I'll be blogging my Professional Practice journey and using this blog as a reflective tool to aid my creative work.
Beginning a Practice Based Inquiry
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And we are back.
Beginning module 3 feels rather daunting. Through module 2 we created inquiry process plans in preparation for module 3 and now it's time to bring this research project to life.
I assumed the aim of a research project was to find answers, to solve the question and shed light on an area of knowledge that I felt important to recognise. However since reading through the module 3 handbook I have discovered that this is not the case. This project is about reflecting on the process rather than searching for a result. Thinking about how you take the journey rather than the destination itself. Throughout Module 3 I shall keep a journal where I will note down thoughts and reflect through comments to help my journey. This will help keep me on the path of reflecting rather than searching for answers! This is something I wish I had done from Module 1!
I decided to delve straight back into this module with the help of a TedTalk video that was suggested in our module handbook "The Danger of a Single Story" by Chimamanda Adichie. See the video below.
This TedTalk is all about seeing things from one perspective and taking that perspective as the only narrative. This is something that you must avoid when taking on a practice based inquiry. Within this video it is suggested that as humans we are impressionable and vulnerable, therefore we must be aware of this to allow us not to just make assumptions. We must use our privilege and power to look at stories from different perspectives and not overlook details that may be of importance. We are encouraged to not just search for differences but similarities too. Do not just accept something because another person says they are right, question this, argue it and probe for different sides of the story.
Qualitative Research is not a clear path with a "right" answer at the end, its a bendy road with multiple turnings and routes for exploration. Only by exploring these different routes do you discover new information. Is it always comfortable? Of course not. Walking into the unknown is never a nice feeling, but sometimes its the only way to find a hidden gem, discover a beauty spot and even learn more about yourself. By assuming you know where it leads could stop you from growing and broadening your research.
Bibliography:
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The danger of a single story | TED Talk:
Hi Emma, This is a great post and really resonates with me and how I'm feeling at the moment. I usually like things to be very clear, neat and organised! But that is not how this research works and I am now seeing the beauty of that and realising all the things I could miss if I did keep my narrow thinking mindset. Thank you for this post! Alys xx
Hi Alys, Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog. Glad that its been of help and hopefully will help encourage you keep an "open mind" with research. This is something that i too struggle with so will be a good challenge for the both of us! xx
Hi Emma, thank you for sharing the TEDtalk, I found it so insightful. I'm in Module Two, but this was a nice little reminder that there is never one story. I love how you have described Qualitative research as bendy road with no definitive end, I'm excited to discover this more throughout the term. :)
Hi Alice, Glad you enjoyed the TedTalk video. I would defiantly encourage you keep to reminding yourself throughout module 2 of the bends in the road. Throughout module 2 I was so determined to find the end destination I missed loads, which I then had to go back and find. I look forward to hearing about all you are discovering on this course! x
Thank you for your advice Emma, it is really helpful. I think I am beginning to learn about these 'bends' but I also know that so much more is to come. I'm just trying to take my time to absorb as much (relevant) information as possible. I look forward to hearing about your progress through Module 3 x
Hi Emma, Thank you for this interesting blog. Going into module three also, I completely relate. I loved what you said about reflecting on the process rather than searching for a result from your inquiry. I suppose that the reflections we make are the result of our inquiries! I think this TedTalk is so insightful and as we grow and meet different people or have different experiences we should embrace and alter our assumptions, broadening our mindsets. This is one thing I will definitely take away from doing the BAPP. Sending you the best of luck with everything in Module Three, Lauren
I have never conducted an interview before and therefore was very unsure how to begin developing my interview questions to ensure that I would only be asking beneficial questions and gaining data relevant to my inquiry topic. I decided to use web 2.0 to inform myself about where to begin with creating a semi- structured interview. I came across a really helpful video that broke the preparation for the interview process into stages. That has been the key thing that i have taken from this video, is that it is imperative to prepare! You don't want to waste that precious interview time and ask questions, consequently gathering data that is not relevant to your inquiry and will not further your research. In the video posted below, it is suggested that you develop your between 7-10 questions and take different topics into consideration; Behaviour- What a person has done or is doing? Opinions/Values- What a person thinks about a topic. Feelings- How someone feels toward...
I changed my mind on what my diagram was going to be a couple of weeks ago and as a result had to expand my knowledge on filming and editing to ensure that it was depicted in the correct way. I have never been the most technical person and therefore this was a real challenge for me. My first big decision was where to find a decent editing programme. There are free ones, one you can subscribe to and then the ones designed for people that do this professionally. I looked into the more advanced programmes but I just could not for the life of me work them out. I explored YouTube tutorials explaining different parts of each programme, but it was just too complicated. Therefore I reverted back to what I could work with- iMovie. iMovie however still has so many parts that I had never used before this. I had never used underlying music, cut and split audio tracks to fit with my work and experimented with visual affects. It was a whole new journey. I am however happy with how my piece is ...
Today I sat down at my desk with my laptop, opened my notebook and module handbook and thought, where on earth do I start! I have just completed my first draft of my literature review, have conducted my interviews, and now the daunting task of analysing my data must commence. Triangulation- Something mentioned in the handbooks. It is done to increase validity in research and enhance the researcher and consumers confidence in findings. The idea is to compare my data from interviews, to data found in literature, to my personal experience. However, again the question arises, where do I even start! I decided to research into how to analyse qualitative data. Despite looking into this through module 2, I felt my brain needed a little refresh. I discovered a video that I have attached below that discusses the analysing process. The host of the video says the key to beginning your analysis is by reading the data. Read the data and then read it again! This is the only way that you w...
Hi Emma,
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post and really resonates with me and how I'm feeling at the moment. I usually like things to be very clear, neat and organised! But that is not how this research works and I am now seeing the beauty of that and realising all the things I could miss if I did keep my narrow thinking mindset. Thank you for this post! Alys xx
Hi Alys, Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog. Glad that its been of help and hopefully will help encourage you keep an "open mind" with research. This is something that i too struggle with so will be a good challenge for the both of us! xx
DeleteHi Emma, thank you for sharing the TEDtalk, I found it so insightful. I'm in Module Two, but this was a nice little reminder that there is never one story. I love how you have described Qualitative research as bendy road with no definitive end, I'm excited to discover this more throughout the term. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Alice, Glad you enjoyed the TedTalk video. I would defiantly encourage you keep to reminding yourself throughout module 2 of the bends in the road. Throughout module 2 I was so determined to find the end destination I missed loads, which I then had to go back and find. I look forward to hearing about all you are discovering on this course! x
DeleteThank you for your advice Emma, it is really helpful. I think I am beginning to learn about these 'bends' but I also know that so much more is to come. I'm just trying to take my time to absorb as much (relevant) information as possible. I look forward to hearing about your progress through Module 3 x
DeleteHi Emma,
ReplyDeleteThank you for this interesting blog. Going into module three also, I completely relate. I loved what you said about reflecting on the process rather than searching for a result from your inquiry. I suppose that the reflections we make are the result of our inquiries!
I think this TedTalk is so insightful and as we grow and meet different people or have different experiences we should embrace and alter our assumptions, broadening our mindsets. This is one thing I will definitely take away from doing the BAPP.
Sending you the best of luck with everything in Module Three,
Lauren