I empathize with Watt (2007) as I read her piece on keeping a research journal. What is comforting (not sure if that's the word I want, but it will do at this hour) is that she states many of the things that I can align with such as not having one "right" way to do qualitative research, using one's self as the tool for measurement, and it's not as important to "triangulate" the data, but rather "crystallize" the data. I explained that to my chair very early on when we were talking about "validity" (I prefer rigor--can I become picky with words at this point?) and she wasn't quite following me. I tried to explain that the findings and the experience is so detailed and described, that you "show" what you want others to see, that there's more than three sides to the story-it's like a brilliantly-cut gem. Unfortunately, this still wasn't coming across clearly, but I'm still "allowed" to do a qualitative study, so, we shall see. I have found that I do somewhat keep a "research journal", but it's in my observations or fieldnotes. When I am writing, if something comes to me, I will use brackets, a star, or even write "for me" and circle--and write ideas that look very similar to what is in Watt's article.
I have heard that it's a good idea to keep a research journal, and I probably should, but I can't control when things come into my head, and if I'm working on my projects, then of course, I will write things down. Maybe I should consider writing everything all of the time. Watt stated that "you're always thinking about it", which couldn't be truer. Then, as a sidenote, how do these separate pieces work in Atlas? That's for later, certainly.
On the side of my project, I've decided that I don't align with LeCompte and Schensul. They had charts, graphs, and used "validity"...that's not my style. I am hoping to see what "color" I will ultimately choose for my methodology/ist....
There are several ways that you can integrate these reflective notes/journals in ATLAS and I'll remind people of that tonight in class. Crystallization is certainly a better metaphor in some ways than triangulation - for just what you said - there are more than 3 points, and the goal isn't to find the "one true point" at which they converge (the original meaning of triangulation is quite positivist), but instead to realize that there are many facets that can be represented, contradictions and all.
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