Module 2: Reader 6 - Tools of Professional Inquiry / Overview

Module 2: Reader 6 Overview

Tools of Professional Inquiry

This source addresses a selection of tools that will be useful whilst researching and exploring my topic questions and ‘Line of Inquiry’. Throughout reviewing this ‘Reader’ I plan to select a variation of tools and methods to assist and structure my planning. By viewing other writer’s strategies ways of planning their ‘first hand data’, will influence my approach within my Inquiry.

The way in which I plan data is essential. Whilst completing the Inquiry Proposal I must address the sense of structure and research planning.

The main 3 objectives to achieve within Module 2 are:

·      Identifying my main area of practice

·      Develop Inquiry questions

·      Indicate your selected tools of planning

Designing Practitioner Inquiry

By using a combination of scientific research methods and tools, I will be using real-life experiences in an ethical and structured manner. Whilst gathering this data I must always consider how the sources or findings relate to other professionals within my field.

There are 4 main research tools explored with Module 2:

·      Observation (also participant observation)

·      Interviews

·      Focus Groups

·      Surveys

Validity within the Inquiry design is essential,

‘Whether your methods, approaches and techniques actually relate to, or measure, the issues you have been exploring.’

(Blaxter et al, 2001, p. 221)

People will use different inquiry methods depending on their chosen topic as ‘different questions require different methods to answer them’

(Punch, 1998, p. 19)

Both Qualitative and Quantitative approaches can be used in a mixed-research design when observing data.

Qualitative Research is primarily exploratory research. It is used to gain an understanding of underlying reasons, opinions, and motivations. It provides insights into the problem or helps to develop ideas or hypotheses for potential quantitative research.

I have already used ‘Qualitative researching’ as I have collated a wide range of literature (articles/websites/blogs/books), where I have gained new knowledge and views regarding my topic. Throughout my group and individuals I will also be using transcripts and audio recordings to ensure anonymity and confidentiality. I will be collating a multiple of views and opinions from professionals, graduates, students and tutors within my industry, using participant’s views as a basis for my Inquiry. Tools such as audio recordings, transcriptions, questionnaires and note taking will assist in organising my data.

‘Qualitative research aims to produce rounded and contextual understandings on the basis of rich, nuanced and detailed data’

(Mason, 2002, p.3)

‘In this approach the researcher becomes one of the tools of inquiry, and must reflexively be aware of their own positioning or biases’

(Mason, 2002)

Whilst planning and carrying out my inquiry research I focus on Mason’s previous statement. Even though in some cases I can voice my opinions, using a critical approach to display data I must always consider the views of others, portraying a neutral stance.

Quantitative research is a more logical and data-led approach which provides a measure of what people think from a statistical and numerical point of view. For example, if you wanted to know how many of your customers support a proposed change in your products or service and how strongly (on a scale) they support it.

Quantitative research tends to involve relatively large scale and representative sets of data, and is often, falsely in our view, presented and perceived as being about the gathering of ‘facts’

I also am organising a group interview and providing questionnaires to my SIG groups to identify common trends or correlations within questions regarding the nutrition and well being of a performer. My selected lines of Inquiry will alter my approach of gathering, analysing and presenting my findings within my professional practice.

I may use this method of research once I have gained data from my ‘Nutrition Questionnaire’ as it may be an affective technique to organise and store my data. By creating a questionnaire/survey to give to my SIG Groups (ex graduates, students). Due to the wide range of answers from my questionnaire I may not be able to calculate the mean, median, mode and percentages of my findings, however I will be able to collate a large amount of data that will be analysed to identify any similarities or differences. I will not use Quantitative Research as frequently as Qualitative Research.

‘The research is conducted to determine a universal cause and effect to predict future correlations or comparisons. However, quantitative research still uses descriptive knowledge because it provides explanation’

(Punch, 1998)

How to Research, Written by Lorraine baxter (2001)

I found reading this source incredibly useful as I could instantly understand her approach of Research. Within the introduction she states,

‘There is excitement at the prospect of discovering new insights into a topic of interest. There is a sense of confusion over what you are meant to be doing and when. You are aware that you have the ability to build on your current skills and aptitudes to complete the task ahead effectively.’

(L, Hughes, 2001)

I instantly felt like I could relate to this book as Hughes involved and highlighted feelings/emotion that I had experienced throughout the Research process:

‘Are you currently feeling ‘all at see’ and not knowing in which direction to turn within your research project?’

‘You have a sense of drowning at one moment in the size of the task ahead, and then floating serenely at the next moment content with the work you have produced so far’

(L, Hughes, 2001)

Before discussing planning and research for my Inquiry with my tutor and fellow students, I did feel how Hughes had described as I was happy with work I had produced to analyse different pieces of literature and research however is the an end to the research process?

I now believe that the process of researching throughout my Inquiry project will never completely end, however I must know how to plan my Inquiry research and priorities what aspects of my Inquiry I need to carry out.

Hughes highlights that one of the most useful methods regarding research is the day-to-day technique of Reading, Listening and Watching,

‘Research involves the professionalization of these everyday skills’

(L, Hughes, 2001)

Before reading this source I had not thought about these everyday skills. I believe that these methods play a huge role within my Inquiry research.

By reading a wide range of literature, books, blogs or magazines I learn allot from all of these sources whether I make notes/annotate or generally remember the rough outline of useful links/content.

From childhood we watch our parents and learn from their actions and the actions of others around us. Through watching I can highlight the behavior of professionals and practitioners within my industry, thus gaining new knowledge and research.

Throughout our daily routine we listen consciously and sub-consciously, whether it be to friends, parents, performers, tutors, the radio or television. By identifying the emotions and intention of what someone will say, will strengthen my ability to extract useful and meaningful information regarding my Inquiry. This tool will prove incredibly useful whilst analysing Interview recordings.

I agree that its essential to create a systematic approach to researching. This is the process that I may use within my Inquiry Research:

CHOOSING - (Selecting sufficient data and literature to analyse)

QUESTIONING - (Questioning the information using our senses, assessing its relevance and the opinions of others)

SUMMERISING - (What to leave out? What to stress? What is key information?)

ORGANISATION - (Providing Key Information first, then providing details?, addressing the source is historical/chronological sequence?)

PRESENTING - (Relaying your findings to readers, influence others opinions and your own)

REFLECTION - (How this source impacts/relates with your industry and your learning)

‘You can never empirically or logically the best approach. This can only be done reflectively by considering a situation to be studied and your own opinion of life’

(L, Hughes, 2001)

Personally this method of researching works well within my Professional Inquiry as it’s systematical and I think this structure will assist me effectively throughout module 3! I am able to use this technique through my literature analysis and also my interviews and transcripts.

‘The question ‘which method is best?’ is not soley about whether for example, to use interviews, questionnaires and observations. Underpinning these research tools are more general philosophical questions about how we understand social reality, and what are the most appropriate ways of studying it’

(L, Hughes, 2001)

Action Research

Action Research is a popular method amongst smaller social researchers, particularly those work in professional areas such as education, health and social care. It’s well suited to the needs of people conducting research within their workplace, and who focus on improving aspects of their own and their colleagues practices.

A convention Action Research approach  was envisaged to:

• Examine the nature of the problem
• Devise an appropriate product-based intervention
• Trial this
• Evaluate the impact

I am interesting in this research technique. Even though I am not basing my Inquiry within a company or organisation I am exploring my workplace and the Performing Arts Industry. I believe that this method will work effectively whilst communicating within my Sig Groups and throughout group interviews. By using this tool I will be able to not only identify knew information and views upon a certain question, but I will be able to highlight and discuss how the overall impact of the question and what we can learn from it.

Surveys

‘A social survey is a research strategy. By this we mean that this involves an overall decision – a strategic decision – about the way to set about gathering and analysing data.’

(Aldridge and Levine 2001: 5, emphasis in original)

‘We ask everyone precisely those questions that we want answered. More than this we try to ask questions in precisely the same way in each interview – to standardise the questionnaire as a measuring instrument’

(Sapsford 1999: 4-5, Emphasis in original)

This method is an incredibly resourceful tool throughout my research, as online surveys are very simple to create and easily accessed by readers. By creating surveys online and as a handout is a great way to gain ‘bulk’ information. By creating a variety of ‘Open ended’ questions, participants are able to write in as much detail regarding their experiences views and opinions. I have sectioned ‘Questionnaire Groups’ (Students, Graduates and professionals) to answer my questionnaire. I have done this as I will be able to collect and store my data in accordance to my structures groups, therefore I will be able to efficiently identify common trends and differences between my data.

With an appropriate sample, surveys may aim at representation and provides generalised results. Surveys can be relatively easier to administer, and need not require any field work. They may also be repeated in the future or in different setting to allow comparisons to be made. With a good response rate, surveys can provide allow of data relatively quickly.

Interviews

Interviews are a QUALITATIVE method of researching. An advantage of this technique is that,

'You can follow up on ideas, probe responses and investigate motives and feelings'

(Bell, 2005, p. 156)

An Interview can be carried out in a multiple of ways:

• Face to face or over the telephone
• With a group of people or an individual
• Using a structured list of questions or a more formal method of interaction

Semi-Structured Interviews

Included set questions with the flexibility of following interesting or useful emerging issues is often most appropriate for the work based researcher.

Non-Directive or Open Interviews

Allows the interviewee to talk about anything they like

Narrative Inquiry

Participants use a story telling format

Informal Interviews

Over all ain is to gain data, using an extremely non-structured approach

Informal/Guided Interviews

Providing topic areas to cover but no set questions. Interviews are time-consuming but they can allow the collection of valuable data about motives, expectations and attitudes that are very difficult to collect by any other means. 

0. 
   To carry out interviews you will need to consider:
   
   
• What data do you need to collect to answer your research questions that may only be provided by other people?
  
• Who do you need to interview and why?
  
• Where would be most appropriate to hold the interview – neutral ground or
  ‘home’ ground?
  
• At what point in the research process would it be best to interview?
  
• What questions need to be asked?
• Whether all the interviews will include the same questions and follow the
  same structure? If not, why not?
  
• How are you going to record the interview – whether to make notes during the
  interview or use a tape recorder and transcribe notes afterwards?
  
• How are you going to access the data from the interview – transcribe tape
  recordings, order and/or reflect on your written notes?
  
• How will you ensure that you comply with ethical and confidentiality issues
  and relevant legislation such as the Data Protection Act? What is the status of what is said, i.e. is everything on the record? 
  (Reader 6)
  
  

Throughout my Inquiry Research and Planning, Interviewing will play a key role within gathering data from a selection of students, graduates, performers, tutors and nutritionists. I will use different forms of interviewing depending on the interview:

For example:

Students/Graduates - I will use a 'semi-structured' approach, as the participant will find the interview slightly easier as there are questions to answer and they do not have to talk constantly throughout. However by using 'open ended' questions, this gives the interviewee the chance to fully express their views.

Nutritionist/Practitioner - I will use an 'informal/guided' method of interview. As the interviewees have a knowledgable understanding of my topic, I feel that it would be more beneficial to provide them with only a few, open questions which will let the participant discuss their knowledge and views regarding the subject.

Interviews