Individual reflective journalling - Week 3
This week has so far been my favourite so far in the Laidlaw Summer Research Project.
Following feedback from our academic supervisor, our group has worked hard on a more in-depth literature review, carefully citing articles and studies and considering the wider impact of our cricket club.
Note for the future: I'll think more about sticking strictly with the desired format, to ensure that my insights are presented carefully and concisely.
The most rewarding part of the week was our introduction and tour of Blackbird Leys with community leader Natty Mark. He gave a raw, earnest, and powerful talk, and lunch at Communitea helped build my understanding of what it means to live and work within a diverse community in Oxford; something that really opened my eyes, coming from the small student space of the university.
Next week, I'll be more proactive in our interviews, working harder to extract as much information as possible from our stakeholders.
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Hana, this is a concise but thoughtful reflection. I particularly like that you identify clear areas for your own development, both in responding to feedback on your literature review and in setting yourself a specific goal to be more proactive during stakeholder interviews next week. That willingness to reflect on your own practice is an important part of becoming a researcher.
Your reflections on the visit to Blackbird Leys were especially compelling. You describe the experience as 'eye-opening' and explain how it challenged your perspective beyond the student experience of Oxford. I'd encourage you to explore that idea a little further in future reflections. What assumptions did it challenge? What surprised you most? How might this new understanding influence the way you approach your research with community partners?
Your goal for next week is both practical and achievable. As you become more involved in interviews, consider reflecting not only on the information you gather, but also on what you learn about asking effective questions, building rapport and listening carefully to different perspectives.
Overall, this is a reflective update that demonstrates openness to feedback and a genuine commitment to developing as a researcher. I'm looking forward to hearing how your interviewing skills develop over the coming weeks.