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Novice researcher puts her skills into practice..

My skills were put into practice when I arrived home with the process of selecting learners who were open to being involved and met the project criteria. I had three months to develop tools, set up and carry out interviews; schedule observation times, document and collect data and finally write two narrative reports. During this time our organization moved to a new location. Any of you who have moved a non-profit organization lately can understand that this was not the best of conditions to complete a project. However I think my enthusiasm or blind faith kept me going!

Examination and reflection leads to change.

Throughout the process I had unique opportunities to gain access to learners living their everyday lives, at home and in their communities. What I learned in this process permanently changed my perspective in regards to learners who access our literacy programs. The learners I had the privilege of working with, were incredibly creative, gifted individuals. Most likely because they have had to acaccess their instincts and develop their natural talents regularly to succeed in life. Lack of skill in one area has made them more creative in another. They have developed their creative problem solving skills and natural abilities through informal learning practices.

For me the learning was significant. It gave me new perspective in which I now view learners who have low levels of literacy skills. Literacy skills affects certain aspects of their lives, yet it does not take detract from their natural gifts. There is no denying that having low level literacy skills creates barriers for individuals, obviously that is why the work we do is so important. However, it does not make them any less authentic. In fact their authentic souls shine! Most exciting is the fact that the obstacles have not kept them from pursuing their passions in life in some unique way.

As learners come to our program I am now looking at them with a whole new set of eyes; eyes that see unique spirits, strengths, and competencies. As for me, am just grateful to have had the opportunity to be enlightened.

Brenda Wright is the Executive Director of the Saint John Learning Exchange.

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Qualitative research enhances literacy programs
by Cheryl Brown

Qualitative research has a complex history and needs to be defined in the context of this history. For the purposes of this article, Denzon and Lincoln’s (2000) generic definition is used:

“Qualitative research is multi-method in focus, involving an interpretive, naturalistic approach to its subject matter. This means qualitative researchers study things in their natural settings, attempting to make sense of, or interpret, phenomena in terms of the meaning people bring to them. Qualitative research involves the studied use and collection of a variety of empirical materials – case study, personal experience, introspective, life story, interview, observational, historical, interactional and visual texts – that describe routine and problematic moments and meanings in individual’s lives. (p. 2)”

Empirical materials: personal experience, interview, observation, life story.

Qualitative research has different methods and therefore different assumptions than quantitative research. In qualitative research, reality is not purely objective and exists as a construction of reflecthe idea that scientific, or quantitative methods, can be used to study social sciences (education and training for example). They feel that human behaviour is always bound to the context in which it occurs, and therefore behaviour must be studied holistically, in context rather than being manipulated.

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