The concept of making a good first impression is critical to my inquiry. I've been reading up on the facts behind this rather that taken it at face value. I came Across this and loved it.. Thought I'd share...
YOU ONLY HAVE ONE CHANCE TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION...
http://www.lifebound.com/blog/educators/teachers-you-only-have-one-chance-to-make-a-first-impression/
Sunday, 28 April 2013
Saturday, 27 April 2013
6b - pilot interview...
Ok so I managed at last to get a pilot interview done. I tried a different tact with this and based my questions a lot more heavily on my specific inquiry topic.
I went for the semi structured interview approach. So I had a list of questions but also an open mind as to where the questions might lead us.
I included open and closed interviews questions as I thought this would give me the most scope or collecting information that I could analyse.
I also decided to take notes rather that record the interview as I thought that the presence of a recording device might intimidate the interviewee.
I put together a covering information sheet that was basic but to the point.
The interview went really well and I enjoyed this inquiry tool the most. I think that I had more of an idea of how to prepare and control the whole process.
The plus points...
Great one on one in depth data.
Opportunity to run with a theme and gather unexpected data.
Able to build a relationship with the interviewee and possible opportunity for a second interview.
Can really hone down on specific areas and explore to the point of an acceptable conclusion.
Can offer up avenues that you hadn't already thought of.
The down side...
Can be time consuming and hard to narrow down and find just the right willing volunteers.
Collating so much data into some sort of decipherable results is hard to do.
The ethical side needs great consideration. The data protection act needs to be adhered to and giving a fair representation of people's views is critical.
I will be using interview as my main inquiry tool.
I went for the semi structured interview approach. So I had a list of questions but also an open mind as to where the questions might lead us.
I included open and closed interviews questions as I thought this would give me the most scope or collecting information that I could analyse.
I also decided to take notes rather that record the interview as I thought that the presence of a recording device might intimidate the interviewee.
I put together a covering information sheet that was basic but to the point.
The interview went really well and I enjoyed this inquiry tool the most. I think that I had more of an idea of how to prepare and control the whole process.
The plus points...
Great one on one in depth data.
Opportunity to run with a theme and gather unexpected data.
Able to build a relationship with the interviewee and possible opportunity for a second interview.
Can really hone down on specific areas and explore to the point of an acceptable conclusion.
Can offer up avenues that you hadn't already thought of.
The down side...
Can be time consuming and hard to narrow down and find just the right willing volunteers.
Collating so much data into some sort of decipherable results is hard to do.
The ethical side needs great consideration. The data protection act needs to be adhered to and giving a fair representation of people's views is critical.
I will be using interview as my main inquiry tool.
6b -pilot observations...
I have recently started a new job in a primary school which has provided me with lots of opportunities for observation.
I completed my first observation on my first day when I was unknown to the children almost taking me out of the role of insider researcher which was a great experience. I then two weeks later observed a class with children that I had got to know and again found it a great but very different experience.
What I found interesting...
The children all have their own very different personalities but I found during both observations they almost developed a uniform behaviour in the class room. They obviously were very clear on what was expected of them and how to behave.
The teachers took opportunities to be more light hearted with the children but at the same time were able to reign it back in when needed.
The children follow a code of conduct expected of them by the school. In a sense being a pupil is there job and they are encouraged to do it well. This gives the classroom a nice feel of equality and fairness.
Boundary's were tested but dealt with without fuss or two much disturbance.
There was a sense of calm even at negative times that surprised me.
Would I use observation?
The plus points....
If you open your eyes and your mind you are able to gather an awful lot of information at once.
It's relaxed and informal, seeing the raw materials in there natural habitat as such.
On the down side...
The range of what you observe can be huge and knowing how to take away the right information could be tricky.
Observation opens up a lot of variables that can be hard to control or understand there effect on a true result.
Consolidating data is difficult. Finding the right way to evaluate and report your results could be hard to do.
As an insider researcher I will have to be concerned with my own bias and experiences clouding what I am actually observing. You have to almost step outside and become detached to what you are seeing and just report clearly on the facts. But my main concern with the validity of the results would be the effect being observed would have on the people being observed.
I know from experience no matter how hard I try if someone is watching me my behaviour changes. Sometimes very slightly but other times hugely. It's very hard to stop this as I'm sure as much as anything it happens on a subconscious level.
I think observation is going to feature heavily in my inquiry so I'm gonna have to be very clear in my own mind what information I am looking for and to try to avoid having a changing effect on my subjects and to also try and bare in mind the effect of me actually being there has had on the people I'm observing.
I completed my first observation on my first day when I was unknown to the children almost taking me out of the role of insider researcher which was a great experience. I then two weeks later observed a class with children that I had got to know and again found it a great but very different experience.
What I found interesting...
The children all have their own very different personalities but I found during both observations they almost developed a uniform behaviour in the class room. They obviously were very clear on what was expected of them and how to behave.
The teachers took opportunities to be more light hearted with the children but at the same time were able to reign it back in when needed.
The children follow a code of conduct expected of them by the school. In a sense being a pupil is there job and they are encouraged to do it well. This gives the classroom a nice feel of equality and fairness.
Boundary's were tested but dealt with without fuss or two much disturbance.
There was a sense of calm even at negative times that surprised me.
Would I use observation?
The plus points....
If you open your eyes and your mind you are able to gather an awful lot of information at once.
It's relaxed and informal, seeing the raw materials in there natural habitat as such.
On the down side...
The range of what you observe can be huge and knowing how to take away the right information could be tricky.
Observation opens up a lot of variables that can be hard to control or understand there effect on a true result.
Consolidating data is difficult. Finding the right way to evaluate and report your results could be hard to do.
As an insider researcher I will have to be concerned with my own bias and experiences clouding what I am actually observing. You have to almost step outside and become detached to what you are seeing and just report clearly on the facts. But my main concern with the validity of the results would be the effect being observed would have on the people being observed.
I know from experience no matter how hard I try if someone is watching me my behaviour changes. Sometimes very slightly but other times hugely. It's very hard to stop this as I'm sure as much as anything it happens on a subconscious level.
I think observation is going to feature heavily in my inquiry so I'm gonna have to be very clear in my own mind what information I am looking for and to try to avoid having a changing effect on my subjects and to also try and bare in mind the effect of me actually being there has had on the people I'm observing.
Tuesday, 23 April 2013
6b - pilot focus group...
This was great. I got together with half a dozen friends who all work with children in different roles to discuss the ways in which they engage with a class and how as the adult they make the best first impression. We went on to talk about how first impressions really make a difference to the control you then have over that particular group of children.
The focus group had lots of positive points...
Good qualitative data source.
I found it great to be able to knock ideas off of each other.
The conversation took on lots of avenues that I wouldn't of particularly thought to go down during a conventional interview.
As we all knew each other we all relaxed and spoke openly not only revealing our positive experiences but discussing where at times it had all gone wrong.
It seemed just enough people to keep the conversation focused. As the leader I felt that I had good control of the conversation and keeping it on track.
I learnt a lot of general information that I can use to compare amongst everything individuals had to say.
The down side...
Information gathered was very generic. The focus group would need to be a lot more geared to the inquiry question being investigated. And gathering enough willing volunteers that have the right skill set and experience could prove hard.
The ethical dimension would certainly come in to play here. Candidates would need to be very carefully selected to allow a fair representation and to gather overall unbiased data.
Difficult to gather quantitative data.
Was hard to know when to draw the conversation to a close.
The biggest issue for me here was the insider researcher issue. I felt a lot of bias to my own experiences. I almost feel that I needed to keep my mouth shut. To just lead the group rather than participate. As the leader I felt that anything I added to the conversation led to too heavy a focus being placed on my input. The group looked at me like maybe I knew best as it was my inquiry.
I think that in order to learn from others that at times I need to just be a detached researcher. To then after the fact analyse what I have learnt from others against my own personal experiences.
I really feel that this is going to prove a useful tool for my inquiry and look forward to getting together a more specific focus group.
The focus group had lots of positive points...
Good qualitative data source.
I found it great to be able to knock ideas off of each other.
The conversation took on lots of avenues that I wouldn't of particularly thought to go down during a conventional interview.
As we all knew each other we all relaxed and spoke openly not only revealing our positive experiences but discussing where at times it had all gone wrong.
It seemed just enough people to keep the conversation focused. As the leader I felt that I had good control of the conversation and keeping it on track.
I learnt a lot of general information that I can use to compare amongst everything individuals had to say.
The down side...
Information gathered was very generic. The focus group would need to be a lot more geared to the inquiry question being investigated. And gathering enough willing volunteers that have the right skill set and experience could prove hard.
The ethical dimension would certainly come in to play here. Candidates would need to be very carefully selected to allow a fair representation and to gather overall unbiased data.
Difficult to gather quantitative data.
Was hard to know when to draw the conversation to a close.
The biggest issue for me here was the insider researcher issue. I felt a lot of bias to my own experiences. I almost feel that I needed to keep my mouth shut. To just lead the group rather than participate. As the leader I felt that anything I added to the conversation led to too heavy a focus being placed on my input. The group looked at me like maybe I knew best as it was my inquiry.
I think that in order to learn from others that at times I need to just be a detached researcher. To then after the fact analyse what I have learnt from others against my own personal experiences.
I really feel that this is going to prove a useful tool for my inquiry and look forward to getting together a more specific focus group.
Friday, 19 April 2013
6b - My pilot survey
My pilot survey...first of all thanks for a great response.
The plus points...
This was a great way to get a feel for people's opinions and brief justifications.
Can use this as a tool to make general inquiry's that can lead to more specific forms for investigation.
Gives participants anonymity to feel free to answer openly.
Gives the researcher time to analyse and re analyse results over time
An opportunity to approach a large number of people. Either within specific groups or the mass population.
Gives participant opportunity to answer at own leisure.
Easy way to gather quantitative data.
The negatives...
Not particularly specific.
Hard to analyse qualitative data.
If needed to be aimed at a specific group can be limiting in regards to best use of participants time.
Lacks the opportunity for leading questions.
Removes chance to observe participant.
I don't think that this is gonna be the best way forward for my inquiry as I think I will be relying mostly on qualitative data. But I will not count it out as I may use another survey to help narrow down the questions and areas that will be most beneficial during other processes especially interview.
The plus points...
This was a great way to get a feel for people's opinions and brief justifications.
Can use this as a tool to make general inquiry's that can lead to more specific forms for investigation.
Gives participants anonymity to feel free to answer openly.
Gives the researcher time to analyse and re analyse results over time
An opportunity to approach a large number of people. Either within specific groups or the mass population.
Gives participant opportunity to answer at own leisure.
Easy way to gather quantitative data.
The negatives...
Not particularly specific.
Hard to analyse qualitative data.
If needed to be aimed at a specific group can be limiting in regards to best use of participants time.
Lacks the opportunity for leading questions.
Removes chance to observe participant.
I don't think that this is gonna be the best way forward for my inquiry as I think I will be relying mostly on qualitative data. But I will not count it out as I may use another survey to help narrow down the questions and areas that will be most beneficial during other processes especially interview.
6a - The pilots...
Looking very broadly at my inquiry topic I'm gonna conduct these pilots. I'm hoping that not only will it give me the experience needed to plan and carry out my formal inquiry but also help me narrow down and tweak my final inquiry question!!!
1- the pilot interview... I'm gonna be asking my SIG's for help here. I've put together my questions and for the ease of the willing interviewee I may conduct this by either Skye or as a live online chat.
2- the pilot survey... I did this using survey monkey. I had nearly 40 responses in all so a big thank you to all my teaching friends out there. The survey was broad and thought provoking. The results have definitely helped me narrow down my area of inquiry and given me so results to play around with and develop my analysing skills. A common thing I learnt from this was just how much time and information the majority seemed to be prepared to put into my survey. It gives me a clearer idea of how much I should expect to gain if I decide to use this form of data collection.
3- a pilot focus group... At this stage I'm going to carry out my focus group with a group of my peers. Although I want to gain the experience in holding a focus group I don't want to use up the valuable time of those that. Want to take part in my formal inquiry and as lots of my SIG's are also teachers I will be calling on you for the real thing. I'm meeting with half a dozen friends tomorrow who work with children in different settings to hold a discussion on the relationships they build with the children. Ill let you know how it goes.
4- a pilot observation... This week I have started a new job in a state primary school and it has given me a lot of opportunities to carry out some observations. With lots of different teachers and students.
In 6b as required I will critically reflect on my experiences...
1- the pilot interview... I'm gonna be asking my SIG's for help here. I've put together my questions and for the ease of the willing interviewee I may conduct this by either Skye or as a live online chat.
2- the pilot survey... I did this using survey monkey. I had nearly 40 responses in all so a big thank you to all my teaching friends out there. The survey was broad and thought provoking. The results have definitely helped me narrow down my area of inquiry and given me so results to play around with and develop my analysing skills. A common thing I learnt from this was just how much time and information the majority seemed to be prepared to put into my survey. It gives me a clearer idea of how much I should expect to gain if I decide to use this form of data collection.
3- a pilot focus group... At this stage I'm going to carry out my focus group with a group of my peers. Although I want to gain the experience in holding a focus group I don't want to use up the valuable time of those that. Want to take part in my formal inquiry and as lots of my SIG's are also teachers I will be calling on you for the real thing. I'm meeting with half a dozen friends tomorrow who work with children in different settings to hold a discussion on the relationships they build with the children. Ill let you know how it goes.
4- a pilot observation... This week I have started a new job in a state primary school and it has given me a lot of opportunities to carry out some observations. With lots of different teachers and students.
In 6b as required I will critically reflect on my experiences...
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