Task 6B - Tools of Inquiry

I have been looking into the different tools of inquiry as suggested in Reader 6 to find which ones will be the best for me to carry forward within my own inquiry. 
Below I have discussed some merits and limits for a few of the suggested tools in order to help me narrow it down. 

Observation
As my research has taken me into the field of therapy I am very aware that observation is not a tool that can be used within my inquiry. 
The process of observing a therapy session could have a detrimental effect to the participant and would defiantly not be an accurate account of a session without observation. 
It would disturb the therapeutic relationship between client and therapist and could even damage the healing process of the client. 

Interviews
I believe this will be the more useful tool for me within the route of inquiry I have chosen.

• You can observe and record first hand this way you know the data is true.
• You can gain far more detailed answers, watch body language, and have full conversations.
•   You can adapt the questions if you feel a topics has become more interesting or one question doesn't work so well.

On the other hand, 

• It can be very time consuming.
• You need to make time around other peoples work schedules.

When on Skype with Kayleigh yesterday she also raised a few great points about interviews that she had experienced through her Module 3 research. 

• Interviews allow for emotive responses
• Interviews can break structure and allow for a more natural conversation to occur.
• You can really explore the topic. 

Surveys and Questionnaires
A survey could be a good way of obtaining data without having to put too much time and energy into it, as it is supported on a web 2.0 platform. 
However I'm unsure as to whether people would want to do a survey within my topic of inquiry. 
Therapy is a very personal topic and I feel perhaps a survey is slightly too informal for asking about something so personal. 
Perhaps this could work if the survey was completely anonymous. 
  

Reviewing Documents
This also could be a very helpful tool. 
It enables you to learn about and hear different peoples points of view, different peoples experiences and see things from different focus points without the need to arrange and interview. You can study it at your own pace and simply take the bits that are directly useful to your inquiry.
On the other hand this could mean that there is the possibility of the data being untrue, inaccurate or out dated. 

At this moment in time I think I will move forward using interview as my main inquiry tool. However I will also be reviewing documents for a broader opinion and more knowledge on the topic as a whole. 

Task 5C - Ethics (within my inquiry)

How will I safe guard any information gained throughout my inquiry process?

Participant confidentially - Make sure all data used in completely anonymous. No names, dates, places or any specifics used.They must also be fully aware that they can terminate the interview at any time.
If you the participant doesn't wish to be anonymous you must gain written consent stating how you will refer to them. 

Relevance - Make sure you have outlined what exactly it is that you are researching and why. Make sure all and any questions are fully related to this. 

Storing my findings - Everything must be password protected. Only keep one copy of any information gained. 

Disposing of data - Delete all data once the study has been completed. 

Constant form - Create and have them sign a consent form with all the above information. 
Below is my first draft of my consent form.

Skype with Kayleigh

So I have just had my Skype with Kayleigh and it has been very enlightening! 

She thought the link from the learning through play research I had initially been doing to looking into Play / Drama Therapy was a natural one and that it would be a great subject to further look into. 

She gave me a few key things to think about that I had not previously touched on: 

What IS therapy?

What is the therapeutic relationship? 

Look at alternative learning - story telling, creative, imaginative, practical, explorative, individual. 

DRAMA IS PLAY

Play /Drama therapy usually isn't adult lead (this links in very well with the Montessori research I have done previously. Blog)

She has also given me some more ethics related issues that I am now taking into consideration for my ethics release form. 

More thoughts on Ethics

Over my last few blogs I have been looking into the ethics surrounding my workplace. 

The biggest issue (as I began discussing in my last blog) is that I work a lot with children and so far most of my research has been aimed at looking into child development and education. 

On reflection and as I am progressing further with narrowing down my topic I have come to see that doing an inquiry based on any kind of feedback or involvement directly from children is not something I wish to get into within my inquiry. 
The issues regarding dealing with under 18 years olds are very important and I still feel I will be able to gain sufficient data simply by talking to others who are involved with learning through play and other development techniques. 

This change in thought process has lead me to look into some other development tools, that are not specifically aimed at children.  
The use of Drama-Therapy or Play-Therapy.

In my initial research I have found lots of direct links between the research I have been looking at with children 'learning through play' and how people of all ages develop, learn and are aided through the means of drama and performance.  

With this slight shift in focus (away from children) I felt I needed some more guidance so I have organised a Skype with Module 3 student Kayleigh Huges who has also been looking into Drama-Therapy. 

I am really looking forward to seeing how her initial ideas have developed and getting some advice on how to move forward from this point. 

Blog on this to come soon! 

References 

http://www.nadta.org/what-is-drama-therapy.html

http://badth.org.uk/dtherapy

Task 5A - Ethics (within my workplace)

Within my last blog I wrote about the ethics I considered within my workplace and begin thinking about how it would relate to my inquiry. 

Since then I have done some more in-depth research into my Employee Handbook to figure out if there was anything I have overlooked that could be important to my research going forward.

The biggest issue around my inquiry and within my workplace is than I work a lot with children and so far most of my research has been aimed at looking into child development and education. 

This was something I found particularly interesting to find out about as it is not an issue I have had much knowledge of previously. 

Issue such as, 

• No photos to be taken inside the centre
• Parents are responsible for their children at all times and in all areas of the centre
• On site First Aid personal  

I found this paper very helpful in understanding the basic safe guarding principles. 

JCQ Safe Guardinghttps://www.google.co.uk/principles-of-safeguarding-children-and-vulnerable-adults

Task 4D - Literature

As this is an ongoing task that I will continue to work on throughout the rest of this Module I have just started by outlining a few pieces of Literature that I have been looking into so far. 


Title, Date, Author, Publisher
The Art of Dance in Education, Jacqueline M Smith-Antard, 

Where did I find the source?
Reader 4 Handbook

How is it useful to my inquiry?
Looking into the link between education and the skills learned as a dancer. 

--- 

Title, Date, Author, Publisher
Bruce, T (2001), Learning Through Play: For Babies, Toddlers and Young Children, London: Hodder Education. 

Where did I find the source?
Google search "Learning through play" 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_through_play

How is it useful to my inquiry?
Extending my knowledge on the most basic learning through play techniques.

---

Title, Author, Date, Publisher
Einstein Never Used Flashcards, Kathy Hirsch-Pasek and Roberta Michnick Golinkoff, August 2004 (first published October 2003), Rodale Books 

Where did I find the source?
Google search 
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/146023.Einstein_Never_Used_Flashcards

How is it useful to my inquiry?
Useful in my initial looking into learning through play. It has helped me understand a few key theories and lead me onto my Montessori research.  

Although I have found these very interesting I am being to feel all my research so far has been quite narrow and very specific to one topic. I will continue my literature research and perhaps broaden the search.

Task 4C - Developing Questions for Employers and/or Professional Colleges

Using some of my previous research I am now beginning to develop some questions to ask my employers / professional associates that I hope will help narrow down my inquiry topic and aid in  better understanding of my current research.  

I have created a couple of groups of questions that I will aim at different SIG/ professionals/ people with my work place. 

So far this is just a starting point that I'm sure will develop and change through the next section;

Teachers/ Performers that teach

- Do you think going to the theatre/ watching performances influences young children? If so how?

- Do you think taking part in performing helps young children become more engaged in other areas of life if so what?

- What other skills do children learn from engaging in performing? 

- Have you ever used a learning though play technique? If so which one?

- Have you ever used any other child development techniques? If so which one? 

Children (regarding nursery rhymes) 

 - Which is your favourite song?

- Why Is it your favourite?

- Which song has the best actions? 


Co-Workers (at the kids play centre)

- What do you think children get out of participating in playing activities?

- What is your favourite activity to lead and why? What do you feel the kids get out of it? 

- What kind of reposes do you get from kids during/ after the activity? 

- What do you think is the most effective use of time for children at the centre? 

- Do you think different children learn better through different learning methods? If so what is an example of something you have observed? 

As I am just beginning to look into the ethics surrounding the ideas of interviewing co-workers and others within my workplace these questions may charge drastically before I actually being to put them into practical use.