Last week, we had a talk about the Oxford Character Project, leading to discussions on whether character is necessary for success. I think that in the long run, character can become more important than skill - people are more likely to remember a positive interaction they’ve had with you compared to you simply being good at what you do. I think l success requires both character and skill but both should constantly be developed.
On Tuesday, our group met with one of our stakeholders - a headteacher at one of the schools under the Trust we’re partnered with. The meeting made me consider the type of data we use to assess impact. Oftentimes schools send out surveys to gauge parental and student opinions about what’s working within a school but I wonder how much information these really capture. My group’s topic specifically explores how under-resourced students and families experience trust, inclusion, recognition, and partnership and it will be interesting to discover whether surveys properly evaluate such details. The upcoming week focuses heavily on methodology so I look forward to taking these ideas into consideration. After the meeting, I actually felt that I had more questions than answers but I hope that discussing these with my group will lead to new ideas.
Thursday morning included a skill-based session about Zotero, a reference management system which I think will be a helpful tool as our research develops. We also started our stakeholder mapping and it was interesting to see how different stakeholders connect to another.
Friday was an activity-filled day. We started off by participating in the PowerHouseGames, a sports event that works in collaboration with local Oxfordshire schools and Oxford University. It was great to see everyone get involved and I particularly love the ethos of the event which is “No one left on the bench”. These ideas of ensuring that everyone can participate is also important to research and is something I want to keep in mind. We ended the day with a trip to Blackbird Leys, a south-eastern area of Oxford which is often negatively stereotyped. What I found interesting was how many community initiatives there were to involve residents of all ages. This trip reminded me of the important role that local communities play. This week has really expanded my perspective and I hope to use what I’ve learnt in the next week.
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Hi Ijeoma,
Thank you for another thoughtful reflection. I enjoyed reading it, particularly because you consistently move beyond describing events to considering what they might mean. That curiosity is one of the qualities that makes for a strong researcher.
I was especially interested in your opening thoughts on character and success. Your conclusion that both character and skill need to be continually developed is a balanced one. As you continue thinking about this, it might be worth asking whether character becomes most visible when skill alone is no longer enough — for example, when leaders face difficult decisions, competing stakeholder interests or uncertainty. Those are often the moments when qualities such as integrity, empathy and courage make the greatest difference.
Your reflections following the meeting with the Headteacher were also encouraging. I thought you asked exactly the right question: Do surveys really capture experiences such as trust, recognition and inclusion? Many important aspects of school life are difficult to reduce to numbers, and recognising the strengths and limitations of different methods is an important part of becoming a researcher. I'll be interested to see how your thinking develops as you explore methodology over the coming weeks.
I also noticed a common thread running through your reflection: inclusion. Whether discussing under-resourced families, the ethos of 'No one left on the bench' at the PowerHouseGames, or the community initiatives in Blackbird Leys, you repeatedly recognised the importance of creating opportunities for everyone to participate. That suggests you are beginning to notice not just what organisations do, but how they make people feel they belong. Those observations could become an interesting lens through which to view your research.
Finally, don't be discouraged by your comment that you left the meeting with more questions than answers. In many ways, that's a sign that the research process is working. Good research rarely removes uncertainty immediately; instead, it helps us ask better questions. If each week leaves you with more thoughtful questions than the week before, you're making real progress.
I'm looking forward to seeing how your ideas continue to develop over the rest of the research summer.
Best wishes,
Ben