EDF 3423 Designing a Qualitative Study

EDF 3423 Designing a Qualitative Study

Research Approach: Ethnographic

Research Question: Do ballet environments and institutions have cultural dynamics that affect the experiences and career pathways of dancers?            Through this ethnographic study I will concentrate on taking part in various social and cultural aspects of the ballet institutions that will allow me to grasp how norms, rituals, hierarchies and power relations within these settings affect dancers’ experience and professional advancement.            Participant Criteria: Research will be focused on ballet dancers, that includes both those who have just finished a professional training program and the students currently enrolled in it. People who already have more than five years of experience as a choreographer and dancer, in a ballet school, will be qualified to run this program. The study will be done with dancers from different positions, such as genders, races, and socioeconomic levels, and the relationship between their identity factors and ballet cultural environment will be investigated.           

Sampling Method: I will use a purposive sampling approach to recruit information-rich participants who meet the criteria outlined above. I will leverage my existing network within the ballet community to gain access and identify potential participants. I may also use snowball sampling, where initial participants help refer other dancers who fit the study profile.

Data Collection: The primary data collection methods will include participant observation, focus group discussions, and document review. Through that I will experience the daily life of ballet institutions by taking classes, participating in performances and getting to know the rules, the norms, rituals and the hierarchy. I will conduct interviews with dancers to understand what they have gone through, how they view their cultural environment and what they are trying to communicate about it. I will conduct interviews with dancers to understand their personal experiences, perspectives, and interpretations of the cultural environment. I will also analyze relevant institutional documents like student handbooks, company policies, and marketing materials to triangulate my observations and interview data.

            Credibility Strategies: To enhance the credibility of the study, I will use thick description to provide rich, contextual details of the ballet institution settings and the experiences of the dancer participants. I will also engage in crystallization by drawing on multiple data sources (observations, interviews, documents) to develop a more nuanced, complex understanding of the phenomenon (Tracy & Hinrichs, 2017). Additionally, I will conduct member reflections, sharing preliminary findings with participants and incorporating their feedback.

            Expected Timeline: During the period of 12-15 months, the data collection process of this ethnographic study will happen, and afterwards, the data interpretation and writing of the final report will require six months.

            Researcher Positionality: As a former and current ballet dancer myself, I have a deep personal connection to and understanding of the culture and experience of ballet training. However, I also recognize that my insider status could potentially introduce biases in how I interpret the data. In order to reduce this impact I will apply self-reflexivity as the tool that will help me to investigate how my background, preconception and viewpoint can form a direct connection to the research process and conclusions. My effort will be to achieve an emic approach through the participant-centered one, unveiling the subjective meanings that the dancers attribute to their ballet institution experiences. My aim is to show that the culture of ballet education is not just a decorative element, but an essential part of the process that determines the personal and professional development of dancers.

Reference

Tracy, S. J., & Hinrichs, M. M. (2017). Big tent criteria for qualitative quality. The international encyclopedia of communication research methods, 1-10.

EDF 3423 Designing a Qualitative Study