Qualitative Research Question

[Miriam E Ebsworth]

Thanks so much for your input Saran. Your views are very helpful.
Cheers,
Miriam

Miriam Eisenstein Ebsworth, Ph.D.
<MEE1 at nyu.edu>
Director of Doctoral Programs in Multilingual Multicultural Studies
New York University,635 East Building
239 Greene St., New York, NY 10003

work phone: 212-998-5195
home phone: 973-762-1530

work fax 212-995-4198
home fax 973-762-7537 (busy if online)


----- Original Message -----
From: Saran <saran at pkrisc.cc.ukm.my>
Date: Tuesday, December 14, 2004 2:40 pm
Subject: Re: Qualitative Research Question

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> Am not sure if this helps but will share my experience anyway.
>
> The first phase of the research project on "Language planning and
> policy in
> higher education"  which focuses on the change in medium of
> instruction
> from Bahasa to English for science and technology, involves two
> hour
> interviews with respective deputy vcs (academic affairs), deans of
> faculties of science and technology and engineering (44 in all
> from all the
> 9 public universities).  A number of them have learnt English as a
> second
> language and the interviews are conducted in English - they are
> given the
> choice to respond in Bahasa or English but the majority select the
> latter.  I do not aim to doctor their comments and viewpoints but
> will
> present them as authentic data.  I feel that adjustments to the
> language
> may adjust the meaning, flavour of the messages.
>
> Am using N6 software to assist with the analysis - teasing out
> data that
> supports dominant strands that have been worked out.
>
> Best,
>
> Saran
>
>
>
> At 03:36 PM 12/13/2004, you wrote:
>
> > > Is anyone familiar with the practice of presenting qualitative
> > > data in the form of first person stories informed by interviews,
> > > discussions, notes and so forth with participants who are second
> >language learners?
> > >
> > > I have come across stories constructed by the researcher which
are
> > > written in the first person as part of the results section of a
> > > dissertation. While they have aspects of the "flavor" of a second
> > > language learner, to my eyes, the actual language use presented
> > > appears somewhat more fluent and native than the interview
> > > transcripts
> > > and other data sources would indicate. The actual sources of
> > > specific language used are not listed except in a summary way-
the
> >stories
> > > appear to be an amalgam which dramatizes the experiences of the
> >participants.
> > >
> > > I have been told by some fellow faculty that this approach is now
> > > well accepted in qualitative research circles and it's about
> time I
> >got
> > > on the bandwagon. One colleague shared that 95% of
> participants in a
> > > bilingualism and literacy conference she has just attended
favored
> > > this approach.
> > >
> > > I appreciate the opportunity to learn about a new way (to me) to
> > > analyze and present data, but I have some concerns about how the
> > > participants' words, language, and order of ideas are transformed
> > > through this process.
> > >
> > > Your thoughts, experiences, analysis, opinions, sources for these
> > > ideas- in short anything you could add to the conversation
> will be
> > > appreciated.
> > >
> > > Thanks!
> > >
> > > Miriam Eisenstein Ebsworth, Ph.D.
> > > <MEE1 at nyu.edu>
> > > Director of Doctoral Programs in Multilingual Multicultural
> Studies> >
> > >
>
>
>
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