Updates

You've not heard from me for awhile. The last you heard, I had been reading on literature on patriotic education in other parts of the world. Surprisingly, there turns out to be quite a bit of stuff from England. But what else have I been up to?

I have been writing my research proposal! Hence, beyond writing my literature review, I also worked on my methodology. I need to do that because of the budgeting. This is the really realistic aspect of research that those higher up will have to deal with. How long the research can last and how deep it can go depends on how much resources I can find to sustain it... If I do not have much time and money (needed to buy software, use programmes, employ part-time staff, transport to schools, overseas conferences...), I might have to keep it reasonably scaled. Perhaps, after I get my Ph.D, I can then again write more proposals to explore other areas and samples.

Yes, I am happy to now learn about the practicalities of being a researcher. So many decisions to make with regards to methodology. And... I am being adventurous, I want to try something new! It's called Q-methodology. I am happy that my adviser is open to learning this! It's a quantitative procedure to examine subjectivity!

I think I am attracted to this method because my adviser, through another professor, Keith Barton, first introduced me to something called "elicitation techniques". They are like little tasks you ask a participant to do before and while you interview them, to help them articulate their thoughts and to see visibly outside their mind their thoughts. They act as helpful prompts and guides during interviews to elicit rich data.

Yes... So the Q-Methodology is like a serious way of eliciting viewpoints! I am actually not very confident about mastering quantitative techniques. But you know what? I'm going to give it my best shot! To become trained and skilled in this methodology! Yes, what is a Ph.D without some challenges? :)