I took a writing workshop not too long ago and one of the tasks was to brainstorm a list of things you know about doing the work you do. Here are the first ten items on my list when I brainstormed with myself regarding what I know about qualitative research. Interesting to see what pops up first when you are in a timed situation.
- It can be hard.
- Not everyone appreciates QR in a quantitative world.
- You have to be as organized as an Information Specialist.
- Two-thirds of the project is often in the planning...data collection is actually the least of your worries.
- Don’t get hung up on the kind of research or research tradition you are following—ground yourself in strong notions of inquiry...research traditions are like salad dressing; who wants to eat a salad without it.
- Think with...not at...your participants. Think about relationships, partnering, learning.
- Ethics are a process...they are always with you; you are always interacting with them: Don’t leave home without them!
- More is less. Use qualitative research for what it does well—going deep; understanding perspectives; deciphering context. Don’t make it do the job another kind of methodology could do better.
- Make timelines realistic and flexible.
- Make analysis ongoing; question yourself when you find that you are doing massive data collection...followed by processing...followed by analysis—why did it happen that way; was there another way to stage the work?
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