Module 3 Data and Analysing Blog

Some important points I got from this Zoom discussion…

It was a small discussion with just 2 of us attending, which was beneficial as Helen asked us questions and we were encouraged to talk.

I had a realisation that I think I was going down the trap of using literature to prove or disprove what my participants thoughts and then telling my opinion… So here are some useful points I wrote down in my note book…

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Be mindful of thinking that observations are themes

Themes are things that come up many times over the data collected the literature and your experiences

Don’t use the literature to prove or reject things. Don’t think of it a scientific report as this is irrelevant to an artistic research project. Use literature to raise more questions / bring in other discussions and perspectives.

We spoke about reflecting and bringing yourself into the project and not just getting swamped in literature and your data collection

Did anything go against your assumptions?

What challenged your assumptions?

Did this change my perspective?

How did this make me feel?

Helen spoke encouraged us to sit on our thoughts, to meditate or to go into a studio and think of your professional practice in other ways and almost take some time away from the reading to let it all sink in and process whats happened.

We spoke about the benefit of colour coding to organise your data into your themes and saving quotes and literature into word documents just dedicated to the theme so its all together. Alice spoke about how she has all her research and data collection up on her wall so she can access it that way.

Helen stressed that we need to make sure we aren’t just presenting raw data. Interpret it, look at the data, process it and think of it with your professional practice. 

Helen described it as when you go shopping you buy the ingredients to make a recipe. If you put them all in the bowl and just leave it, then the ingredients just exist.  You haven’t cooked anything you have just presented the ingredients. Analysing your data is like mixing the ingredients to be able to cook something.

It was suggested to read your module 1 essay and reflective journals to think back to when you established what your practice was and to see how your thought processes have changed. Helen also suggested to read the module Kortext as it will make more sense to us now we have finished our data collection.

Helen said we are getting a BA Hons in professional practice and not on the topic our inquiry as we aren’t aiming to become an expert on this. We are aiming to use this inquiry to develop and grow and have a better understanding of our practice.

Put yourself into the project! Your thoughts aren’t right or wrong. Its all about your interpretation!