Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

I can't believe I'm doing this.

Over the next couple of days, I'm going to train an undergraduate to run subjects for me. If every single person I have scheduled shows up, I won't need her. If I have no-shows or other problems, she can run my last 4 or 5 subjects.

Supposedly, this solves my problem and now I can relax. In reality, of course, it does no such thing - given that the previous two undergraduates who were supposed to be running subjects for me failed utterly.

This one is supposed to be different because she already works for John on a regular basis. He knows her. He meets with her regularly and supervises her. She supposedly loves running subjects. Plus, this time it will only be a few subjects I need, instead of 30.

I still hate the idea. I hate the idea of trying to train her in two days, and then worrying about how accurately she's following the procedure. I hate the idea of having to submit a modification request to the Institutional Review Board to get her name on the consent form. I hate the idea of leaving Iowa without all my data collected. I hate the idea of my dissertation being in someone else's hands, and whether I finish being out of my control. I hate the idea of losing momentum.

But, you know. Also I hate the idea of not having enough subjects, so I guess I'll work with what I've got. Damn it.

She seems very competent, but then so did the last one. But this time she's coming recommended by people I know (John and, more importantly, John's project secretary), instead of by people I don't know.

I suppose that if it doesn't work I won't be any worse off.

I hate this.