Research as a political act

In my confirmation report (2011) I wrote:

While negotiating the nature and content of my professional learning courses, I have recently come to understand that this study cannot
remain apolitical, if it ever aspired to do so. Teacher education is involved in politics and as I have discovered through my readings (e.g. Cochran-Smith & Lytle, 2009; Kincheloe, 2003; McWilliam, 2004; Price-Dennis, 2010) teacher practitioner research is in essence a political practice, even if its participants didn’t intend it that way at the outset. Teachers who critically explore their professional environment and their practice, teachers who reach out to their peers and share experience in search of collaborative learning,
are making a statement about who they are as professionals and how they wish to be seen by others.

This morning I read an article  in preparation for the lecture by Professor Bar Shalom that I will hear tomorrow at Mofet. The authors, Bar Shalom and Krumer-Nevo, claim that all research is political in nature. This is indeed interesting, as it is a far broader way of relating to the political goals and influences of research. The authors explain:

“Research is a political act since it not only reflects existing reality, but also influences and creates reality, whether by supporting, affirming, and reinforcing existing reality, or by criticizing it and advocating change. The researcher’s position regarding reality influences their choice of subject and the questions they raise, as well as the selection of research procedures to be applied. The words the researcher chooses in order to describe their findings and conclusions structure the object/subject addressed by their research and the balance of power between these (Ife, 1997)” (p. 237).

It seems that if this is the case, then a distinction must be made between those researchers who acknowledge this political side to their work and those who do not. Researchers setting out to achieve social change are usually more open and explicit about the way they are hoping that their work will influence the lives of their participants and their communities. In my study I write explicitly about my intention to sound the voices of classroom teachers whose knowledge is often overlooked in the educational research arena. The political nature of my own study is a theme I need to explore more thoroughly in the coming year. .

Bar Shalom, Y., & Krumer Navo, M. (2007). The usage of qualitative methods as means to empower disadvantaged groups: The example of the Kedma School in Jerusalem. The International Journal of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, 2(1), 237-244.

 

Tickets bought, 11 weeks to go…

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We are all so excited. This week we finalized our tickets to Australia and will fly out early in July. I can’t wait to spend significant time with family and also to have a bit of a holiday.

Of course there is no pleasure without business…

In the first two weeks of July I will be very busy attending the Education Winter School and the ALEA National Conference at the Melbourne Hilton hotel. I will present papers both at the Monash MERC day and at ALEA.

Some time in the third week I will present my PhD proposal to a confirmation panel. I am busy revising my proposal and am fairly happy with my progress at this stage. I must say that I am very grateful to both my supervisors for the excellent feedback they provided on my first draft. I have been noticing that their clear comments make it possible for me to systematically revisit my writing, think about what is missing and explore the changes which are required. I am managing to do this relatively calmly. Last week I had the opportunity to discuss this paper with  both GP & SB in a Skype conversation and that helped me probe the issues worrying me even further.  

The revision process is made up of rereading my text, thinking, becoming acquainted with suggested literature, playing around with new ideas, writing and rewriting.  I am lucky to have the Passover break to devote myself to this writing.

The more I read the more I find there is to read, I just wish I had more time to devote to this endeavor, I really do enjoy it!

A real book in my hands

I have been getting up at 5 am every morning to read chapters of Fields of Play by Richardson which I mentioned here.

After two years of reading journal articles in PDF form printed on my printer or ebooks on my screen, it is satisfying to have a real book in my hands. I don’t know how I would have survived in the Masters program without digital texts but it really isn’t the same as physically searching the library and holding a new, fresh smelling book or a tattered, well read volume.

As far as the fascinating structure of the book, the engaging style and the relevant content go, I will write later. I will also relate to the process I went through with my thesis which already is clicking into place.

I’m off to a meeting.