more thoughts

So much data... now what?  We are narrowing in on a topic with which to write a journal article.  It seemed like such an easy task at first: just pick something and write about it.  But as we get further into it, it is not as easy as it sounded.  We have so much data and we need to look at topics that incorporate both qualitative and quantitative data.  I think it is hard for the students to see how one piece of information informs the other.  Do the results from the heath efficacy scale inform the interview questions, or do the interview questions inform the results from the scale.  Do we match the results of the LoC with specific examples from the respondent or general interview results from all?  Do we just look at the demographic info and say that informs the interviews?  Do we analyze everything and then pick something that showed the most significance?  What do we do about the things we have found that may be significant but were not part of our original research questions?  And what about outliers, do we even mention them?

I think these tasks are much like the tasks every student must work through in the dissertation process.  What to include, what to exclude, what is important and what is not.  All the while, maintaining ones ethical obligations and scholarly work.  Not an easy task.  If one keeps in mind that they are adding to the body of literature and not attempting to prove their own hypothesis, I think it becomes easier.  Write about what actually transpired and what can be backed up by the data collected.  Remembering that data must be stored for at least 5 years after the completion of the study ( not for participant security, but to provide the raw data should someone questions your results).

So what will we write on?  That will be up to the students to decide once they look at all thee data and decide which pieces inform which other pieces and fill a gap..... Wish us luck :)

M. Giles