How we understand data and what data we need is entirely informed by our research design, methodological position and underpinning ontological and epistemological beliefs.

Self-study demands we think a bit differently about data and what kind of data we need to help us engage in a critical and systematic research about self, beliefs, assumptions and practices.

Some traditional data collection methods would not be appropriate for a self-study. When considering the data you need you must ask careful questions about fitness for purpose and how this fits with your methodological stance.

As you start to develop the focus of your self-study you will be thinking more about the data you need.

We could consider that all data could be generalised as being

1) seeing (observing something, someone...)

2) asking (asking people what they think, know, believe.... this can be down verbally, through interviews, focus groups, questionnaires, visual methods....etc)

3) examining documents, artefacts etc

How we use these and why depends entirely on our underpinning position and what we need to know.

For your Organisational Culture task you are asked to think about how you might find out what others think/perceive. How will you do this and what will you need to ask.

You should now do some reading about the following research methods:

Visual Methods

Interviews

360 evaluations

Keep in mind that your purpose is to understand and gain insight into other people's perceptions, beliefs, attitudes and assumptions.


Research methods: perceptions, beliefs, assumptions and attitudes

You should begin by reading about these methods (with the research purpose being to understand perception).
Consider:
How might this method be appropriate? What will i need to consider if i use this method to gain insights to others' perceptions etc? What are the key issues, limitations and strengths of this method?
You should refer to literature on research methods and use the literature to inform your understanding of the method. You will need to do searches for literature using the online library resources - there are several ebooks that will be of use to you and journals.
Do remember you are thinking about the use of this method with a very specific focus and not providing a general picture and overview of it.
You should go to the wiki for each method (see below) and make your note son the wiki page. Each person should contribute to the wiki page so that we can build a collective understanding of the methods.
Please note - this will mean you need to add to and build on and possibly even change or amen what others have written. You should not simply post your own contribution. This task is not only about developing a deeper understanding of specific research methods and their value for your self-study but it is also about developing your collective knowledge, understanding and writing together through collaboration.

Visual methods

Interviews

360 evaluations

You should be contributing week beginning Nov 21st

This might be a useful for text - it is available as an ebook through the library website: Paul McIntosh Action research and reflective practice :creative and visual methods to facilitate reflection and learning 2010 9780415469029 London :Routledge

The following texts are extracts from the book Researching with Children and Young People by Tisdall, Davis & Gallagher (2009). It is a great book and the following extracts are really useful for considering for research methods and issue of analysis. Whilst it is focused on collating data with children the text raises key issues for consideration with any group of participants and is useful for school contexts.
Last modified: Wednesday, 9 May 2012, 11:52 AM