Finding continuity

Research

The evening conversation on Sunday brought up many topics for consideration and I very much enjoyed its variety and hearing so many voices.  Through starting to think more specifically about creating a plan for a research project and the newness of ideas surrounding qualitative research methodologies, collecting and analysing data, I have been struck by my need to look for areas within the module that are familiar and that provide a sense of continuity.  Happily some of the more philosophical aspects of the module are not entirely unknown and have given me the excuse to raid my bookshelf in search of all the books I’ve been meaning to read for a very long time.  We talked about continuity between the three modules and I brought up the topic of reflective practice, so important to module 1.  Currently reading some of the chapters of ‘Dance in the field: theory, methods and issues in dance ethnography’ (Theresa Buckland, 1999) and some of the work of Drid Williams (for example the article ‘Self-reflexivity: a critical overview’ where the issue of reflexive versus subjective is given voice), reflexivity and reflective practice, seem to be linked in my mind with research.  However as a conscious, daily practice it has recently taken a back-seat, lost in the newness of module 2 which was a concern for me.  Helen suggested that reflective practice can be seen as a tool that can be returned to and used when needed.  We also talked about how it can be interwoven into daily life.

In many ways reflection is to me one aspect which makes an activity research.  All opportunities of life can be opportunities to find out more, see new things and be touched in new ways.  As everything is in constant change, in many ways the process of ‘knowing’ never ceases.  As Adesola reminded us research is an opportunity to find out more about something.  Maybe it can also be shining a different light on something already in some way known.  The early beginnings of my research plans seem to be routed in the landscape of my work and home life and the people directly in my vicinity.  At the same time I have felt that this is a good opportunity to focus attention on aspects of my practice that for a long time have caused me discomfort, perhaps because of the sense that I don’t yet know enough about them.  In this way I hope to reach out to the new.  At the moment however it’s still a very, very open field.