So what is real?

I am spending a few days at Mount St Vincent University discussing food security. This is part of a large research project trying to better understand “food security” and how to enhance university collaboration with community organizations concerning policies that support local, nutritious affordable and available food for all. Now after writing this sentence, as graduate students you will no doubt ask yourselves, 1) what do those words mean, 2) whats food security and what does the literature say and what are the underlying tensions within the many anticipated perspectives, 3) what role does methodology play in these perspectives, 4) are there historical or developmental trends in the domain field, 5) whats a domain, 6) who or what kinds of academic fields are concerned with this and are there interdisciplinary research projects being undertaken in this area, 7) what constitutes an interdisciplinary perspective or research project and what does this mean to the use of mixed methods, 8) what a mixed method or research method and finally how will I ever come to understand what I have just read above?

Well, it will become clear as you read through the texts and the readings both required and those you find and search out during your own research endeavors.

However a first step is to reflect on own perspectives and challenge your own thoughts around what do you believe and why? How do you validate your beliefs? Or do you? Are thoughts and ideas received or constructed? Why do you believe that the above question is the only way to ask the question–bimodal. So take a deep breadth and think about how you think, what you believe and why you do so? Its a wonderful start to understanding research?

Research Thinking

I think one of my more important tasks as an instructor is to perhaps both model the blog assignment (see the course site for further information) as well as perhaps explore some of the quandaries which you may face at the beginning of your Masters degree as well as your entry into the world of research. Questions such as “what do I really believe?, or what is the nature of fact? am I am positivist, how do I understand the world or how did “those” researchers arrive at that findings” will likely confound you.

I met with one of my masters students yesterday who is beginning his work on his thesis. While he has taken the intro to research course, and the advanced research methods course, as well as having read widely about research, he still finds himself tying to wrap his thinking around the “structure” the types of ‘relevant data” and of course the research question that will ultimately guide his research project. I suppose the reason I am beginning this posting with his story is to both reassure you that the word “research” is one that is used widely by everyone in common day speech but in a formal graduate school educational setting has a specific meaning, hidden and explicit assumptions, strongly held beliefs, and a formal processes attached to it usage. Understanding these and becoming familiar with the terms, the schools of research thought and most importantly your search into examining your beliefs, assumptions and attitudes about research is one of the foundations of the summer two week program and yourfirst two courses.
Therefore, I urge you to begin your reading from the perspective of a traveler who is embarking on a journey. Enjoy the scenery, and try to absorb as much of the surrounding culture as possible. Only then will the destination called research perspective be arrived at.