Data Collection

Initial Visits

Dr. Allison Tom, my graduate advisor, first introduced the possibility of the Reading and Writing Centre as a research site. She had received a call from Kate Nonesuch, the founder and teacher, who expressed an interest in having academic research conducted at her newly-opened storefront literacy centre. Before my fieldwork officially began in February 2001, I made several visits to the Reading and Writing Centre. My first visit was in October 1999, where during their weekly Monday morning meeting I addressed the group of teachers and students about my desire to do research about the Reading and Writing Centre. They asked a few questions and gave general approval for me to conduct my research at their Centre. I returned in June 2000, upon invitation from the teachers, to attend their end-of-year evaluation day that included teachers, students and college administration. Below is a calendar of the events related to my data collection:

Oct 1999

first visit to the Centre

Feb 2000

interview with Kate for a graduate class project

June 22, 2000

visit to the Centre's Evaluation meeting (by invitation)

Sept 2000

visit to the Centre

Feb 23, 2001

Malaspina University-College Ethics Board Approval

Feb 2001 - June 2001

weekly fieldwork in Duncan

March 13 - May 01, 2001

nine student interviews

May 13 & 14, 2001

teacher interviews

May 15, 2001

Group Talk #1

May 30, 2001

Group Talk #2

June 11 & 19, 2001

Telephone Interviews with students not at the Group Talks

June 2001

second interview with Christina; fieldwork completed>

August 14, 2001

Christina's death