What are ideals for bringing together participant data when writing chapter 4? Do you have to list of how participants respond or more of a storytelling approach comparing and contrasting various themes and patterns? Any suggestion of articles with how participant data is written?
Hi,
you can do any approach. However, for me, I prefere to go with the study questions or hypotheses; one by one. Considering chapter 4 is only presenting the data analysis results without any interpretations from the reseachers.
In chapter 5, you can compare your result against the literature and add your own comments and explanations for the results.
hope this help
Hi Cynthia ,
I would tell a story after aligning the data with my research questions or hypotheses.
In chapter 5 is where I would use literature to substantiate the results.
Bernafette
Good morning Bernadette,
Thank you. I think I'm leaning toward telling a story about participant responses. It may bring life to their responses.
Thanks
Cynthia
Cynthia,
There is something to be said about using a narrative. In a fundamental way it is the best way people understand and learn about something, especially about the human condition. The challenge will be how will you tell the story. what perspective will you use? There is also pacing the story, and how to link the different stories into the narrative. You must think of the theme. Each participant acts as a character. And depends on whose voice you will be using. I suggest developing an outline. And type out all of the responses if they are audio, or video. Then link each story together as the narrator.
For example, you could type into a spread sheet, describe the event, include location (story setting) (column 1), and time past, or present, or future, if the participant is discussing what they plan on doing (column 2), next add the responses (column 3). Then organize the story around the common themes of each person. Then using the narrative voice transition between characters going back and forth as needed. You can present your own hypothesis, and ideas and use the character's voice to strength your position. But, understand that you are translating as well as interpreting what the participant is saying. I suggest going back to them when needed as a reference.
This is what I use when working on a documentary script, or treatment. (This an aside to what I am doing at Walden). But, I have professional experience with as a writer.
What kind of media will you be presenting this in? Audio, video, or as a written story?
Jonathan
Hi Jonathan,
I appreciate your input. I'm brainstorming as to how to pull chapter 5 together when the time comes. I do plan to audio-tape my participants and have the info transcribed. This is my dissertation. I do realize my themes, and patterns can give insight into the interpretation of the data. It's all new, so I was just reaching out to experts in the field.
Cynthia
If you look online there is software that allows you to play the audio while you type. It is free. Once that is done, you can copy and paste it into Word, or Google Docs. If you are using a tape recorder, you can buy one that goes to USB. I like digital recorders because you just dump them into an audio file. Of course a cell phone will work as well. Make notes as you interview. And there are different styles of interviewing, one is to ask the questions, while both you and the participant are recorded together, another method is to allow only the participant to talk. It depends on if you have prepared questions, or if you plan on changing the script mid-stream (more like a conversation).
If you plan on preparing for example a Podcast then it might make more sense just to have their audio, with you narrating in between as an edit. Interjecting can derail the participant's train of thought. So, it depends on what you are looking for in the answers. There is something nice if all the participants are asked the same questions, then allowing them to go into a tangent if they choose. The interviews can get interesting and you have less influence over what they say.
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