Feedback on Article Review assigment. 23/04/2012
Reflection on the feedback to follow, meanwhile here are the collected comments. Again, really happy with the 65/100 mark. As far as I can tell there was one main weakness/limitation in my assignment in I didn't appreciate what an Inductive Study was. Can't disagree with that. More comments to follow. Off the top of my head though, this is one of the lower marks I've achieved on the MSc however, along with the feedback and grade for the Data Analysis assignment, I'm perhaps even happier (and certainly more surprised) than I have been when receiving marks and comments for other assignments. 
1 Comment Feedback on Data Analysis assignment 23/04/2012
Discussion of the feedback to follow, however here's the document. Contains useful comments. It's fair to say that there's no way I was anticipating 70%.
I've had a break from this blog for the last fortnight since submitting my Dissertation Research Proposal. During the interim I've been working on the New Geographies Project, the Elecktronishces Lernen Muzik site that Michael and I have talked about for some time. I also attended an interesting and relevant seminar and follow up meeting with Natasa Lackovic from Nottingham University and is researching in the field of multimodality. Meanwhile away from my academic pursuits (if such a distinction can be made) I've had some early discussion on how I might put some of the lessons from the RM course to use in my professional work (more of which another time). There hasn't been a hiatus from the RM course as such, more of a gentle exploration of some of the themes from the course in a different setting. However, the release of feedback for the first two assignments over the weekend gives me good cause to post here again. With a view to mI'm going to take separate posts to reflect on the feedback from each of assignments Research proposal: mindmap 04/04/2012
My research question is still evolving, however hopefully the structure and much of the content of my mindmap will continue to be applicable and appropriate. I've shared the mindmap with Michael and told him to be brutal in offer critical suggestions. I'm just back from a useful meeting with colleagues involved in online distance education at The University of Edinburgh. Sarah and Amy had kindly agree to meet to talk about my planned research. Although the nature of my research has changed since we set the meeting earlier this week (see previous post), it was nevertheless good to hear their take on how I might approach the research. The main points I'm going to take away from the meeting are as follows:
I sat up last night wee Joe, Ennio Morricone and a Gin & Tonic. Using the mindmapping software bubbl.us I tried to sketch some an outline for my research proposal. After some time, a picture gradually began to form of how my research my look. The focus of my research continue to evolve and my latest working title is: Picturing Edinburgh: how do online distance learners view their University? Clearly, this is quite a change from what I originally had in mind, however I'm happier with this than my previous idea. There's more scope for creativity in how I collect data and disseminate findings. In fact, I think it's more personally interesting to me all round. However, I'll now need to take this to Jen and Sian to see how they feel about this shift in approach. So, the wee small hours of the night might prove to have been well spent. I wonder what Robson has to say about the positive impact of late night stimulants on research design? Clarity (including a lack of) 03/04/2012
Hmmm. A moment of clarity there. I've been meandering along with a vague working title for my research project of 'campus envy amongst distance learners at The University of Edinburgh' however when I come to articulate what I really mean, I realise that I'm not too clear on it. In fact the more I try ideas down on the screen, the less certain I become of what it is that I'm talking about. And if, as Robson says, the idea of a research proposal is about explaining with clarity to 'disinterested judges' that you have something interesting and achievable in mind, then I'm onto a loser. Back to the drawing board then. More quick progress on my plans to formulate a research question that might produce results of benefit to the University. Sarah Gormley has this morning mentioned my plans to senior colleagues from the Distance Education Initiative at Edinburgh University. As a side note, I have previously undertaken some small scale research for the DEI group in the last couple of years. Here's Sarah's update: 'Hello James. Both David and Jeff think this sounds like a really interesting area. They also advised you consider a neutral research question – as the phrase campus envy assumes it exists and it is not a good thing! And getting ethical clearance and getting approval via the student survey panel – apologies if you know about this already.' Again, this is really useful useful feedback and the thought I gave last night to reshaping my research was evidently time well spent. Furthermore, I've arranged a meeting with Sarah and Amy for tomorrow morning at 11am to discuss my plans in more detail. In a way I feel like I'm delaying the actual preparation of the research proposal, however I'm certain that time invested at this stage will lay down firmer foundations and make for a better piece of work in the long run. So, I have a small but priceless window of opportunity tomorrow morning to put some meat on the bones of my research. I'll need to carefully formulate some questions to make best of use the opportunity. And that will require some coffee. In the last couple of days I’ve followed Robson’s advice and have consulted colleagues from Edinburgh University about the planned focus of my dissertation research. I put two questions to Sarah Gormley from Information Services (who works as a project officer in the distance education area): 1. Would my area of research be of interest to the University? Would it offering anything new? 2. Could she envisage any resistance to my proposed research area? Very helpfully, Sarah replied almost instantly to my request, as follows: This sounds really interesting. It would be good for us to understand better how DL perceive their experience compared to on-campus. I just mentioned this to Amy our Student Experience Project Officer; the only question it raised for us it how you would find out how people feel about this without highlighting there may be a deficit or disadvantage? Sometimes it seems to us that asking these questions makes the research subject perceive there is a problem even if there isn’t one. In answer to your questions: 1. I think this would definitely be an area that could be of benefit to the wider uni, and 2) I see no problems or objections. But I do have a DEI Exec meeting tomorrow am and I will ask Jeff about that and report back to you. I can see Sarah and Amy’s point. Even the inclusion of ‘campus envy’ in the title of the research proposal could contribute towards bias. Taking this useful feedback on board, I therefore spent some time last night trying to formulate a research question that would offer more balance. This is still a work in progress, although I’ll need to get something nailed down soon as it obviously impact upon other areas of the research. Nevertheless, this feels like important progress as it fits my personal intention of producing something seen as useful, whilst also putting some of Robson's suggested approaches into practice. Again, adapted from Robson (2011) and hopefully a useful 'things to avoid' checklist' for my own work over the next week. 
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