Jenny's Research Navigation Phase Two

This is a navigational journal of how I proceeded with my research. It is wider in scope than the other two research blogs. Random Thoughts consists of daily musings, and Research Readings covers everything I've read. This blog takes a longer view, is written on, say, a weekly basis, and describes the direction I am taking things. The more detailed views of content are in the other blogs. This blog is in reverse chronological order.

8/05/09: As is clear from the previous burps of entries in July, I am a bit behind with this blog. I have read the three Dyba and two Kitchenham papers on writing systematic reviews, so I can say that I entirely understand the process.

What I've also done is go through some databases to find articles on chautauquas and informal education. That was not really easy. Luckily, there was a database on American History and Life (or something or other), which finally returned some hits.

I've also worked a bit on honing the research question with Hilary. That is in the Random Thoughts blog. The research question still isn't in its final form. The intent is to further define the question as I find more articles to read. The research question will be shaped based on the state of current research. And the more I find and read about, the more clear I will be in my head about what I want to research. Makes sense to me.

It is also a bit intimidating. My problem is that I keep thinking this is a HUGE task, and it just kind of overwhelms me before I even get started. But things never happen in a day. And this thesis will be the same. A little effort every day, and before long, it will be done. That's what I need to remind myself of.

Hilary, Kavitha and I are meeting at least once a week on campus. Things are moving forward, but I need to invest a lot more time into this to really get it moving. And moving it must get.

7/--/09: to be filled in later this week...

7/18/09: This is the first entry, but not the first day of activity. This entry summarizes the last week or so of research activity.

-- JennyYang - 18 Jul 2009