Data Collection: a love \ hate relationship

Data Collection: a love / hate relationship

Experiences as a new researcher

Angela Jaap

This presentation will cover

Overview of my own research Main sources of data gathered Field work: the good, the bad and the (sometimes) ugly Reflections and advice

My own research

Gifted and talented young people in the music classroom How are they recognised? How are they accommodated? What does it mean to be gifted / talented / more able?

Data collection: the field work

Four aspects

Criteria

Successful, eminent musicians Current students in Scottish Conservatoire Music staff Conservatoire Specialist Music Schools Secondary School Music Departments Academics

Eminent musicians/academics National and international acclaim; Nominations / awards Record and ticket sales Knowledge and status within musical circles Schools Specialist music schools Regions (4 small/large urban and rural) Conservatoire

Permission and access issues

Ethical approval Electronic participation Distance between researcher and participant(s) Agents Council co-ordinators, Head Teachers...

How was the data collected

Questionnaires / electronic participation Moodle / Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) Face-to-face interviews and telephone conversations Focus group Observations

The good, the bad and the ugly

The good

The bad

Responses from the musicians and composers Gaining access and gathering my own data Networking and talking

Non-responses People who agreed and then did not respond Access issues

The ugly: alternatives required

Poor and non-response required to be addressed Follow-up phone calls, letters and emails Invitation to all specialist music schools, foundations and Conservatoires in England and Wales...still a poor response BUT! One specialist school in Scotland was highly supportive and co-operative

Analysis of themes

Continual analysis Reading over the comments – emergent themes and keywords Calculated how many were important per genre / group and cross-checked amongst the other participating

Interim findings: tales of the expected

..and the unexpected

Communication and response – the ability to move and be moved Did not like terming themselves as ‘gifted’ or ‘talented’ yet could recognise that they had ‘something’

Motivation was not mentioned outright ‘I did not choose music, it chose me’ ‘Just a hobby that I’m good at’

Reflections

Experience Networking: case studies and further opportunities Research methods Ownership

Some advice

Establish deadlines and stick to them Set yourself goals Aim high, be resilient and don’t give up Most importantly...

Some advice

Some routes may be blocked... ...don’t worry, there are always alternative paths

BUT

There may be some revisions