This week, our group met with principal stakeholder in our project and clarified the types of data with which they would be willing and able to provide us. Ahead of this, each member of our group had prepared questions related to their section of the brief, and our stakeholder’s responses helped us to further refine our research question.
Later in the week, we attended a skills workshop on referencing skills and Zotero, which was an amazing opportunity to develop my research skills and explore a new software.
During our team building evening at Junkyard Golf Club, I was able to get to know my fellow Scholars in a much more relaxed environment, as well as during our team lunch in Blackbird Leys. Supporting students at Powerhouse Games provided an invaluable opportunity to personally connect with the community that we are working to serve.
Next week, our group will attend workshops on research methodologies and methods to support our development of the method and methodology sections of our research question, as well as a tour with Uncomfortable Oxford.
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Dear Amy,
Thank you for sharing your Week 2 reflection. It is clear that this has been an important week in helping your team move from the initial scoping stage towards a more defined research direction.
I was particularly pleased to read about your meeting with the project's principal stakeholder for the RLT. Learning how to engage with stakeholders is a vital aspect of the research process, especially within applied and community-focused projects such as this one. The fact that each member of the group prepared questions relating to their area of responsibility demonstrates good preparation and professionalism, and it is encouraging to see that the discussion helped refine both your thinking and your research focus.
Your participation in the referencing and Zotero workshop is another positive step. Developing good referencing habits early in a project will save considerable time later and will strengthen the academic quality and credibility of your work. Research often involves managing large volumes of information, and becoming confident with tools such as Zotero is an investment that will continue to benefit you throughout your degree and beyond.
I was also pleased to see you reflecting on the wider experiences offered through the programme. Activities such as the team-building event, the lunch in Blackbird Leys, and supporting pupils at Powerhouse Games may seem separate from the research itself, but they are often where researchers begin to develop a deeper understanding of the communities they are studying. Research on issues such as educational inclusion, belonging, and trust is strongest when it remains connected to the lived experiences of the people affected by those issues.
As you move into the methodology and methods phase next week, I would encourage you to think carefully about the relationship between your research question and the methods you choose. One of the most important lessons in research is that methods are not simply technical choices; they reflect assumptions about what kinds of knowledge we value and how we believe evidence should be gathered. As your team develops its approach, consider why particular methods are appropriate for capturing the experiences and perspectives that sit at the heart of your project.
I would also encourage you to begin reflecting not just on what your group is doing, but on what you are learning about yourself as a researcher. For example, how did the stakeholder meeting influence your understanding of the project? Did it challenge any assumptions you had made? What skills are you beginning to develop through these interactions that you did not possess at the start of the programme?
Overall, this reflection demonstrates steady progress and a growing engagement with both the practical and human aspects of the research process. You have built effectively on the foundations established in Week 1, and I look forward to seeing how the methodological workshops and stakeholder engagement continue to shape your project's development.
Best wishes,
Ben