Over the past six weeks, the one thing that went as expected was that the research ultimately supported my early hypotheses. Basically, everything else had to be reconfigured. I initially planned on conducting interviews and collecting data from surveys to gather my data, but my research has now shifted towards content analysis. But on the bright side, I've been able to narrow my research and find a clear path for my paper. I began this project with a myriad of vaguely related topics fighting to be the main priority, and now I've found one that I can actually focus on. I only wish that I had found this anchor sooner, as the initial research process was incredibly overwhelming.
If I could do anything differently, I would change my mindset coming into this project. I'd tell myself earlier to believe in my own instincts more and to trust the questions that had drawn me to the project in the first place. Not having faith in myself, unfortunately, trapped me in the same unfruitful pockets of research. I feel like this confidence would have allowed me to be bolder and more innovative in my research rather than attempting to remain in my comfort zone when this project clearly necessitates a bit of discomfort.
My relationship with my mentor has definitely grown over the past six weeks. We've been able to work together to uncover the layers behind my research. This collaboration has made me more comfortable with sitting with uncertainty and having an open mind to new ideas.
Looking forward, I want to focus on organizing my thoughts and prioritizing clarity. I hope to be able to tighten the structure of my argument and ensure that the message comes through cleanly for both the paper and the poster.