?

If you're going to be including these opinions in your dissertation I think you should tell them. This may reduce your response rate but it means you won't have any problems with plagarism/copyright.

4. If I'm asking specific questions I always put my thoughts/knowledge into the question so it shows that I have thought about the answer but would like the opinion of someone more senior. Rather it looking like I'm just asking someone to tell me all the answers.

This is advice that all my lecturers have always given - they're perfectly happy to help if we're stuck or confused or just need a nudge in the right direction but we have to show that we have attempted to answer our own question and have some knowledge.

Hope this helps a little. I'm sure someone else will be along with more experience soon.

Oldernotwiser

And, if you do get any replies, don't forget to acknowledge these in your work.