"Stretching" Exercises for Qualitative Researchers

Valerie J. Janesick (PhD, Michigan State University) is Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, in the department of Leadership, Counseling, Adult, Career and Higher Education, LCACHE, University of South Florida, Tampa. She teaches classes in qualitative research methods, curriculum theory and inquiry, and ethics in leadership. Her latest book, “Contemplative Qualitative Inquiry: Practicing the Zen of Research (2015) Left Coast Press, argues for the use of Zen approaches to qualitative inquiry cast as Contemplative Qualitative Inquiry.  Her chapters in the Handbook of Qualitative Research (first and second editions) use dance and the arts as metaphors for understanding research. Her book, Oral History for the Qualitative Researcher: Choreographing the Story (2010), Guilford Press, incorporates, poetry, photography and the arts to capture lived experience.  She serves on the editorial board of The Qualitative Report, and the International Journal of Qualitative Methods. She continues to take classes in yoga and meditation.

• Chapter 1. Qualitative Research and Habits of MindIdentifying, Practicing, and Developing HabitsGetting Feedback and Writing About ItFinding Your Theoretical HabitDeveloping Habits of MindTerms Used to Describe Qualitative ResearchCharacteristics of Qualitative WorkQuestions Suited to Qualitative Research MethodsUsing Theory in Qualitative ResearchArtistic Approaches to Qualitative ResearchContemplative Qualitative Inquiry and the Zen of ResearchWhy Try These Exercises?How to Use This BookThe Audience for This BookSuggested ResourcesChapter 2. The Observation, Reflection, and Writing HabitExercise 2.1: Observing a Still Life SceneDescription of a Still Life SceneConstructing a Researcher Reflective PortfolioTypes of Portfolios and AssessmentHow the Electronic Portfolio WorksPortfolio ContentsExercise 2.2: Physical Description of This SettingExercise 2.3: Observation in the Home or WorkplaceExercise 2.4: Description of a Familiar Person or a StrangerThe Qualities of Exemplary Case StudiesExercise 2.5: Observing at an Art Museum or at a MovieExercise 2.6: Observing an Animal at Home, the Zoo, or a Pet ShopExercise 2.7: Drawing to Become a Better Observer: Drawing Upside DownChapter 3. Advancing the Observation, Reflection, and Writing HabitExercise 3.1: Nonparticipant Observation AssignmentExercise 3.2: Reflecting to Strengthen the Writing HabitExercise 3.3: Writing Your Educational AutobiographyExercise 3.4: Writing a Pedagogical LetterNext Steps: Self-EvaluationPitfalls in ObservationChapter SummarySuggested ResourcesChapter 4. The Interview and Writing HabitTwo People Talking, Communicating, and Constructing MeaningTypes of Interview QuestionsPreparing QuestionsExamples of Interview Questions From a Recent StudyExercise 4.1: Interviewing Someone You KnowExercise 4.2: Interviewing a StrangerExercise 4.3: The Oral History InterviewExercise 4.4: The Focus Group Interview Demonstration ExerciseExercise 4.5: Presenting Interview Data as a Found Data PoemExercise 4.6: Describing Your Role in a Research Project as Identity PoetryExercise 4.7: The Digital, Virtual Interview and Google GroupsExercise 4.8: Interviewing Someone TwiceExercise 4.9: Practicing an Online InterviewConducting Qualitative Interviews: Some Rules of ThumbChapter SummarySuggested ResourcesChapter 5. The Creative HabitThe Role of the Researcher and the Researcher Reflective JournalExercise 5.1: Variations on Writing Your NameExercise 5.2: The Camera as an Extension of the Eye, the Eye as an Extension of the SoulExercise 5.3: Building a Collage: My Role as a ResearcherExercise 5.4: Constructing a YaYa Box or Making a Quilt PatchThe Qualitative Researcher and the Intuitive SenseExercise 5.5: Writing About Your Favorite VegetableSerendipityIntuition, Creativity, and Compassion in ResearchThe Researcher Reflective Journal as Creative ActExercise 5.6: Your JourneyFuture DirectionsExercise 5.7: Reflective Journal Writing Practice in Dialogue FormExercise 5.8: Haiku and Any Form of Poetry on the Role of the ResearcherExercise 5.9: Framed Photograph and Narrative Writing ExerciseExercise 5.10: Writing Timeline ExerciseChapter SummarySuggested ResourcesChapter 6. The Analysis HabitThe Qualitative Researcher as Contemplative and MindfulCheckpoints for Data Analysis, Reporting, and InterpretationVarious Approaches to Analysis and Interpretation of DataEthics and the Qualitative ResearcherTrue Stories: Sample Ethical DilemmasAttributes of the Qualitative ResearcherQualitative Researchers Interacting With Institutional Review Boards, IRBsChapter SummaryExercise 6.1: Design and Create a Cover for Your Researcher Reflective JournalExercise 6.2: Describe Your Favorite MealExercise 6.3: Writing About Change in Yourself in Any Five-Year PeriodChapter 7. The Technology HabitBenefits for Small-Scale Studies Using TechnologyThe ContextThe Power of Skype InterviewingNext Steps: Editing Through AudacityTranscription With Express Scribe, Dragon, iTalk, iSpeak, and MS WordVoice Recognition SoftwareResearcher Reflective PortfoliosExcel as a Text/Data Analysis ToolAnalysis Strategies From MS Word to MS ExcelOverall Virtual Interview: From Collection to AnalysisElectronic Mailing Lists, Websites, Journals, and Software OptionsExercise 7.1: Conducting and Transcribing a Skype Interview Using Express Scribe for TranscriptionExercise 7.2: Create a Word Cloud Using Wordle and One With TagxedoExercise 7.3: Create a Glog, a Poster Online Through GlogsterChapter Summary

"Stretching" Exercises for Qualitative Researchers is an important text, and a must have for qualitative researchers. For my students—and myself—the opportunities to deepen the creative self provide essential tools for broadening our horizons of understanding and approaches to our participants, our work, and ourselves.