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.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Friday, April 18, 2008
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.
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.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
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
"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
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Productivity and a Brief Trip to my SoapBox
Yo!
So, I just had to write today to discuss how WONDERFULLY PRODUCTIVE today has been. I have coded - for the umpteenth time - five of my interviews. Tomorrow, I will start writing the bios for my chapter four. I am using a storytelling approach to my dissertation, and, therefore, will be providing a little back story on each participant to give the reader some context for the analysis. I'm starting to get a wee bit excited about this chapter four. Hopefully, the productivity will continue. I LOVE feeling like this about my work. Everytime I read these interviews, I remember why this work is important, and why I chose it! My participants rule! And there stories deserve to be heard. If for no other reason, those who read it . . hopefully a few will read it . . may never get any other exposure to people who commit crimes.
You know, I have noticed that people tend to really embrace their ignorance. For example, today, I read in an online newspaper about a man who was arrested on several counts of sexual abuse . . . don't even get me started about the press providing the names of people who have been arrested but not convicted in a society which supposedly believes in innocent until proven guilty . . . Anyway, the story went on to say that this man was being charged for crimes that allegedly took place approximately 15-20 years ago. The article goes on to provide an interview with the alleged perpetrators mother who stated that her son is mentally retarded. Now, scroll down to the "comments" at the bottom - the gentleman who commented said that this person deserved to die and that no amount of mental problems should excuse his behavior . . . he should just die. Now, I'm not angling for excusing anyone's behavior, but, it was very apparent that this commenter had never been associated with someone who committed a crime, was mentally retarded, just had never had any direct contact with the "wrong side of the law" or any type of mental instability. When folks who are ignorant of certain situations make massively inflammatory comments, it makes me want to stab a flaming spork through my eyeballs!
All that to say, if providing the stories of these women can in any way, shape or form educate someone . . . not necessarily academically, but just to the human condition . . . if just ONE person becomes more sensitive to these issues, then all of this CRAP has been worth it.
Whew, that turned out much longer and much more soapboxy than I had intended.
I'm out!
Have a good weekend, non-divas!
So, I just had to write today to discuss how WONDERFULLY PRODUCTIVE today has been. I have coded - for the umpteenth time - five of my interviews. Tomorrow, I will start writing the bios for my chapter four. I am using a storytelling approach to my dissertation, and, therefore, will be providing a little back story on each participant to give the reader some context for the analysis. I'm starting to get a wee bit excited about this chapter four. Hopefully, the productivity will continue. I LOVE feeling like this about my work. Everytime I read these interviews, I remember why this work is important, and why I chose it! My participants rule! And there stories deserve to be heard. If for no other reason, those who read it . . hopefully a few will read it . . may never get any other exposure to people who commit crimes.
You know, I have noticed that people tend to really embrace their ignorance. For example, today, I read in an online newspaper about a man who was arrested on several counts of sexual abuse . . . don't even get me started about the press providing the names of people who have been arrested but not convicted in a society which supposedly believes in innocent until proven guilty . . . Anyway, the story went on to say that this man was being charged for crimes that allegedly took place approximately 15-20 years ago. The article goes on to provide an interview with the alleged perpetrators mother who stated that her son is mentally retarded. Now, scroll down to the "comments" at the bottom - the gentleman who commented said that this person deserved to die and that no amount of mental problems should excuse his behavior . . . he should just die. Now, I'm not angling for excusing anyone's behavior, but, it was very apparent that this commenter had never been associated with someone who committed a crime, was mentally retarded, just had never had any direct contact with the "wrong side of the law" or any type of mental instability. When folks who are ignorant of certain situations make massively inflammatory comments, it makes me want to stab a flaming spork through my eyeballs!
All that to say, if providing the stories of these women can in any way, shape or form educate someone . . . not necessarily academically, but just to the human condition . . . if just ONE person becomes more sensitive to these issues, then all of this CRAP has been worth it.
Whew, that turned out much longer and much more soapboxy than I had intended.
I'm out!
Have a good weekend, non-divas!
Friday, March 21, 2008
Well I'm Movin On Up . . . To The Doc Side . . .
Hey Non-divas,
You more mature divas may recognize "The Jeffersons" reference in the title . . . Holla . . .
Just wanted to check in to say that I am still pluggin away at the dissertation stuff. I am hangin in there, and continue to code data and create the stories of my interviewees. I am taking the transcriptions and using their words to put their stories out there. I hope I'm doing a good job. I love these women, and believe in their causes. I want to do a good job. I so want to represent them well. I know I go on and on, but it is a concern that I have. However, with those concerns in the forefront of my mind, I continue to plug away at the final product. I'm trying to work to beat down the anxiety (read: panic) that I feel sometimes about finishing. I figure actually working is probably better therapy than sitting around and giving in to the worry.
Oh, BTW, another example of how not to be a PhDiva . . . my WONDERFUL chair is on my list to send positive things everyday . . . when she's in a good and productive place, she will often respond with either a snarky comment (always appreciated) or a sweet comment. These responses are enough to register as a non PhDiva event, however, this last week, I sent a message out that had something to do with a true friend . . . something about being comfortable enough to be yourself, etc . . . and she sent me a message back that said, "I guess you and I are friends, huh". It was just a little blip, but it meant the world to me AND further proved that PhD does not have to equal PhDiva!
I love it when I make good choices!
Peace out, yo ;)
You more mature divas may recognize "The Jeffersons" reference in the title . . . Holla . . .
Just wanted to check in to say that I am still pluggin away at the dissertation stuff. I am hangin in there, and continue to code data and create the stories of my interviewees. I am taking the transcriptions and using their words to put their stories out there. I hope I'm doing a good job. I love these women, and believe in their causes. I want to do a good job. I so want to represent them well. I know I go on and on, but it is a concern that I have. However, with those concerns in the forefront of my mind, I continue to plug away at the final product. I'm trying to work to beat down the anxiety (read: panic) that I feel sometimes about finishing. I figure actually working is probably better therapy than sitting around and giving in to the worry.
Oh, BTW, another example of how not to be a PhDiva . . . my WONDERFUL chair is on my list to send positive things everyday . . . when she's in a good and productive place, she will often respond with either a snarky comment (always appreciated) or a sweet comment. These responses are enough to register as a non PhDiva event, however, this last week, I sent a message out that had something to do with a true friend . . . something about being comfortable enough to be yourself, etc . . . and she sent me a message back that said, "I guess you and I are friends, huh". It was just a little blip, but it meant the world to me AND further proved that PhD does not have to equal PhDiva!
I love it when I make good choices!
Peace out, yo ;)
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Do you know the way back from slackerville...?
Wow! J has been a roll here at Divaland - and where have I been....doing everything but this. Some good accomplishments - my latest chapter is shaping up - with a goal to get it to my committee chair by the end of the week. And, I successfully submitted an abstract for a conference (just a poster session) - but hey, I haven't done that in a while.
Speaking of conferences - J, we should work on a combo-effort to present at a conference sometime later this year. I think it would motivate me more if I knew I had someone out there expecting me to pull something together! What do you think?
Other news -I have found a great place to work on Tuesdays and Wednesdays - it is a bookstore that for some reason, no one comes here to work (probably because there is no coffee or snacks) - so I have the place to myself upstairs. Yay! I seem to get a lot done here (see abstract and chapter mention above).
Here's to a productive rest of our week!
"L"
Speaking of conferences - J, we should work on a combo-effort to present at a conference sometime later this year. I think it would motivate me more if I knew I had someone out there expecting me to pull something together! What do you think?
Other news -I have found a great place to work on Tuesdays and Wednesdays - it is a bookstore that for some reason, no one comes here to work (probably because there is no coffee or snacks) - so I have the place to myself upstairs. Yay! I seem to get a lot done here (see abstract and chapter mention above).
Here's to a productive rest of our week!
"L"
Monday, March 17, 2008
GETTING ON WITH IT . . . and stuff
Hey y'all!
Short post here. I'm asking for good, positive thoughts to be sent my way today. I am going back to the coding and writing stuff. I intend to work at least 2 hours on dissertation stuff today, and I'm pretty on fire about it. I have to intertwine this work with both grading papers and courthouse shizz, but I will get something accomplished. I'll probably check back in later to let y'all know how it went. It was weird, I was laying in bed last night, and I almost couldn't wait for it to be morning so I could re-begin the process of GETTING ON WITH IT! Have y'all ever had that happen? Weird, huh . . . Anyhoo, I'll check back in with y'all later. Have a good one. :)
"J"
Short post here. I'm asking for good, positive thoughts to be sent my way today. I am going back to the coding and writing stuff. I intend to work at least 2 hours on dissertation stuff today, and I'm pretty on fire about it. I have to intertwine this work with both grading papers and courthouse shizz, but I will get something accomplished. I'll probably check back in later to let y'all know how it went. It was weird, I was laying in bed last night, and I almost couldn't wait for it to be morning so I could re-begin the process of GETTING ON WITH IT! Have y'all ever had that happen? Weird, huh . . . Anyhoo, I'll check back in with y'all later. Have a good one. :)
"J"
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