It took a while, but I had somewhat of an Ah Ha! moment this week when I realized the purpose of the readings was not the narrative but the way the research was conducted. Ok. I admit I can be slow in some cases and eight-week courses don't help the matter. I read Evans-Palmer(2010) not because I was interested in anything other than the title; feeling a bit stressed out myself I wondered what, if anything, in this article could help me. Because my research project deals with critical thinking, I read Lampert(2006) for the same reasons stated above: what in this article could help me with my research? What I found was that both articles used quantitative methods as the main tool for gathering data. What was confirmed was my apathy towards this method of research. It's not that I don't think it is useful, I just have a hard time reading the findings because they are usually presented in a manner that bores me. Admittedly, Evans-Palmer(2010) has found a way to make reading her research palatable, even humorous. It wasn't until my critical friend called to suggest I read Maitland-Gholson & Ettinger (1994) that the idea of using mixed methods actually clicked for me. It doesn't have to be all or none, but I think using a qualitative method is still the best format for me. Here we are in week 5 and I am still stumbling on terminology which makes me think I need to develop a matrix of sorts to keep it all straight. Prompted to ponder what research questions have yet to be answered, I find myself slipping into a dark hole. I'm not sure what hasn't been answered, but it seems like an overwhelming amount of research to be done, in a very short amount of time, just to figure that part out.
Evans-Palmer, T. (2010). The potency of humor and self-efficacy on art teacher stress. Studies in Art Education, 52(1), 69-83.
Lampert, N. (2006). Critical thinking dispositions as an outcome of art education. Studies in Art Education, 47(3), 215-228.
Maitland-Gholson, J. & Ettinger, L.F (1994). Interpretive decision making in research. Studies in Art Education, 36(1), 18-27.
I am right there with you Patty. I really want take a closer look at at the methods for better understanding them. I think for me it's the lack of time to really dig deep about the methods because I am digging for research. I think my mental block on the methods is hopefully starting to melt. I think qualitative is still the method of choice for me with interpretive decisions and ethical insider decisions.
ReplyDeleteIf it makes you all feel better, I had FOUR SEMESTERS of methods. And I was still confused until I did research on my own. I admire your commitment to a better and more fuller understanding of methods.
ReplyDelete