Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Welcome Winter 09 Students... Take two!

I am so glad to have you all in class for the second half of the quarter. Please look over the website at your leisure and let me know if there is anything that looks particularly appealing to you or that perhaps you know well enough to skip. My goal for this class is that it be helpful and pertinent to you and your research. In addition, please take this short survey...

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Sw6Z5CiQdars1l14y_2fY2ww_3d_3d

1 comment:

lynskey7 said...

Angel Lynskey
EDU P&L 692
Winter 2009
Assignment 1


I was really interested to read this article, as I've seen it cited multiple times in the past couple of quarters. As I read it while on the treadmill at the gym, it’s possible that I’ve missed some key points. However, these are my initial reactions.

Regarding the discussion about the homogenizing of research due to CAQDAS, I can see both sides of the issue. Recording and coding data still requires a follow-up analysis, during which the researchers could interpret the data in a variety of ways, depending on their theoretical beliefs. However, the way data is grouped and presented may favor some interpretations over others.

The sections regarding hypertext were of particular interest to me, as I did my Masters’ exit portfolio digitally, with embedded links to artifacts. The readers could select which artifacts and issues interested them and go there directly within the document. Referencing the conversation of hypertext in the reporting of qualitative studies, I understand why certain parts of the qualitative study might be problematic when digitized and made widely available. However, I do not think it is necessary (or wise) to include this data in a digital report any more than it is necessary (or wise) to include it in a hard copy. Further, this type of reporting greatly increases the accessibility of ethnographic work, as files can be shared more easily than can hard copies. The concept of increased accessibility continues within the context of the larger discussions about how to democratize academia. When wider audiences have access to research, and can dictate their own terms of use and understanding, there are sure to issues of misuse and misunderstanding. However, these issues are also possible in other ways of ethnographic research reporting, and should not keep researchers from considering this type of reporting.