What went well
- Gave a midway presentation to the team leader on my data management framework, my proposal on the data analysis approaches, and gathered feedback from her to finalise data entry and collection framework
- Feedback was: Although splitting up the data into different worksheets makes data entry faster and easier, must find ways to put everything into one spreadsheet again after data entry for ease of data analysis
- A miscommunication came up about interview categorisation this week. There was a misunderstanding about the database between my supervisor and the team leader, and I received the correct information about the database when I scheduled a check-in meeting with my supervisor. This ideally should’ve been brought up earlier in my exploration of the database. It was originally thought that the solution would be manual categorisation. However, I figured out a way for categorisation to be solved automatically with Excel code. I felt proud that I was able to keep level-headed in the face of a problem that felt daunting or hard to fix.
- Devised qualitative analysis framework for research question formation and presentation task; started on qualitative analysis, presented to research lead – I’m proud that I practiced my goal of taking action and initiative prior to gaining approval
- I was unsure whether this approach would suit the study, but I decided to give it a try anyway and give the team lead a sample; I had a mindset that if it gets rejected it gets rejected, and perhaps this can be a framework to spark ideas for improvement, the only feedback won’t necessarily be just criticism.
What could have been done differently
- What stalled was developing the video tutorial for the second type of coding framework, as there were continuous changes to the current database.
- However, like how I reflected last week, I continued with the written tutorial anyway, and aimed to finalise the database this week before proceeding to making the tutorials next week.
- I spent the last day of that week preparing for the midway presentation; I felt I wasted good time to develop the database in preparation for the meeting. However, the presentation was to get more feedback for next steps.
Laidlaw Values that were visible this week
Fast, Determined, Extraordinary: In response to a miscommunication problem I quickly went to trying to solve the problem rather than stick with a solution that seemed the most intuitive or basic.
Brave: Taking action on something I think might work, without receiving any prior professional approval to do so, making a sample to present instead of giving an idea to someone and expecting they’d understand.
Character
In a very subtle way, Transcendence and Drive were tested. Because a big part of the coding has been resolved and approved, I felt a sense of calm and security that there wasn’t a big puzzle to deal with anymore. I felt the temptation to think that my work is done but in reality there is always more to do. With this feeling I focused on practicalities and what there is more to do in talking with others and taking accountability and holding my integrity to be making consistent progress and improvements that have a sustainable impact during my limited time here.
I also felt it was important to get in touch with my Humanity as I did spot myself going into a very practical and stoic mode again whilst facing the data and developing research questions. After the midway meeting I realise just how much I still can learn from the current literature and lived experience in DBT when developing research questions to present research that demonstrates the benefits of DBT’s process, components, and Body & Soul’s community on sustained mental health outcomes.
Laidlaw Capacities I relied on, and felt stretched
I relied on Process and Performance the most this week, as I felt I was problem solving according to the miscommunication and sticking to the plan I arranged with the other volunteers last week. I feel I do need to remind myself to measure impact where possible, however.
I felt a bit stretched in People because it was difficult to delegate tasks when information and my knowledge about the miscommunicated info on the database itself was unclear. To proceed I always had to get confirmation or information from my supervisor, who was very busy at the time I could work collaboratively with a research volunteer. Next time I aim to clear up any misunderstandings as much as possible to the best of my ability so there are minimal misunderstanding when I go to delegate and work collaboratively with other people.
Ethical engagement
The midway meeting with the team leader stood out this week. I felt I was learning a lot from her in terms of integrating research and mental health therapeutic practice. Specifically, as she works in the frontline as a programme deliverer and is thinking about research, she knows what the Body & Soul community values and benefits from the most. Last week, felt I was leading in the data analysis approach, and taking initiative on how the analysis should be done. After the meeting I felt I was very much also facilitating and supporting the process of demonstrating the benefits that all of Body & Soul community has seen into a measurable, statistical, numerical picture of DBT’s sustainable impact on mental health. I learned that thus far there isn’t much research on longitudinal benefits of community and DBT’s last two stages: Enhancing Quality of Life, and Finding Connection and Spiritual Fulfilment. This increased my understanding on the importance of this research, and implications for sustainable mental health intervention.
Next steps:
- I will intentionally workshop Process, People, Drive, and Collaboration: In terms of thinking about delegating data analysis tasks, as well as developing data entry and analysis tutorials that will educate future research volunteers.
- I will also intentionally workshop my Curiosity and Humanity in understanding the last two stages of DBT as it seems this is the backbone of the research. I will dedicate time at the beginning of the week when I am not in office to understanding this more, and read the literature notes that the team has already developed at the beginning of my time in-office.