4a.+Sem+Progress+Reports


 * Prue Salter (10137368) - Semester 1, Progress Report **

//1. To understand more about the doctoral process, what a PhD actually was and what was required to complete a doctorate.// || The first thing I did was to spend a considerable amount of time exploring a number of sites that linked from the UTS site: - [|STAR], [|ELSSA Centre] , [|BELL] , [|Research Centre for Learning and Change] , [|ATN LEAP] , [|eGrad School] , [|Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research] , [|Writing a Research Proposal] , [|Thesis Proposal] , [|Writing a Proposal] , [|Uni Graduate School] ( [|Improving Knowledge and Skill] ), [|Information Explorer] , [|Critical Thinking] I also spent time reviewing the doctoral booklet, the structured activity plan and the resources available in the UTS Online Forum for Research students – particularly articles about doctorate processes and experiences. I also looked through a number of completed PhDs and read one (provided by my supervisor) in detail. || I discovered that I actually had very little initial understanding of a doctorate or the process involved – despite having gone through the process of applying and being accepted!
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I also had a period where I was quite uncomfortable with the notion of creating a very academic piece of work that would be read by a select few as I am very outcome and action oriented.

When in school, the gap from Year 10 to Year 11 is enormous for students in terms of the level of difficulty and the workload. I discovered that even with 5 degrees behind me, the gap to from my Masters (admittedly course-work based) to a doctorate feels just as large. || After getting an overview of the process, I decided the best approach was to take the process one step at a time. Therefore I began to focus on the tasks to be completed this semester.

I then had a really good discussion with my supervisor where I had the realization that the piece of work produced is the academic research which then forms the basis for subsequent communications and explorations.

This made me feel much more comfortable with the whole process. This was then supported by hearing 2 doctoral students speak at CoS about similar experiences they’d had.

I am also going to explore the concept of a professional doctorate to decide which is most suitable. || //2. To establish how I would save work and progress, to establish a working relationship with my supervisor and an action list.// || I decided to set up a wiki as the place where all my work would be stored, edited and reviewed. This allows me to have a more dynamic document where changes can be tracked and my supervisors always have real-time access to every word I write. A very transparent approach. The first page of the wiki has my actions (both to do and completed) listed. I am also using my existing blog to record thoughts along the way. I have met with my supervisors a few times and have also had email and phone discussions. || Wiki is working really well for me, but I am still not totally clear how having 2 supervisors works.

I have a very good relationship with one supervisor, we have regular contact I feel comfortable about contacting him when I feel I need to, the discussions are always fruitful in that they are confronting but supporting – I am forced to think about things, but never feel I am being railroaded. || If the second supervisor is purely there to bounce off ideas when a second perspective is needed (by either myself or the other supervisor) then I am ok with that and it is working well.

But if I am supposed to be having more regular contact then I need make some changes in this area – to be discussed further. || //3. To firm up my research topic (with the help of Activity 1).// || I would say this has probably been the main focus of this semester for me.
 * Goals:** ||
 * Progress:** ||
 * Problems and Issues:** ||
 * Strategies:** ||
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I have revisited my topic and research questions a number of times, discussed these with my supervisor and also discussed these with the participants of Activity 1.

I obtained a huge amount of feedback and spent some time going through and extracting what was relevant and helpful to me in clarifying my research question. || I had a clear picture in my mind of what I wanted to find out but the expression of this was flawed.

When explaining the topic in Activity 1 to a number of people, it was clear that the wording was misleading. I also discovered that although I thought I had a very narrow topic, it was actually extremely wide. || It was really further reading and discussion with my supervisor that helped me to clarify my topic.

Although it means that I have done a lot of reading that I won’t actually use in my current paper, it was through doing this reading that I realized the enormity of my topic and was able to clarify in my own mind what slice I really wanted to examine. || //4. To develop my skills in any areas needed (as per Activity 2).// || I attended a number of workshops at the Library: Endnote, Supersearch, Databases. || Endnote does not work in a wiki (but I like Supersearch). || After discussion with my supervisor, I decided to continue referencing the old-fashioned way rather than use the software.

As I always reference as I go this was not a major problem. || //5. To be involved in offered activities of the research community.// || I have attended 3 CoS evenings, another workshop presented by FASS and the first block. || Due to a family medical emergency I had to unexpectedly travel overseas for 4 days – 2 of which were the days of the second block.

Also, there are sometimes workshops I would like to attend but there is usually little notice given. As my work commitments are not flexible and are often determined a year in advance, my availability to attend various activities is limited. But at least I live fairly close so travel time and access are not issues. || I have contacted Kitty to find out about what I have missed and have also discussed with some of the other students.

I also created 4 video messages on my progress in each of the 4 areas that were to be discussed at the block and placed these on the wiki for the class to view.

I check the websites for upcoming courses where possible and if I can attend I always make the effort to go. || //6. To begin the literature review.// || First step was to create a mind map using bubbl.us of the different categories I would be searching on and the key terms for each of those categories.
 * Goals:** ||
 * Progress:** ||
 * Problems and Issues:** ||
 * Strategies:** ||
 * Strategies:** ||

I also went through the work completed in my Masters that was relevant to the topic and brought this into my new lit review on the wiki.

I have been given lots of suggested articles to start from my supervisor and have also discovered a plethora myself. || Problem 1: Lack of time. Feb-May are the busiest months of my working year and when I have the least time for my studies. This has meant I have not been able to do nearly as much reading as I would like so far.

Problem 2: As my initial research question was too broad, my reading was very broad. It was actually through doing this reading that I realized I needed to narrow my focus. So I have done quite a lot of reading that I now will not use. But it was worth it to clarify my focus.

Problem 3: My approach is big picture to detail. This does not work in the doctorate. Ideally I would like to just search and find a list of all the 500 or so articles I should read, then sit down and systematically work my way through them. But it does not work this way. You read one thing, it leads to something else, this then leads to something else. The lack of clarity and control and structure in this approach has definitely caused me anxiety. This coupled with realizing how much there is to read and an impatience in that I would like to read it all at once which is impossible is definitely a cause of stress. || It has been a learning process for me to ‘let go’ of the feeling of control and structure and instead to just take a more fluid approach to my reading.

The way I am working now is that each Sunday I locate the articles I want to read that week, save these, work through these and at the end of the week use these articles and new searches to help me locate my next batch of ideas. || //7. To consider methodologies as per Activity 3.// || Although I have just begun this step, it seems that design-based research is most suited to what I am doing (combined with some other approaches in the early stages). || I know that I am planning on collecting too much data, but at this stage am not prepared to relinquish any steps in my process.

I have lots of reading to do before I have clarity on this section. || As I do further reading and thinking I will work towards a more realistic plan – this is very much the focus of semester 2. || 1.   Continue to attend as many of the research community activities as possible. 2.  Continue with literature review. 3.  Explore methodologies and map out in detail the data collection plan. 4.  Keep considering research questions. 5.  Start exploring re ethics proposal
 * Goals for Semester 2**