I've become more aware of SDG's mission. I learnt Excel for quantitative analysis and NVivo for qualitative analysis.
We worked out our proposal. The two biggest risks that remain are
- We're still unsure about the feasibility of this proposal.
- How much of a difference will our research really make?
What would I have done differently?
- I got to know Monday from Isabel, a very useful platform for teamwork.
- I would have got to know my teammates better: what's their aspirations? Where does their expertise lie? What do they want to get out of this project?
- For my teammates, I would have suggested making a distinction between self-set deadlines and informal check-ins. This is to avoid unnecessary nervousness.
Thanks for reading.
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Hi Anqi,
Thank you for your reflection. It was great to see you identify both what your team has achieved and the questions that are still unresolved. Recognising uncertainty is an important part of the research process, and your two questions about feasibility and impact are exactly the kinds of issues that good researchers continue to revisit throughout a project.
I also liked your reflection on teamwork. Taking the time to understand your teammates' strengths, aspirations, and working styles will make collaboration much easier over the coming weeks, and your suggestion about distinguishing between informal check-ins and internal deadlines is a thoughtful practical idea.
As the project develops, I'd encourage you to think about one additional question: 'What evidence would help OSEP make better decisions?' The purpose of the brief is not only to map social enterprises across Oxfordshire, but also to create an evidence base that helps improve recognition of their contribution and supports future policy, funding, and collaboration.
When you attend meetings or analyse data, try asking yourself:
What have I learned this week that OSEP didn't know before? That small change in perspective can help keep your work focused on the impact your research can have.
Overall, this is a positive first reflection. I look forward to seeing your confidence grow as you begin collecting evidence and applying the analytical skills you've started developing in Excel and NVivo.