A Little Academic Funny

So, L and I are on this listserv that sends us "interesting" issues about qualitative research. From time to time, informative posts come along to add to our knowledge of qualitative research. . . And sometimes . . . posts are sent along that remind you what a, um, er, quirky bunch acadmeics actually are. That being said, last week we received an email about the Grounded Theory Jamboree III This event is for those in qualitative research who utilize grounded theory as a framework for research. I won't bore you about the specifics, but basically it is a mode of inquiry (think design for quantitative research) in which a researcher goes into a particular place (e.g. jail, classroom, etc) and observes and attempts to build a theory based on these observations. The specifics aren't really important . . . what is more important, and inspired much giggling was the idea of a "Jamboree". I just had this vivid image of a bunch of qualitative researchers trying to win big stuffed animals by throwing darts at pictures of big named researchers OR someone like say tryihg to win tickets to the Big Grounded Theory Dance by participating in the Derrida Lincoln Log Deconstructing . . . yeah, I actually remember something from class . . . It just kind of cracked us up.

We have considered designing T-Shirts for this event . . .

J's idea: Front: Grounded Theory Jamboree; Back: Holla at a Quelude
L's idea: Front: Grounded Theory Jamboree; Back: Grounded Theorists Do It Inductively

More ideas to come, I'm sure.

Just cracks me up.

Make the dissertation a part of my daily life . . . Like Days of Our LIves?

L's post could not have come at a better time for me. I am sitting in front of a computer trying to write Chapter four of this bad boy . . . I've been pretty productive over the past 2 weeks, but, I let a few days lapse where I didn't work on it, and now, I'm having a hard time re-revving the engines.

The idea of integrating the dissertation into everyday life is an interesting one. I certainly have not taken that tact with this process. Better late than never, I guess. I see that when I take breaks from the data and writing, it takes me longer to get back into it. My focus is gone. Therefore, I guess integrating it into my everyday life would keep it fresh on my mind at all times . . . and perhaps push me harder to work more so that I could stop thinking about this shit cuz it is driving me freaking crazy . . .

Very good idea . . . hmmm, how will I do this. I'm sure I will be blogging later with some ideas as my creative juices for working on this monster do not seem to be flowing.

Interesting thought about dissertation work

Here is a interesting idea that was in my email box today (courtesy of a PhD newsletter)- about integrating our dissertation work into our daily lives:

"Build the dissertation into your day as much as possible.

Integrating the dissertation into your daily life is a fantastic habit. It is much more helpful than placing it in its own category, where it begins to become an overwhelming and looming task.

How can you better integrate the dissertation into your day? How can it become more automatic, like taking a shower or brushing your teeth?"

I hadn't really thought about it like that...more often - I see it as the overwhelming and looming task. I will be working on a different perspective!

-L