Putting a stamp on it

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 I am one week into my data collection process and off to a flying start. It has been a lot easier to schedule people in than I first though. I didn't know how easy it as going to be arranging a date and time for interviews and more so for focus groups as I struggle to do things like; book a doctors appointment or a hair appointment. There always seems to be something that crops up and things are constantly being rescheduled around work and my busy life style. My thoughts are that Covid has had a huge impact on how people spend their time and also go about everyday life. Weekends don't seem to pan out the same, people are spending more time at home. Weekdays are mainly filed with work and planning. For me, this has been beneficial as people are more likely to be able to attend a Skype session. 


So far I have managed to hold 4 interviews and one focus group and I intend to hold at least one more focus group. My plan over the next few weeks is going to progress onto analysis, writing and creating. We cannot really separate these sections, as they aid the growth of each-other. Writing as you go also helps to keep an analytical diary, which on reflection reveals thoughts and moods on ideas which you don't always recognise in the moment. These patterns sometimes come from pre-conceived ideas that we hold on a subject which sometimes dictates the direction we take in a task. The hardest thing for me so far has been to push my plan to the side. I go into every task with an idea of how it will go, but I have had to learn how to organically grow with the flow of conversation. This comes naturally for some people, however, I find it quite hard in my data collection session not to steer the conversation completely in the direction that I want it to go. 


Before I set in stone which data collection method(s) I wanted to use for my research, I held an interview with a fellow teacher at work. This experience helped me begin to understand the meaning of data collection and what 'data' truly is. Throughout the process of module 3, I am aiming to step outside of my comfort zone and to look at the data through different lenses. This research is my creation, which means I inevitably put my stamp on it, but I am focused on trying not to sway the research and be open to ideas and invite them in for personal growth. 

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