Project Landmarks, ticking them off…

Yesterday, 10th January, I passed a big landmark in my research, when I finished the final stage of the interview transcriptions for Study 1 and 2.  It feels great!

This process has involved a number of stages, initial recordings of the first wave of interviews, which were then transcribed verbatim to form a Coding Schedule, and then further cycles of new interviews being recorded and transcribed, new themes being discovered, further interviews, further transcriptions, and then revisiting the earlier scripts to re-code based on new emergent themes.  Yesterday I added the final 2 interviews to the ‘pool’, and so can now begin the final full sweep of analysis, using both the initial Deductive and then emergent Inductive Coding Schedules which have been developed as the research has evolved – and I have to say it is very exciting… 

Having personally conducted and transcribed all 18 Interview sessions (including 3 group interview sessions), I feel like I ‘know’ the data well, however it will be good to see it as a whole, to see which themes emerge as ‘strong’ across more Participants, and which appear to come from individuals, and of course, to see if there is a difference based on which area the Participants come from.

I start Study 3 next week, which is partially based on the existing major themes to have emerged from the earlier analysis of this data, so it will be very useful to have it so fresh in my mind when I am back on the wards come Tuesday….

Will keep you posted – and full results will be available by June 2013 – submission time!!!

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A Rewarding Time!

Today’s vital boosts….

Another great session at my host research site this morning, made the (very) early start worth it. 

Not only was I met with gloriously happy faces as ever, but gifts!!!  Holiday rock and (homemade and epically tasting) cake from the birthday girl.  Made me feel very special, and rather humble really.  The team I am working with are giving me so much time, support, advice and – perhaps above all – patience as I bombard them with questions, emails and paper, that the additional friendliness and kindness that they add in is just amazing actually.  I shall have to practice my own baking skills to keep them going towards the end of the summer perhaps….it could be a long haul!

After quite a ‘data heavy’ week, tomorrow I have set aside some time for reading, and as part of my background work on Ethnography theory I shall be reading a paper by Iversen (2009) about the skill of “Getting Out” of a field situation.  Vital I’m sure, but I have to question, if they keep providing gifts, where is my incentive to leave…?!

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An uphill challenge…

Warwick Castle (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

 This week, albeit only 3 working days, has been something of a struggle.  After a couple of great weeks where the research really felt to be gathering momentum this week has definitely felt somewhat sluggish in comparison.  I think I’m going to be terribly British and mumble something about the weather, realise I probably had one too many Jubilee cupcakes over the holiday, and focus on a very busy next week – including Interviews, Observations, and an IDH team photo.  It’ll be interesting, challenging, and never boring, that at least I know in advance!

Before then I shall be literally taking on an uphill challenge, running from one glorious castle to another, in the annual Two Castles 10k run on Sunday.  I may be alone in being thankful we’re not enjoying a flaming June at present….!!

Kenilworth Castle (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

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