Developing a Dissertation Proposal Part 4- The importance of focus

Going back to my new friend Maxwell (2005) I’ve encountered even more helpful, but not easily implemented, advice:

Anyone can find an unanswered, empirically answerable question for which the answer isn’t WORTH knowing (p. 15).

And further, 

 A clear understanding of the goals motivating your work will help you to avoid loosing your way or spending too much time and effort doing things that don’t advance your goals (p.15).

Or, as Thoreau said, “it’s not worthwhile to go around the world to count cats in Zanzibar”. 

This insightful reading of Maxwell has come after a friendly hallway conversation with a professor/colleague/mentor/friend who reminded me to GET THE DISSERTATION DONE and not allow myself, just for now, to be sidetracked by my tendency and preference for partnering with schools in their work to equitably and meaningfully educate all students: “It’s a wonderful ability and dedication you have”, he said, “but one that needs to be put on hold just for a moment so you can get your dissertation done.  Then you can spend the rest of your career engaging in meaningful service with the access and legitimacy that the 3 new letters behind your name  [P H D that is] will grant you"- sad but true I suppose (the power of letters that is). 

So my faithful readers- many of which I know are committed to meaningful partnerships and collaboration for change in schools- just for now let’s commit ourselves to staying FOCUSED on a core, but meaningful, research goal/purpose; and never fear, Maxwell is here to help us. 

THANK GOODNESS.

Here is what he says about the function of your reserach goal/purpose:

A research goal/purpose….

•      Guides your research design decisions to ensure that you get something out of the study/time.
•           Justifies your time/study.
•      Shapes the descriptions, interpretations, and theories you create in your research. (taken from p.15)

He also writes in detail about the importance of using personal experience, your own identity and personal goals in deciding on a meaningful research purpose, and suggests the following activity to start the process:

~WRITE A RESERACHER IDENTITY MEMO TO YOURSELF~ 

I will do this now, you should too.

Here is why I appreciate this opening chapter on the importance of the goals: it acknowledges the complex role between researcher and self as partners with the communities studied.  This is the first book I’ve found that holds true to this theme and strategizes for me how to handle it.  All the other research design books have said either (1) acknowledge yourself (great, what the heck does that mean) or (2) separate yourself and remain an objective outsider (NO THANK YOU, I’ll pass on this whole research thing if that is the case).  

SO again, I must thank you Joseph A. Maxwell.  Just when I thought it was too late to save my belief in the institution of educational research, you provided me with a hope that I might in fact fit in the world of research after all.

Off to practice my focus.  Let me know how I do!