Creating a Participatory Arts-Based Online Focus Group: Highlighting the Transition from DocMama to Motherscholar

Using Facebook to create a participatory, arts-based online focus group, this study had two primary purposes: (1) to examine how mothers in academia present themselves as they transition from doctoral student mother (“DocMama”) to full time position as motherscholars and (2) to explore the use of a participatory, arts-based online focus group on Facebook to facilitate participant description of experiences and feelings. This study adds both to the research on online research by emphasizing a collaborative nature and art to share experiences, and also to the research about motherscholars, examining the oft overlooked transition from doctoral program to academic career as the first step in the academic ladder (CohenMiller, 2014). The four participants participated through a secret Facebook group to post images and text from geographically disperse locations across the US, Central Asia, and New Zealand. In using an arts-based online format, participants were able to continually add to and adjust their responses to best explain their experiences. Using this online dynamic format provided a useful opportunity for participants to share their experiences across time and space. To analyze the data, I used self-presentation theory (Goffman, 1959) to discover common themes relating to work and family consistent with the literature as well as an unexpected finding regarding the concept of the “ideal” motherscholar. Furthermore, results highlighted the utility of a participatory arts-based online focus group to create a supportive format for ongoing, dynamic communication, interaction, and sharing of experience across geographically distant locations

Asynchronous Online Photovoice: Practical Steps and Challenges to Amplify Voice for Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice

Die Photovoice-Methode, ursprünglich als Mittel entwickelt, um die Stimmen vulnerabler Bevölkerungsgruppen und marginalisierte Erfahrungen hörbar zu machen, wurde kürzlich für die Online-Anwendung während der COVID-19-Pandemie angepasst. In diesem Artikel erörtere ich die Umsetzung von Online-Photovoice in einem asynchronen Modus. Ich untersuche das Potenzial der Methodik für Gleichberechtigung, Inklusion und soziale Gerechtigkeit anhand einer internationalen Studie, die mit "motherscholars" (Müttern in der Wissenschaft) durchgeführt wurde, die während der ersten Welle der COVID-19-Pandemie begannen, ihre Kinder durch Online-Lernen zu begleiten. Ich beschreibe die Schritte der Online-Photovoice-Studie, die dazu dienen sollte, die Stimme der Teilnehmerinnen zu stärken, und die Herausforderungen, mit denen sie konfrontiert wurden. In diesem Sinne biete ich neue Einsichten u.a. in zu vermeidende Hindernisse, praktische Tipps sowie kritische Fragen zur Selbstreflexion für andere Forscher*innen, die ihr Instrumentarium für die qualitative Forschung zur sozialen Gerechtigkeit erweitern möchten.While researchers initially developed photovoice methodology as a means to hear voices of vulnerable populations and of marginalized experiences, using it in an online format has recently been adapted for application during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this article, I discuss implementing online photovoice in an asynchronous mode. I explore the potential of the methodology for equity, inclusion and social justice through an international study conducted with motherscholars (mothers in academia) who suddenly began guiding their children through online learning during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. I describe the steps in the online photovoice study that was intended to amplify participant voice and the challenges faced. As such, I propose novel insights, practical tips, obstacles to avoid, and critical self-reflective questions for researchers interested in expanding their toolkit for qualitative social justice research

Creating a Participatory Arts-Based Online Focus Group: Highlighting the Transition from DocMama to Motherscholar

Using Facebook to create a participatory, arts-based online focus group, this study had two primary purposes: (1) to examine how mothers in academia present themselves as they transition from doctoral student mother (“DocMama”) to full time position as motherscholars and (2) to explore the use of a participatory, arts-based online focus group on Facebook to facilitate participant description of experiences and feelings. This study adds both to the research on online research by emphasizing a collaborative nature and art to share experiences, and also to the research about motherscholars, examining the oft overlooked transition from doctoral program to academic career as the first step in the academic ladder (CohenMiller, 2014). The four participants participated through a secret Facebook group to post images and text from geographically disperse locations across the US, Central Asia, and New Zealand. In using an arts-based online format, participants were able to continually add to and adjust their responses to best explain their experiences. Using this online dynamic format provided a useful opportunity for participants to share their experiences across time and space. To analyze the data, I used self-presentation theory (Goffman, 1959) to discover common themes relating to work and family consistent with the literature as well as an unexpected finding regarding the concept of the “ideal” motherscholar. Furthermore, results highlighted the utility of a participatory arts-based online focus group to create a supportive format for ongoing, dynamic communication, interaction, and sharing of experience across geographically distant locations

Visual arts as a tool for phenomenology

In diesem Beitrag beschreibe ich die Verwendung und den Nutzen von visuellen Methoden am Beispiel einer phänomenologischen Studie, für die ich Zeichnungen und Erzählungen von vier Gesprächspartnerinnen im Verlauf von insgesamt zwölf Interviews erhoben habe. Ich veranschauliche, wie der Eingang visueller Methoden in das phänomenologische Toolset zur Sichtbarmachung der Perspektive der Forschungsteilnehmenden beigetragen und Kommunikation und Verstehen erleichtert hat.n this article I explain the process and benefits of using visual arts as a tool within a transcendental phenomenological study. I present and discuss drawings created and described by four participants over the course of twelve interviews. Findings suggest the utility of visual arts methods within the phenomenological toolset to encourage participant voice through easing communication and facilitating understanding

Artful Research Approaches in #amwritingwithbaby: Qualitative Analysis of Academic Mothers on Facebook

This study contemplates one facet of academic motherhood through the use of artful research approaches in qualitative research to examine the (im)balance of being a mother writing academic works while raising and caring for a young child, as presented in an online hashtag Facebook campaign, #amwritingwithbaby. Specifically, this study uses an analysis of online posts and arts-based representations of findings through a comparison of narrative, poem, and word clouds. Through using popular media for representing the findings, this study helps address the accessibility of artful inquiry into the growing body of works seeking equity for women and mothers in academia

Spiraling

During COVID-19, people’s lives suddenly changed, and many faced severely unjust experiences. This article focuses on one such group—mothers who work in higher education. It draws on research and informal discussions with women across Asia, Europe, Australia, and the United States. It is a story about the fictional characters, Li and Laura, but is informed by international research about mothers in academia with children learning at home during these unprecedented times.For Li living in Asia, she felt the stress of the world when the virus officially was deemed a pandemic. It was like she and her home country of China were being blamed for the spread. Yet she still had to work to do—hundreds of students to teach, her own children to help through the stressful time, and her ailing mothers to care for, all in full lockdown. Her mind raced: What can I do? How do I make sure my family is okay?Across the world in the United States, Laura heard the news of “some kind of virus” threatening the world, but it didn’t seem real, until her good friend suddenly became really sick. Her fear skyrocketed. She tried to pretend everything was okay but couldn’t stop thinking: What will Dana think? She’s only four and won’t understand why she was just sent home for the year. Then Laura’s university closed its doors and required a quick overhaul of all her courses. The blackhole that Laura had been trying to avoid since her divorce started to envelop her again.Li and Laura found one another online. They hadn’t expected to become friends, weren’t looking to, but ultimately it was their friendship that drew them out of depression, anxiety, and fear to see the potential for their lives and for the world as a whole

A Model for Developing Interdisciplinary Research Theoretical Frameworks

Embedded in interdisciplinary research, just as in disciplinary research, are statements of purpose, theoretical frameworks, research questions, reviews of literature, methodology, findings, recommendations, and more However, one of the least understood aspects of interdisciplinary research is the interdisciplinary research (IDR) theoretical framework. This article is intended to serve as a platform for dialogue within and across disciplines about interdisciplinary research and interdisciplinary theoretical frameworks. In addition, it provides a model for developing an IDR theoretical framework through an illustrative example of how an IDR theoretical framework was created and used within a dissertation study. We conclude the article noting critical elements about IDR and IDR theoretical frameworks for students and researchers to consider for enhancing their research

Kazakhstan Higher Education Leadership Professional Development Program: A Preliminary Study

Background of Kazakhstan; Professional Development Program for Higher Education Leaders; Statement of the Problem; Research Questions; Theoretical Framework; Research design and data collection instruments

Graduate Student Mothers and Issues of Justice: Steps, Challenges, and Benefits of a Systematic Review for Examining Master’s Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

mothers in academia, literature review, PRISMA, coding, gender equity and inclusion, social justic