Welcome Back - Reflection on Module 2 Feedback

Welcome back everyone.  Hope you all had a good summer!

I have been dreading starting back again, as there seems to be so much information to take in for Module 3 and it is all a little overwhelming!  I didn't manage to join a Skype conversation over the weekend, however I really appreciated Paula sharing her blog and sharing what had been discussed.

I have printed off the Handbook and Reader 7 and have read through them both.  This has given me a greater understanding of the Module as a whole and has also helped me to break the module down into sections so it doesn't seem so daunting!

What have I learnt from my Module 2 feedback?

It was useful to read the feedback from Paula on Module 2 as it confirmed I was on the right track as, I know at times, I have doubted myself.  However, there were also a lot of helpful points given in order to help me improve my Inquiry and help me to get the best grade possible.  The main points that stood out to me were:

• "You have related your topic to relevant literature. Your have made a good start on this topic, now it is time to begin a more refined literature review of this area." - It was suggested I use professional organisations as well as Summon and the Library Libguide, in order to enhance my knowledge on my topic.

• It was also suggested that I should look for Literature on "general" employment issues in order to gain a better understanding of employability, which I can then relate to my own practice.  I will also be looking for Literature that defines what a "Freelance Dancer" is in order to broaden my knowledge on this topic, which in turn will help me apply these theories and ideas to my professional work and other literature.

• I need to "Review the anonymity and confidentiality issues with your interviewees, they may not want their company names used in public".  This is an important ethical issue and I need to make sure I have a formal way of getting permission from my Employers to share data based on their companies.

• As I will be conducting my interviews as an Insider- Researcher, it was suggested I "develop an even greater understanding about the ethics of being an insider researcher (Costley et al.) in your inquiry work" - This is very important as there are many advantages and disadvantages to being an Insider-Researcher and it is essential I make sure my interviews do not affect my work or relationship with my Employers and fellow cast members.

• My Inquiry questions and sub-questions are all very practical in nature, therefore once I have found more literature and written more literature reviews I will revisit these questions and change some, so they relate to theories and ideas already made by other professionals.

• Paula mentioned I should look at a previous B.A.P.P student's work, as our topics may overlap and I feel this will be very beneficial in pointing me in the right direction and may also lead to introducing different ideas and theories I may want to look into in order to improve my Inquiry. 

What has changed since my Inquiry Plan?

My work situation is still the same, as I have been attending a few auditions over the summer alongside performing with the Bollywood company and performing tribute shows and shows in care homes. As my feedback stated that my Inquiry topic,  “How can a Freelance Dancer Increase their Chances of Employability? is directly linked to your own professional practice as a freelance dancer", I feel my Inquiry topic shouldn't change.  It is a very appropriate topic for me to research and feel it will be very beneficial to explore, as it could help me secure future employment.  

I feel although my topic isn't changing, I need to focus more on refining my literature and look more into theories and ideas behind this topic, rather than the practical nature of it.

Before the summer break I did discuss with Paula whether it would be beneficial for me to conduct a survey or not and I said I would give it some thought over the summer.  I have now decided I will not conduct a survey as I feel it won't contribute any extra information. As discussed, I would need thousands of responses to be able to use the statistics as a reliable source.  Therefore, I will just be conducting the Focus Group with fellow freelance performers, Interviews with my current Employers and then a Practitioner Observation with a Casting Director, where I will write the conversation in my journal, so I can keep referring to it and can apply it to enhance my own professional practice.

What's next?

After reading the handbook for Module 3, Reader 7 and Module 2 feedback, I have decided to write a list of tasks I need to follow in order to stay on track and by breaking it down I am hoping this will give me a starting point to get myself back into the course without it being so over whelming.

• Using my local Library, Summon and the Library Libguide, I will be searching for more literature on Employability, Freelance Dancers and search for theories and ideas in order to refine my literature reviews and draw up some new sub-questions which aren't as practical in nature.
• I am going to use professional organisation like Equity or Dance UK to develop a sense of a Freelance Dancer’s work. 
• I need to draft a permission form as a formal way of gaining the participants consent for sharing data based on their companies.
• I will be looking at previous students' blogs who have researched a similar subject to mine in order to enhance my own work.
• I need to finalise all questions and consent forms, so I can conduct my Interviews and Focus Groups, as well as arrange dates and times with the participants.
• I need to keep blogging and discussing ideas and findings with fellow B.A.P.P students and my tutor.
• Continue adding to my journal. 

I have a lot to be getting on with and it was suggested in my Feedback from Module 2 that I "Continue to reflect upon the work on the blogs and in personal journals", so I will make sure I utilise my fellow B.A.P.P students to help me and remind me I am not doing this alone. 

I'm looking forward to reading all your blogs again, sharing ideas and helping each other on our final Module!