serialize() question

serialize() question

I'm trying to follow some of the examples in JQIA2, and can't seem to get the serialize() method to work as expected. On page 257, the authors talk about using the load() function and coercing it to initiate a GET request by passing $(this).serialize() as the request parameter data. I'm trying to create my own function to do the same but serialize() doesn't seem to do anything.

I've created a fiddle:  http://jsfiddle.net/earachefl/rxyzu/7/

which, in the most basic form, just triggers an alert which should contain the contents of $(this).serialize(), but which is empty. I've also included some alternate alerts which are commented out. $(this).val() does return the correct value of the <select> element.

What am I missing?