Critical Reflection on Professional Practitioner Research

I approached the start of this module with an overwhelming amount of ideas for my professional inquiry. I decided at the end of the first module that I wished to base my inquiry on nutrition as it is a subject I have always been interested in. I confirmed that my career would benefit from researching this subject by identifying my professional competences and capabilities (Appendix 1). This highlighted what I feel the weaknesses are in my profession. However it was in finding an article that referred to my nutritional weakness as a common problem for dancers that I realised the importance of my inquiry subject (Appendix 2).

With the support of my tutor enabling me to feel confident in my pursuit of nutrition, I began the development of my inquiry questions. By creating a list of potential survey questions (Appendix 3),  I was able to condense the interview style into five specific questions upon which to base my research (Appendix 4). Producing these questions helped me focus on my goals for the inquiry.

I had never considered the ethics of my profession thoroughly until this module brought its importance to my attention. Through discussion with my colleagues and special interest group (SIG) I was able to clarify the ethical standards of my profession. It was, however, in speaking with my ballet mistress that an ethos was created and therefore a solid ethical foundation for my professional practice was created (Appendix 5).

Reader 5 provided a range of case studies for me to reflect on the ethics. I had particular interest in the first case where due to a hospital's negligence, many patients unnecessarily died and I decided to refer to the official reports for more information (Appendix 6). From further research into this case I came to the conclusion that there can be no complete separation between personal, professional, organisational and societal ethics, displayed in simple diagram within Reader 5 (Appendix 7). As a result of my exploration of professional morals, I created an ethical checklist that I will be able to use when approaching my inquiry (Appendix 8).

I feel that my new and more detailed understanding of ethical standards has helped me establish a solid foundation upon which my professional inquiry will develop.

The construction of my inquiry depends greatly on resources and methods I use for collecting information on my inquiry subject. Reader 6 suggested the possible tools and through research and a pilot survey I was able to identify which would be best for my inquiry (Appendix 9). On reflection I believe that the survey questions would be better suited for an interview as there is better opportunity to go into more detail.

I joined this course in the hopes of broadening my knowledge of my professional practice. I have since then struggled with my ability to reflect on my own professional and personal experiences. The freedom to explore my inquiry subject has created a feeling of purpose of my work and therefore my reflections.



Appendix 1:
http://berniebellp.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/competences-and-capabilities.html
Appendix 2:
http://berniebellp.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/4dcontinued-finding-literature.html
Appendix 3:
 http://berniebellp.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/task-4a-nutritional-health-for-dancers.html
Appendix 4:
 http://berniebellp.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/4a-continued-inquiry-questions.html
Appendix 5:
"To give every member of (company name) a secure and complete understanding of their professional roles. Thus allowing all performances to be the highest standard possible."
http://berniebellp.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/5b-ethics-of-professional-practice.html
Appendix 6:
http://berniebellp.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/5c-case-study-1-mid-staffordshire-nhs.html
Appendix 7:
WBS 3630 Module Reader 5, BAPP Arts
Institute For Work Based Learning
2014-2015
Page 5, Fig 1: Contexts in which ethics operates

Appendix 8:
"Upon thinking about how I am going to approach my Inquiry research I designed the checklist using my own ideas as well those provided in the reader:

• The research proposal must comply with ethical standards and be approved by the Research Ethics Committee.
• To conduct research to the agreed protocol and codes of practice.
• The research data collected must be true to results.
• Those involved in the study must be fully aware of their input and be respected throughout.
• Attention to the confidentially of the results and those involved must be paid.
• The integrity and professional security of those I will be working with must be considered throughout.
• To remain in contact with those that have been involved so as to have clear communication about my intentions with the results for their consent.
• The information given by my the nutritional experts in various interviews must be used to their consent.
• All personal findings from the dancers must be used to their consent.
• During my nutritional experiments, the health of those partaking is of the highest importance.
• To keep my mentor up to date with my findings and research ideas so as to remain compliant with the ethical protocol.
• To be ethically critical about what information is used in terms of their reliability and accuracy.
• To reference the research of others appropriately to avoid plagiarism."

Appendix 9:

http://berniebellp.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/6b-inquiry-tools.html

6b) Inquiry Tools

When beginning to plan my approach to research for my professional inquiry, it is important to consider all the possible methods that can be used within research. In order to gain the most reliable and useful responses to my inquiry questions, I will need to use the appropriate form of data collection. Reader 6 gives great insight into the possible data collecting tools that I can use with during my research. Upon reading about each method, I compared the upsides and downsides of each as well as how I could possibly use it with my inquiry research and came to the conclusion that the following research tools would be best for my inquiry

Observation

Observation opens up a large amount of possibilities when it comes to inquiry research as it can be used through many forms. Throughout this course I have been made more aware of the importance of observing my own actions and findings as well as analysing them appropriately to come to certain conclusions about my journey within the course. One of the biggest positives with observation, in my opinion, is that I will be able to observe myself within my profession as well as others. My inquiry, being about dancers nutritional needs in their career, is very suited to the use of observation and has great potential for accumulating a large amount of data. Observations, as well as the ability to be constant, can also be specifically structured around a particular scenario, such as a rehearsal, so that I can vary the ways in which I monitor the behaviour of myself and others dancers within the situation. I will also be able to create a journal of my thoughts and findings within the topic, in terms of dance ability in relation to my meals, alongside any other data I am collecting. The Setbacks that come with observation, however, are that not only can it be extremely time consuming, especially given the fact that data is not necessarily guaranteed at specific times, but also it can be open to some unreliability. I will have to make sure that my observations throughout are true to the situation and no bias of my own personal beliefs guide and therefore spoil my data.

Interviews

The method of interviewing will most likely be my most used source of research within the Inquiry. This qualitative approach contains the ability to "...follow up on ideas, probe responses and investigate motives and feelings" (Bell, 2005.Reader 6, page 16) of which will be most beneficial for the development of my inquiry. My interviews will consist of both the formal and informal approach, depending on the particular professional I am speaking to and my desired results. Research for my inquiry will require interviews with mature dancers within training and professional performers for which my interviewing style would remain informal. This is to create a relaxed atmosphere with those involved in order to understand their true emotions and opinions on their knowledge and experiences with my inquiry subject. When interviewing professional nutritional therapists and  vocational teachers, however, I will be remaining formal with my approach. The reasoning for this is I wish to collect only specific data from these people rather than personal opinions. Of course there will be a certain amount of bias from each interviewee which is why I will need to have a range of responses for analysis. Interviews will be used to collect more detail about the subject rather than "yes/no" answers which will be collected mainly within surveys.

Within Reader 6 we are given a series of questions to consider when approaching an interview. I went through each question and roughly answered them specifically thinking about my professional inquiry.

Who do you need to interview and why?

• Nutritional Therapists - Qualified in nutrition. Able to confirm or correct any opinions and queries I have.
• Mature Dance Students - The results of my inquiry could affect or benefit them directly and so they're contribution to my need of research is vital. Mature as they are more likely to continue into a professional dance career.
• Professional Dancers - Same as Mature Dance Students. For examples of professional schedules, daily routines, tour expectations, nutritional options.
• Vocational Dance Teachers - To communicate how/what they teach students on nutrition in order to determine what is lacking.

Where would most appropriate to hold the interview - neutral ground or 'home' ground?

• Home Ground - The interviewee's home ground they feel most comfortable for informal interviews.
• Neutral Ground - For formal interviews. To keep up a professional level/ standard.

At what point in the research process would it be best to interview?

• Beginning Research - Professional dancers, Students and Teachers in the beginning stage of researching in order to establish the starting points of my further research.
• Nutritional Therapists - After establishing basic knowledge and aspects of my inquiry. For further detail into my inquiry questions.

What questions need to be asked?

• Nutritional Therapists - their opinions and findings during their career on dancers nutritional needs, the effect or correct/incorrect nutrition, nutritional advice.
• Mature Dance Students - their past/current education on nutrition. What they feel they are lacking. The importance of correct nutrition in their opinion.
• Professional Dancers - Same as questions for Mature Dance Students.What a working season/day consists of. Emotions and physical abilities throughout various aspects of work.  What struggles they have found with nutrition in their career. 
• Vocational Dance Teachers - What nutritional education is given to their students within their organisation.

The degree of structure in the interview - structured, semi-structured or unstructured?

Differently structured depending on the interviewee.

How are you going to record the interview - whether to make notes during the interview or use a tape recorder and transcribe notes afterwards?

Mainly the use of a tape recorder. This will be to keep the flow of the interview and ensure the full answers are available for later transcribing and analysis. 

How will you ensure that you comply with ethical and confidentiality issues and relevant legislation such as the Data Protection Act? What is the status of what is said, i.e is everything on record?

All research data collected whether in written or media form will be kept in an external hard drive of which access is only available to myself. An agreement of consent of data distribution and use will be made with each interviewee. Any quote taken from data will be referenced appropriately.


The analysis of the responses collected in interviews will be the most time consuming and difficult. It is important to decide how I wish to categories the data for clear and understandable comparison. All interviews will be the same for each professional so that the differences can be easily determined. With each response I will

Reader 6 also suggests that before conducted an interview the interviewee must be informed of my research purpose. Interestingly it also suggest that it may be beneficial to limit the amount of information given to the interviewee about my inquiry in the aim to keep their responses 'clean' and unchanged by my own goals. I will create a front page or brief description that will be read or sent for the beginning of each interview I take to achieve this.

The ethical considerations of interviewing include the necessity of clear communication with the interviewee about my intentions with the data, and their resulting consent, and the importance of safe keeping of all data collected whether in written, audio or video form.


Surveys/Questionnaires

In task 6a I created a survey as trial of a possible research method for my inquiry, I have since collected the data I have received so far in order to analyse the resourcefulness of this inquiry tool.

As this is a pilot survey in preparation for future research into my inquiry in the final module, I was only able to send the survey to the small amount of people within my SIG group. This also being made smaller by the necessity of only having dancers responses. The amount of responses I received are minimal compared to what I would expect to be collection during my inquiry research. I was, however, able to receive enough data to see where the patterns lie within the responses. Many of which were able to confirm my own opinion on the lack of nutritional education opportunities given to dancers and the agreement of its undervalued importance. Therefore also given more reason to my wish to investigate further into the subject. Some of the responses I found particularly interesting were:

"Having the time to eat properly (if a show is at 7:30 then you don't want to be bloated) and also the resources for example if you are on tour then you can not always get the food you want."

"There is pressure to look a certain way."

"...there are too many opinions from people 'eat this, don't eat that' etc...really you need to have basic knowledge of NATURAL whole foods and then listen to your own body"

As well as the resounding positive response to the following questions:

"Do you often feel tired or unmotivated when dancing?"

"Do you find it difficult to stay focused whilst rehearsing/performing?"

"If given the opportunity, would you wish to learn more about your nutritional requirements?"

From this pilot survey I was able to decide that I will use surveys more for definite answers i.e YES/NO questions, rather than question that require more detail. This is because it is harder to analyse the responses if all completely different in answering approach. Also meaning I would be able to turn the results of the surveys into graphs with would should the statistics of the answers/ I would then be able to pinpoint areas that I feel need further research by using other inquiry tools.