1. small keys open big doors...

2. Archival & Qualitative Research

3. Tips for Archival Research
Understand the topic
After formulating question, brainstorm with students what “topics” they will research.
Provides the frame or the parameters of what the student will cover.
Students seem to understand it in terms of subject and topics.
What will be covered and what won’t be covered in RP.
Assists with planning and giving a students a starting point.

4. Example:
Quest:
How can specific musical techniques affect cognitivefunction and thus produce feelings of sadness?
Where do I begin……...

5. How can musical techniques affect cognitive function and thus produce feelings of sadness?
Emotions
Musical techniques
what are they?
Cognitive function
instruments/sound effects/composition etc
what are emotions?
what generates ‘feelings?’
what are the activities of the brain?
existing music
analysis of 4 sad songs - look for commonalities
how does the brain work?
How do feelings manifest themselves?
own music
sadness - what/how/why?
what can affect cognitive functioning?
develop own music using techniques identified for experimentation
reactions to sadness - physically & mentally
How are emotions generated by the brain?

6. Research Outcome:
30 second piece of original music using identified musical techniques that produce feelings of sadness. Accompanying report (substantiation) on key findings: musical techniques, sadness and cognitive function.

7. Know what’s possible with Google!
There are many tips and tricks to using google more effectively
Tips for using Google
Use librarians - they’re the experts
Databases school subscribes to…e-library, ebsco etc.

8. Qualitative Research Get out and talk to real people!
Vital piece of the project puzzle - it is exploratory and provides primary information that is unique/original.
Use it when:
Don’t know the answer
To clarify archival information
To gather a range of perspectives
To get a first hand perspective/re-call events/feelings/motivations
To go deeper into an issue
To provide feedback/validate findings
To provide guidance - where to now?

9. How to gather Qualitative Data
Interviews
Direct observation
Discussion groups
Qualitative survey
Field trip with discussion
Phone calls s
Feedback
Forums/Blogs/Social media

10. Designing a Survey 1. Decide the information you want to get
2. Define the target
3. Choose the method of reaching the target
4. Decide question content and wording
closed questions
open questions
prompting questions
5. Put questions in order
opening questions
question flow
question variety
closing questions
6. Edit survey
7. Appearance

11. Evaluating Archival & Qualitative research
Gathering research info is one thing - doing something meaningful with it is another.
Ask students.. why is the information in the folio..
Highlight & annotate
Write an evaluation for every piece:
1. What did I do?
2. What did I learn?
3. How will I use it?
It has answered this, so I will now…
I don’t understand, so I need to do further research on…
This has key quotes I want to put in my Outcome...

12. Documentation
ALL forms of research can be documented and MUST be documented.
Selecting 10 pages is made easier if all evaluated & documented along the way
Maintain ongoing bibliography - don’t leave till end
Whatever works best for the student:
folio, folder, journal, electronic files, video camera, photos, audio, iPhone, etc etc
Screenshots, text messages, s, blogs, etc
online tools & Apps - Evernote, etc

13. Original research rests on an iceberg of evidence.
What ultimately goes in your study reflects the visible tip, but what makes your work rigorous is the invisible mountain below.