The slight feeling of panic...

So I have completed a couple of observations, have two more interviews scheduled and am just trying to arranged the final interview. I am still aiming to have all interviews and observations done by March but I am feeling a little impatient! I feel a massive desire to start pulling all my information together and start writing, but I know that I am not ready yet....

In terms of literature I have categorised it all into sections and have read up on it to the point where I now need to cross reference it against my own personal discoverings.

Reading up on the creative process, there are many websites and books which try to categorise the process into sections. This final module feels a process of creativity and discovering and yet trying to put all my feelings and thoughts into a specific boxes or categories just doesn't seem to be working! When it comes to choreography, I do usually go through a stage where my thoughts are whirring and not in any type of order. However I also trust they will come together naturally. I am hoping this will happen with my final module, but right now it just doesn't feel like it. 

It's quite interesting to feel the difference in how my brain works when it comes to creating choreography and creating my final module work. Right now I can't work out why there is a difference, expect that maybe when it comes to creating choreography, the journey is so personal that I have more control over the outcome. But with this module I am learning about so many different people and so many different sources that it is taking longer for me to process everything. 

I am trying to see this new feeling as a positive thing, as I am learning so much about myself from this entire process, as well as so much about my chosen topic. I just wanted to document this feeling as writing it down has ironically helped me to organise my thoughts! 

The research so far...

So on Wednesday I went for an observation in the morning with one choreographer, and then an interview in the evening with another. It was such a great day, and my mind is already whirring with ideas and further questions! 

The observation took place at Chichester university where I watched a rehearsal for the third year musical 'Anything Goes'. Without going into specific detail about the background of the choreographer, I immediately picked up on a signature style of movement, which is similar to that of another choreographer I know. Knowing that both these men are good friends, and are about 10 years apart in age, I now am very keen to know the reasons behind the similarity. Training at the same place? Friendship? Working on jobs together? Coincidence? 

I am hoping to complete the interview in the next few weeks so fingers crossed I will find out! 

The interview I conducted was with a choreographer I work with as mainly his assistant. The interview was incredible as I learnt so much about his past and how he has got to the place he is today. His signature style of choreography has a very specific process and I think through re listening to the audio and looking over my notes, I will be able to use the literature, to analyse this process. Once I have conducted some more interviews, I will be able to then cross reference against each other and find the similarities and differences.

Although I stil have a lot of research to do, I feel pleased that I have kick started the investigation, and that I am already drawing out interesting ideas... I can't wait to interview and observe more choreographers and see what I discover! 

The skype coffee morning

So this morning Adesola, Megan, Ruth and myself had a great skype session. Even though each if us were in different modules, I found it was really helpful discussing a couple of things I needed to talk through...

Generally I think we all feel that feeling a lot of us get at the beginning of each module- an uncertainty that you don't fully understand the tasks. I think just by being able to talk through these concerns and realise everyone felt the same really helped all of us!

Adesola reminded us that the design of this course encourages us to think like a community- all helping and supporting each other and using Web 2.0 to do this. This comment, combined with other comments made by Megan and Ruth re- opened my eyes to this way of thinking. I think as you start your dissertation proposal at the end of module 2 and enter module 3 everyone focuses on their own inquiry's and it easy to neglect getting involved with other peoples work. This morning before our skype session, I had a read of a few peoples blogs and realised that I hadn't done it in a while. I found some really interesting ideas coming out, and I think I need to get back into this mind set once again.

By being involved with other peoples inquiry, I will not only enrich my own learning, but I may be able to give ideas and opinions to help others. I'm glad that I have realised early on into this module that I have slightly neglected this mindset as now I can really benefit from it for the rest of my final module. 

The start of module 3....

So having started my dissertation proposal with a huge case of 'writers block', I am happy to say that I have passed module two and am actually quite happy with how the proposal turned out (although the marks might say otherwise!).

Reading over my feedback from Adesola, a few things have already jumped out at me. 

The first important piece of feedback I was given was to work realistically within the time frame and to not try and set myself an unrealistic challenge. This comment stemmed from the fact that I wrote in my proposal I wanted to interview 6-8 different people. Adesola has advised me to concentrate my time on 4 people and maybe interview them more than once to monitor development. I think my enthusiasm for interviewing more is due to the fact that I love the topic and therefore want to interview as many people as possible! But due to the time frame of the module, I completely agree with this comment and have decided to do a much more focused set of interviews. 

Secondly Adesola commented on my use of literature. While she said my choices were strong and well thought out, she also reminded me that 

It is important to see the literature as supporting your analytical process

This is something that I am a bit nervous about. I have been using the last few weeks to go to the library and further my knowledge of the literature around my topic. While I am very interested in my discoveries, I am also a bit unsure how to use them. I feel that my inquiry will work better if I interview the choreographers first, and then do the literature reviews as this way they will be woven together. However I must use my time wisely and continue to go to the library throughtout the interviews to make use of the time . I am off there today so fingers crossed I discover some worthwhile pieces of writing...

The third point Adeosla talk about is analysis. She says the following...

You suggest using coding to look for themes across the interviews and that you will look at these themes in terms of the literature and of course your own experience. This use of triangulation is key to the inquiry.

This triangulation of analysis is something that I need to constantly remind myself of. At the end of the day, this inquiry is for my own personal benefit and so I must constantly remember to draw on my own experiences and not just make the analysis between the interviews and literature. I'm also hoping this way of thinking will help me weave the literature into my findings. 

Finally, Adesola advises me about how I should see myself in the inquiry. She reminds me that I should not be afraid of the fact that I am in the research and I must use this. 

As you progress in the inquiry do not be afraid of the fact you are IN the research. This is the nature of qualitative research the important point is to be aware of your own presence in what you are doing: finding your voice in the research. After all the heart of the inquiry itself is the same  about understanding where the choreographer is in the choreographic process / understanding where the researcher is in the research process. Locating ‘I’ this will be the most valuable to you across creative processes.

Looking back over all the points from Adesola, I have noticed that there are two themes. This first is to be realistic with your research and plan your time efficiently. This is something that I think I can do well as I am an organised person, and with a slightly altered mind set towards the interviews, I think I can use my time wisely.

The second point made is how I use myself in this inquiry and also how I find my voice in this line of research. This is something I might struggle with more, however is the most valuable. I feel that phrase 'all the gear and no idea' could be applied to me right now. I have all the feedback and resources but I am still a bit unsure of how to actually do the task. However, I have had this feeling at the beginning of both previous modules and eventually I have got the hang of it. My plan is to have a skype session with Adeosla next week to discuss ideas, keep stimulating discussions on the Facebook page and also look over the archive of past blogs to help me kick start module 3.

Wish me luck! 

The Reflective Essay

This is my Reflective Essay for Module 2!

The Award Title

So after giving it much thought, as well as asking opinions of colleges, friends and peers, I think I have decided that I want my award title to be

BA (Hons) Professional Practice (Choreography and Performing Arts)

I feel this award title is suitable for many reasons. Firstly my diploma is a Diploma in Musical Theatre from The Urdang Academy, which already shows I have well rounded training in that area from a very well established vocational school. 

I was originally going to go with the title of Dance, but after much thought I have decided that I am already focusing my career and dissertation on choreography, and feel it will be very beneficial to the direction of my career to have choreography in the award title. 

Finally, I have added performing arts to the title because I want to show the field of work my career is heading, without limiting myself to a specific genre. I felt 'choreography' on it's was too vague, but together with 'performing arts' clearly shows what my strengths are without being too specific. 

6a. The planning of my 'piloting'

Having read through reader 6 a few times I have realised that there are a few things that I need to be aware of when piloting my research. I have also had some initial ideas about what methods of research may be most useful for my inquiry.

Punch states that there is a distinct difference between methods of research; the qualitative approach and the quantitative approach. Black then goes on to describe the difference between these two methods by saying that quantitative research is quite good at telling us what is happening, and often qualitative studies are better at determining why events occur. A good example of  quantitative research is a survey as you can find results from a broad range of people. However, when thinking about my area of research I feel that I want to focus more specifically on individual choreographers. The reason for this is because I am focusing on the choreographer and their individual choreographic process which requires interviews with various specific people. I then want to focus on each person and compare and question their methods. I will be piloting a survey over the next few weeks, and so I will at this stage keep an open mind as to whether I use this method in my final proposal, but I feel it unlikely.

When thinking about the interview method I must be very aware of the ethics involved around interviewing someone. I must also take into account people's personal backgrounds as this information could affect my research. The reader talks about interview structures and from reading them all I think I will mainly use the following:

* A semi- structured interview which includes set questions or themes with the flexibility of following interesting or useful emerging issues.  

The reason for this is because my inquiry is so focused on the individual I want to be able to give the person I am interviewing freedom to elaborate and delve further into points, but want to ensure the interview doesn't lose focus. 

I must be aware of using open questions wherever possible to ensure my questions are answered with enough depth. 

Although interviews will probably be my main way of researching, Punch reminds us that different questions require different methods to answer them. Having looked into the section about focus groups, I now feel that this may also be a method I may want to use in my inquiry. I have a few friends with who I graduated from the Urdang Academy with, who are now working as dance teachers. I feel it may be interesting to interview them all together as this atmosphere can open up issues that individual participants may not think about on their own. I think focus groups are a good way to get a more quantitative approach but still allowing space for people to speak openly and freely about their experiences. I must be aware of the issue Bell raises about being aware that strong personalities can 'also influence, and in some cases actually take over', but I feel that because I know these people this shouldn't be a problem.

Observation was the method of research that sparked my interest in this topic. For the last few months I have been documenting my findings from observing various choreographers. Some of my documentation is more detailed than other parts, but I feel some of it may be able to be used in my investigation. I think observation will be useful for my inquiry as because my occupation is so physical it is always helpful to watch people 'practice what they preach'. However, when observing I must be aware of the role I play as sometimes I may be involved in the project as well. Reflexivity is a term used in social science to signify that the researcher needs to try and be 'as objective as possible'.  It is very important that I take this idea seriously as I want my research to be as genuine as possible. Linking to this idea of reflexivity is that of reliability, a concept developed by Blaxter to ensure constant results are created. In other words, that my results would be similar to those of another researcher. 

In conclusion there is a lot for my to think about when it comes to the methods of research I think appropriate for my inquiry. I am very keen on getting set of results which are detailed around specific individuals rather than a sweeping view from lots of people. But the piloting exercise will be a good way for my to reflect on the pros and cons of each method to make my final decision.