The Department of Psychology at Government Degree College (GDC), Kargil, organized a one-day field trip to Suru Valley (Panikhar) on October 26 for psychology students from the 1st, 3rd, and 5th semesters. The purpose was to assess life satisfaction among the rural population using structured questionnaires and interviews.

The trip aimed to provide students with hands-on experience in survey-based research, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. The students surveyed two villages near Panikhar to assess the life satisfaction of rural residents, enhancing their understanding of research design, survey methodology, and the dynamics affecting rural psychological well-being.

Dr. Suhana Syed Burhan and Mohd Mustafa, assistant professors in the Psychology Department, along with Lab Assistant Stanzin Angmo, accompanied the students. Before the trip, Assistant Professor Mohd Mustafa held an orientation session, discussing the significance of assessing life satisfaction in rural areas, where socioeconomic and environmental factors often differ from urban settings. He introduced students to the survey process, emphasizing respectful engagement, clarity of purpose, and the importance of maintaining participant confidentiality.

Upon arrival, students were divided into small teams to effectively cover different sections of each village, with faculty supervision to ensure consistency in data collection. Each student individually interacted with participants, explaining the survey in the local language to foster understanding and engagement. They then followed the structured questionnaire, recording responses accurately and neutrally.

This field trip was a valuable learning opportunity, allowing students to develop practical skills in survey research and field-based psychological assessment. The collected data will be compiled and analyzed to explore patterns of life satisfaction among rural residents, enriching the students' understanding of rural psychology and community well-being.