looking ahead in 2008

The pic is a reminder of my wonderful camping holiday on the west coast and Golden Bay - the holiday memories will keep me going in 2008. It certainly cleared my mind ready for the onslaught this year - now I am ready to focus.

This is a pic I took of Kaihaihai beach from the zig zag track at the start of the Heaphy track near Karamea - January 2008.

Data collection and analysis

To date data has been collected from seven participants:
1. survey questions - demographic, professional role and previous experience with reflective writing;
2. assignments - reflections prepared using the RF and supporting statements which accompanied the learning objects;
3. interviews with seven participants and the subject lecturer.

Survey responses were used to prepare semi-structured interview questions.

To date the following analysis of the data has occurred:
1. Survey data has been entered on a spreadsheet;
2. Reflections have been coded in hard copy to develop a hierarchy and categories for coding in NVIVO;
3. Levels of reflection have been coded using NVIVO;
4. Content coding analysis has begun.

All participant interviews have been transcribed.

The plan for 2008 is to have a draft of my thesis by the end of this year! Here is the list of milestones:
Autumn Session 2008
31 January - data analysis - all codes checked for assignments and investigation of relationships between data commenced, themes and patterns investigated.
29 February - interviews coded. Methodology written up.
31 March - interview codes checked and relationships, themes and patterns extracted.
30 April - results ready to write up more formally from project notes.
31 May - results completed.
30 June - literature review added to and compiled for final thesis. Reference list continues to be added to.

Spring Session 2008:
31 July - Discussion of results commenced.
31 August - Discussion continues to be written.
30 September - Discussion completed.
31 October - Introduction commenced.
30 November - Introduction continues.
31 December - Introduction completed, draft thesis.

For the next meeting with my supervisors, I need to have finished the code checking of the reflections - levels of reflection and also content coding if possible AND prepare a short synopsis. The annual report has been completed and signed off. Still waiting to find out if an ethics progress report is required. This year we will be having fortnightly meetings to keep the progress happening. Each day I need to spend a concentrated amount of time on the work.

In preparation for the 3/12 write up time in the second half of the year, I need to organise my work life carefully so any projects are neatly tied up when I go on leave apart from the research project which I can keep ticking over.