This post is just a brief update as to the status of my research. I met with one of my supervisors the other day, and we listed out what I’m to do by the end of the summer:
- Rework my research topic statement, to reflect that I am interested in isolating cases in which the concepts of “Duty” or “Responsibility” (to oneself or others) come into effect (or fail to do so) in the mind of someone deciding on whether to dispose of or retain of documents (where “documents” may include everything from, e.g., relational database records on up to whatever else). Needs clarification, which is why I’m to rewrite.
- Take another look through my literature summaries, to reshape some of those, so as to become more applicable to my revised topic.
- Complete a draft literature review.
- Gather two lists of questions, one of which to consist of questions which are objective & measurable, the other to contain questions of a more subjective nature. The idea here is that I will be able to do surveys with the one, and interviews on the other (whether the interviews are on “paper” or in person).
I’ve solicited some advice from one of the researchers in my department, who’s done similar types of questionnaires, regarding good sources for the structuring of surveys and survey questions. He’s going to get back to me with references. Another member of the department has a contact who’s also done some work in this area, and is going to put us in contact with each other.
That’s where things are, with my research. It’s doable, and shall be done well before the end of August, is the goal. Whether the interviews / surveys are completely settled is another matter, as I expect to learn a bit from the qualitative methods course I’ll be taking in September.