Flashing back: How the creation of brief fiction enhanced my reflective process

Location

1049

Format Type

Event

Format Type

Paper

Start Date

January 2018

End Date

January 2018

Abstract

As I progress in my career as an assistant professor, I find the luxury of time and attention that I devoted to research as a doctoral student is increasingly diluted by teaching, meetings, and guiding my students in their research. This has led me to sometimes neglect research-associated processes, such as engaging in extended bouts of reflexivity, and has resulted in a sense that I am not giving my own research the time and attention it deserves. My fear that I have been remiss about reflective processes likely influenced my decision to respond to a call for 'flash fiction' about qualitative research. As a response to the call, I quickly wrote three stories of exactly 55 words, all about data analysis. I found this effort triggered a more prolific response, and expanded the topic areas to include design, research compliance, and transcribing. To my surprise and delight, I completed a batch of flash stories and felt refreshed rather than drained from the activity. I also reflected on my work as I selected, rejected, and re-ordered words. For this paper presentation, I offer 15 flash stories with the hope that these brief essences inspire thought, reflection and dialogue among session attendees.

Comments

Breakout Session A

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS
 
Jan 11th, 2:15 PM Jan 11th, 2:35 PM

Flashing back: How the creation of brief fiction enhanced my reflective process

1049

As I progress in my career as an assistant professor, I find the luxury of time and attention that I devoted to research as a doctoral student is increasingly diluted by teaching, meetings, and guiding my students in their research. This has led me to sometimes neglect research-associated processes, such as engaging in extended bouts of reflexivity, and has resulted in a sense that I am not giving my own research the time and attention it deserves. My fear that I have been remiss about reflective processes likely influenced my decision to respond to a call for 'flash fiction' about qualitative research. As a response to the call, I quickly wrote three stories of exactly 55 words, all about data analysis. I found this effort triggered a more prolific response, and expanded the topic areas to include design, research compliance, and transcribing. To my surprise and delight, I completed a batch of flash stories and felt refreshed rather than drained from the activity. I also reflected on my work as I selected, rejected, and re-ordered words. For this paper presentation, I offer 15 flash stories with the hope that these brief essences inspire thought, reflection and dialogue among session attendees.