After the seminar I think I have an enhanced understanding on different methods. I’ve understood the importance of thinking and analyzing when choosing method(s). We talked about environmental issues, interactive opportunities and technical problems. I had far from thought of all scenarios we discussed. By sending an internet-based survey you don’t get respondents from all different fields is one example. I thought that pretty much everybody have computer and know how to use it. This is true for most cases but my grandparents for example don’t own a computer, tablet or even a smartphone. So how will they be able to participate in my study? This of course depends on which aging group you’re evaluating but anyway.
In another course in management I’m taking at the moment we discussed SL access cards the other day. That too got me upset when introduced because I was thinking of my grand parents who, because of the introduction of SL Access, can’t take the bus/subway anymore. This got me thinking that I think the technology only should open doors not close them. I understand the problems with handling money for the bus drivers but I do think you could come up with a better solution for the older people who aren’t as adaptable as younger people perhaps are.
Back to the theme - it was a good seminar. I didn’t learn the same sort of things as the last couple of weeks. At first I missed the philosophical ‘I-don’t-understand-anything’ because I've gotten used to it and I’ve enjoyed reflecting on all the deep things presented in the articles/lectures/seminars. However, this knowledge in which I’ve perceived through my senses will help me in another way when writing the essay. I think the different themes give us different tools which we can use when writing the essay.
The first weeks were more dopey knowledge on how to gain knowledge and what theory really is. In order to get a greater understanding and a broader view of it, I think it was essential to learn about this fields. The third week was (to me) about how media technology can be used to prove your point and enhance the experience of things. This was useful knowledge in order to understand the the truth is biased and that you yourself need to actively interpret information given to you.
This week has been knowledge about different methods. I think this was more hands-on knowledge to be used when writing the essay. I do wonder if it is intentional that we’re perceiving different kinds of knowledge in different kinds of ways? I mean, after this course we will probably remember different stuff and use it in different ways. For me perhaps the philosophical ‘knowledge’ part will be the thing I remember the most while for someone else perhaps this knowledge on advantages/disadvantages on quantitative methods will be remembered the most.
Hi Emelie!
SvaraRaderaI liked your part about SL and how you connected this weeks seminar with another course. I also agree that technology only should open doors and not close them, and maybe it's our responsibility to make it that way as future engineers! :)
I also enjoyed reading about your reflection on each week's theme and that we all probably will remember different things. I have noticed that I think about knowledge and perceiving in a different way now after the first two themes, but this week I felt that this knowledge about quantitative methods really is something that I will have use for in the future in another way. I feel like I want to keep thinking about the first two themes, but I'm afraid they will fade out of my thoughts in a way that the more hands-on knowledge about advantages/disadvantages about methods won't...
Malin, thank you for your comment! I do too think it's our responsibilty to save the world from "technology closing doors". :) However in all seriousness: Yes.
SvaraRaderaI will make it my duty to remind you about Kant and Platos. Haha. I will make sure you'll never forget them and that they will not fade away. Perhaps I'll start every morning with some philosophical anecdote? ;) Again, thank you for your comment and thoughts. It will be interesting to continue this conversation IRL.
Hello Emelie!
SvaraRaderaI really agree with the part where you say "I’ve understood the importance of thinking and analysing when choosing method(s)". I think choosing methods for a research paper is very essential because this will affect the outcome and the result of the research. Therefore it is very important to choose methods carefully. Also one must consider which of the methods are best suited for the research question. The data collected from different methods are very different (qualitative vs quantitative) and the researcher should think about what kind of data that is most fitted for the paper and what kind of data that he/she wants and has the tools or knowledge to analyse.
Good reflection!
Great that you've developed so that you actually enjoy the reading and reflecting upon it. I've also got used more and more to the language and a barrier felt in the beginning with difficult articles combined with a different language (then the language of tongue) has disapeared.
SvaraRaderaYou're mentioning SL and their new way of charging customer is leaving some people out and I've thought about it to. Isn't the public transit system for everybody? Eventually not. But that got me thinking. Can a method (of research or how you do something) exclude certain groups? The way you write are to complicated or some might not have internet so that they can answer. This might be an important aspect when choosing methods. As Stephanie mentioned above the method is really important and will effect the result you'll get.