August 2011 – Page 3 – Silence and Voice

Jeffrey’s Twitter Updates for 2011-08-22

@qui_oui I actually know some people on that list! Just followed a few more as well #FollowFriday #PhDchat #
@karynfulcher Will you pilot them or get input from people? #homophobia #phdchat #
@alexlancs It very well could have been; I have been known to be overwhelmed in coffee bars. Who makes these things up? #
@christiepooh Today was research and research and research and prep for more research #phdchat #
@lindathestar Wil do! #
@EvilSue @moggy99 Agreed. They also help those of us who cannot pay attention to any one thing for more than 10 minutes. #
@moggy99 @EvilSue @dhutchman Unless your thesis were like a novel (which does have chapter headings), then such headings help the reader. #
@EvilSue @moggy99 @dhutchman Very true; your thesis (that he still has to approve)! #
@savasavasava I was open coding using #MAXQDA I have not yet started to combine codes (and this is NOT my thesis; not ready for that!). #
@christiepooh Yes, this global climate change is leading to awful situations. #
@tmontgomeryrn True, to both our points! #RNchat #PhDchat #
Enough reminders sent for what will be (fingers crossed) my final week of data collection. Will keep everyone posted #phdchat #
@tmontgomeryrn That seems a bit positivistic, and is not quite how I teach my nursing doctoral students. #RNchat #PhDchat #
@moggy99 Why not use headings? Anything to help the reader, insofar as it fits the design and style. Nothing to do with qualitative #phdchat #
Sending reconfirmations + interview protocol to those who agreed to participate in my doctoral thesis research http://t.co/J1TnXTD #phdchat #
Taking a break from an evening of coding with #MAXQDA #phdchat #
I beat the horrible rain and thunder and lightning back to the city. Phew. Now finished with dinner, and back to coding #phdchat #
@Eingang I can get one there; no need to bother anybody that early on a Saturday morning. Thank you!!!! #
@Eingang and I will hope they will be visitor-friendly! #
@savasavasava Of what? #
@savasavasava Want to go with me this year? My former Halloween walker colleague has since moved 🙁 #
@Eingang Got it. I can do all this at Heathrow? I saw I could order for delivery at home, but may not come in time. #
@Eingang Is this something I would do at the window at the station at Heathrow? #
@Eingang Does this mean you buy a Travel Zone card and load it onto an Oyster card? #
@Eingang Goodness, so much more complicated than #NYC where it is so simple!! #
@qui_oui I am about 90% of the time. #
@savasavasava No; thanks. It's related to my desire to walk in the Halloween Parade again. Have you ever done that? #
@lindathestar This seems to be a hot topic right now; good for you being on the cutting edge! #
@PatParslow Sorry to hear; that can be a big loss. #
@Eingang Oh, I do not mind having anything left over if it does not expire, though perhaps it may. #
@Eingang I will be there for a week. Expect 2-3 trip / day. #
@christiepooh Why unwell? You ok? #
@christiepooh Goodness, what a long trip. #
@lindathestar Very nice way of showing your research area in a single Tweet #phdchat #
@Eingang I was thinking that I will spend most of my time in Zone 1, though think I will take the underground from Heathrow. #
@gsiemens @aeratcliffe @JaneBozarth George, you too?! Goodness, let me check out @pgsimoes #phdchat #
@aeratcliffe @JaneBozarth @pgsimoes I am seeing a trend here #phdchat #
@Eingang I got some ideas for the travel, though seem I need to speak with somebody still about mixing an Oyster with the other card. #
Thinking about ordering an item, though the maker gave me so many options I did not know how to begin. Unable to articulate how to proceed. #

Jeffrey’s Twitter Updates for 2011-08-21

@MBisanz Free, but only if you have an account at #TD #
@JaneBozarth I never was any good being told what to do 😉 #students #
@kmulliner Hey, stranger, how is it on your side of the desert? #
@gavatron It has been a strange summer at that. Somewhat cool finally this evening, and even saw the first tree leaves turn #hot #humid #
@savasavasava You like Florida, I suppose? #
@savasavasava @trentmkays 😉 #
@lindathestar Excellent. How did you go aout narrowing it down? #phdchat #
@trentmkays Always loved that oracle. Has got me into and out of trouble more times than I can count. #
@trentmkays Yes, I had somebody earlier today talking about funding. My response: "Fundi . . . what was that thing called again?" #
@christiepooh Enjoy it. As I have said before, if it were not for Twitter, I really would not have anybody to talk to. #
@kiwicito Will be interesting to hear about what you come up with. #Nvivo #phdchat #
@trentmkays As in a monastery. Otherwise, you will be making so much money it may not matter. #
@savasavasava @qui_oui Did I mention I am stopping off for a night in Montreal on my way to London for #BERA #
@trentmkays Got 'em. Thanks. Do you attend regardless of papers accepted? #
@christiepooh I shall look into it for next time; thanks for the heads up. Enjoy tonight's conference. #
@trentmkays Ideals are good; hang it (or yourself) up if you lose them. #
@qui_oui @savasavasava But you say it with such a Whitmanesque way, I cannot help but to believe it all. #
@Lemness You could have always stopped an convened a conference call to discuss products and processes. #
@savasavasava @qui_oui That is what I thought! Then again, I somehow have that impression about every Canadian I know. #
@trentmkays Agreed. #
@JaneDavis13 That is life, I suppose!! #
@qui_oui @savasavasava You!? You seem all so together and learned and such. #
@trentmkays My boy, you ARE green. Such ideals . . . #highered #
@savasavasava We do what we can, ma'am. We do what we can. #
@JaneDavis13 Ouch. Too bad you did not make a night of it nearer, but I know — life gets in the way. #
@trentmkays FOr the uninitiated, can you say what these conferences are in full words? #gradschool #academia #
@JaneDavis13 Goodness, and you are still of the right enough mind to Tweet? I will hold back wedding party judgement!!! #
@AndreaZellner Cool, thanks! #NWP #
@JaneDavis13 BTW, why are you still awake? #PhDchat #
@AndreaZellner What is NWP? #nwpbgs #nwp #
@savasavasava I have enough equipment that I could be hired for a small fair, fundraiser, or penny social. #
@savasavasava Feel that way once I finish spending my Saturday evening rolling coins using sorting trays and plastic rolling tubes I bought #
@savasavasava Even me? #
@christiepooh At least you have something fun to look forward to. #
@trentmkays Is this your first teaching? Kudos to you for them both. #
@trentmkays Excellent. Why do you want to write for a newspaper? #highered #
@JaneDavis13 I arrive in the UK the morning of Saturday, 3 Sept. #PhDchat #
@christiepooh I thought you had to pay for that? #
@christiepooh Yes; I just received 6 mentions, but not an email generated in sight. #
@pinoyboy Like that would be unusual! #HedgingTwitterInnuendo #
@trentmkays Congrats!!! What will you teach and on what subject to write? #
@christiepooh No, sloppy US ones. #
@christiepooh But they are all empty! #
@savasavasava Like I am the first?! 😉 #
@trentmkays Cool; what news? Sorry I missed it. #gradschool #
@pinoyboy Disembark? Goodness, what a word to use over the weekend. #
@aeratcliffe @JaneBozarth @pgsimoes Why? Alas, missed something here it seems. Alas. #phdchat #lrnchat #edchat #goodstuff #
Too quiet in the kitchen rolling change, so got my laptop and now listening to a favorite Internet radio station. #
@trentmkays Amazing how some things put others in perspective. I have to remember that. #
@savasavasava Not the mosquitoes, that is 😉 #
@savasavasava I see; you can generate revenue if you let others have a turn! #
@trentmkays Blood, sweat, and Amex debt can make it possible for you, too, #
@christiepooh Fantastic. #
Rolling some coins I have been saving; giving me some pocket change for upcoming #BERA conference in London #phdchat #
I have done about all the work I can manage today; more research tomorrow #phdchat #
@christiepooh @savasavasava That used to be my case as well, but when I checked my email first thing this morning, I did not have any alerts #
@savasavasava @christiepooh I no longer get twitter mention emails at all. #

Jeffrey’s Twitter Updates for 2011-08-20

@trentmkays Excellent. #
@savasavasava I got a lot of research work done today, though could not convert some results into a PDF to share. Same tomorrow. #
@trentmkays Good for you; write it down. #thatisall #
@PabloK I am not sure if people want to hear the soldier versions, either. #newsnightreview #
RT @mashable: StumbleUpon Drives More Than 50% of Social Media Traffic [STATS] – http://t.co/wNb78aa // Who still uses that? #
@savasavasava Are you still here, or were you spirited away? #
@spinuzzi After a few glasses of chateauneuf-du-pape, I could not resist the word play. #
@hollykruse Dominatrix boots? #
@spinuzzi Alas, I am not surprised. #
@hummingbird604 @5pmweb @anabellebf @space_cadet00 Do you have a link for this most interesting PM app? #
@problogger Feel better; horrible ailment. #
@hummingbird604 @lisamedia Do you think anybody outside academia is really interested? If they were, wouldn't they be academics? #OpenAccess #
@hummingbird604 @lisamedia So does all publishing; should all books be free? #phdchat #
RT @WNYC: New York City Region Leads Nation in Car-Free Households http://t.co/jyuC1Vn // New Yorkers are a green bunch, ehh? #
@Azuresong I used to love Carvel. I did not know they were around any more. #
@hummingbird604 My goodness, so short. WTF? #
@lisamedia @hummingbird604 Why should knowledge be free to all? #phdchat #
@hummingbird604 Why a year? #
@spinuzzi Anti-gay bigotry, perhaps? #
@merry30 Perhaps there is some meaning to unpack there?! #PhD #phdchat #fumblefingers #
@duncanmann To this point, where are you in your work? #phdchat #
@srossmktg or Sunday night, the worst. #phdchat #
@savasavasava Are they saying good things? #notparanoid #
@qui_oui 50 foot cable? Goodness. #
@kiwicito What method are you using to combine them, given how long the list is? #Nvivo #phdchat #
@savasavasava and along with that, what's up with Twitter no longer sending Mention alerts? #
@nycrican2 Not sure I am following the context, but thanks. #
@heatherdavis Got it; thanks. #phdchat #
@OwhyOwhy Ahh, thanks! #
A large downed tree blocked a county road for some time. Seems neighbors are out of power with cable and Internet outages. #
@DrGarcia If that is the case, toss out that self-censorship module and let 'em rip! #phd #solidarity #
@C_J_Cage Thanks for the recommendations! #
@DrGarcia You just gave me words of wisdom to last several days; thanks!! #
@martin_eve Going well, though very quite busy. I really do need to focus more on the publishing with my research, so you are a good example #
@sarahthesheepu 😉 #ff #
@martin_eve Congrats on the submission! #
@lornarichardson I will be primarily in Zone 1, though will take the underground from Heathrow. #
@Eingang Not fun; agreed. Perhaps bring a photo to an appliance store and show them? #
@lornarichardson Yes, that is part of my confusion; hope they can clear it up at that location. #
@Eingang All the best locating it. #
@Eingang Can you compare the logos? #
@lornarichardson Ahh; I see they have a shop at Heathrow; perhaps I should get one there? #
@OwhyOwhy Is there a difference between an Oyster, one with your own photo, and a Visitor one? #phdchat #
@lornarichardson @MisaimedBrain @OwhyOwhy I find all these travel options dizzying; so different from the #NYC subways #phdchat #
@lornarichardson I see there are visitor Oyster cards, though I do not think I may get it in time. Is that the same cost as buying there? #
@MisaimedBrain I see; I will not tell anybody about our exchange this morning 😉 #phdchat #
@Eingang Kelvinator? #
@MisaimedBrain I need to travel from Heathrow, and then expect 2-3 trips a day for about 5 days. #phdchat #
@MisaimedBrain Yes; do you talk about this online at all? I mean, where can I read or hear more about your topic? #phdchat #
I am coming to London for a week in 2 weeks. Can anybody help me navigate if / which underground pass I need? #phdchat #
@Eingang Perhaps it is the same brand? #
@MisaimedBrain Do you talk about your research anyplace? #phdchat #
@MisaimedBrain Thanks for the positive vibes; I find doing something I am passionate about is the only way to remain focused #phdchat #
@sarahthesheepu Most excellent! #loveHE #
@Eingang Consider looking under the counter at the bottom of it; there may be a label there? #
@MisaimedBrain These changes themselves are somewhat related to my research itself, though I am more focused on liminal spaces #phdchat #
@lindathestar Sure that I will learn more about this during the analysis, though I have already been processing my own perception #phdchat #
@OwhyOwhy Agreed. Like any other team, it can have benefits and challenges. Thankfully, more the former this time. #phdchat #
@MisaimedBrain Positive changes are good! How far through it are you now? When did you notice a change? #phdchat #
@MisaimedBrain I have F2F meetings with both my supervisors when I travel to the UK for #BERA so will discuss with them as well. #phdchat #
@lindathestar Having never done this many so closely together, I did not expect anything differently. Part of the learning? #phdchat #
@lindathestar Yes, it has been much more compact than I expected #phdchat #
@MisaimedBrain So, your developed as you proceeded, changing as a result of what you learned along the way? #phdchat #
@MisaimedBrain While I know much may relate to the research design, I am wondering how its experience can be shared. #phdchat #
@bron2042 Agreed; I would prefer a rainy day to hopefully help me not get distracted. #phdchat #
@MisaimedBrain Interesting that you became an advocate afterward. Why do you think this happened? #phdchat #
@MisaimedBrain Did you find you included any of this reflection into your thesis itself as a result? #phdchat #
@heatherdavis @SAttspeech Can you talk more about this, such as how and why? Seems potentially useful. #phdchat #
@dubikan @kiwicatracha Wow, never thought I would hear that formatting could be therapeutic. #phdchat #
@danya Congrats! Thanks for sharing there is light at the end of the tunnel! #phdchat #
@MisaimedBrain Did you do anything differently as a result of that experience? #phdchat #
I blogged about the emotional toll of engaging in research interviews http://t.co/Nmt0gDJ – Ever experience this? #phdchat #
Happy I took today off. Weather is not great, but I really need to spend time at my desk wrapping up my part of a research project #phdchat #

Jeffrey’s Twitter Updates for 2011-08-19

That thunder and lightning storm in #Manhattan was intense. Wasn't that long ago and we never saw those storms here #NYC #
What a day; have not even checked email or Twitter. Glad I have tomorrow off as a catch-up time. #
@ai1sa If you see how much substandard everything gets published and disseminated, your style will clearly take you above the fray! #
@sarahthesheepu Sorry to hear about the funding. At least you tried for it. #
@ai1sa I do, though I do not often think I have the wherewithal to write in a comparable manner. #
@LancasterUni As a postgrad at Lancaster, I am so glad to see you increasing your Twitter presence. Kudos! #
@christiepooh I am still hesitant to use my debit card; do you use it everywhere? #
@ai1sa Like they say, the best dissertation / thesis is a done one. #phdchat #
@ai1sa Great apirations to be sure. I suppose I am still so far away, I cannot float interesting goals like that! #
@annettemarkham The more the conversation continued, the more I realized it is ok to not be caught up or current; at least in some things! #

Doctoral Thesis Data Collection, Status #2: Emotions

I want to share an update on my doctoral thesis data collection, as a lot has happened since the last one I did a little over a week ago. I have now completed 13 interviews in total (60-90 minutes each), and am hoping to finish the remaining interviews in another week. While I initially planned to have 15-20 people in total (which should be enough for some sense of data saturation, given the qualitative design I am using), it now seems I may be nearer the latter when I finish.

While I am not beginning any systematic processing of this data yet (transcription, anyone? 😉 !!), there is one thing that I have learned in this process that I want to share for the benefit of anybody else planning a similar research endeavor. Data collection in the form of long, in-depth interviews takes a lot of energy. Moreover, I am finding that it takes almost everything out of me. Let me explain.

My research asks about barriers and liminal (in-between) periods that happen during doctoral study, resulting in some form of an aha! or new sense of one’s identity. This often involves the telling of difficult stories, ones that are personal and oftentimes riveting in nature. Being privelged with listening to these stories is a rich experience, one that requires my full attention in way unlike many of the other tasks I have encountered in research (or practice, for that matter). I feel emotionally humbled when I finish with each one, and find that I struggle to do my ordinary work or other commitments in life during this period.

I am thankful for this opportunity to engage in this study, as it is a deeply moving experience. I think I have a lot more to process in its effect in me, much less as part of my research.