Pilot...6A

In the thought process of planning the professional inquiry using two tools feels like a dynamic way to develop one's answers with the question in hand. The idea of combining two tools using formal interviewing with and without questionnaires and an informal focus group seems like the most effective way to receive a beneficial outcome. The tools will be designated towards the appropriate people and using both methods will give the chance to be self critical and reflect on whether this worked or not. These methods allow the interviewee’s to develop their answers and be opinionated at ease. The interviews will involve students, fellow dancer/teachers and employers.

Focus Group 

Firstly using the tool an informal “Focus Group’ which will be directed at the students that take part in regular classes. Being a familiar face this will be an indirectly ease for the students to discuss their opinions openly. My thought process will also be the “particular type” of questions within the group that can involve everyone and enable development with the views.

“What are your opinions on qualification in Dancing? This open question allows the students to discuss their opinions in the group without feeling judged or criticised. These type of questions allows debates and honesty were they begin to develop on answers without knowing and “get into it” therefore when individually questioned their views will be extremely opinionated.

The main reason for using the students is they are currently developing their careers and to see their views on experience and qualifications should be useful and interesting. As students have become more outspoken the answers will develop my thought process and enable an insight to self reflection.

Interview and Questionnaire

The second tool to use will be individual interviews with all the focus group. The main reason for this will be for the students to enhance their opinions to a greater extent. I always like to be critical of myself and get feedback and I think younger students are the most honest and helpful as they always tell the truth, After the focus group whether they were just agreeing with the whole group or actually being extremely opinionated will come across in the anonymous interview and questionnaires. I feel I want to do this as some students do feel over powered and pressured into following the others, so this allows everyone to have a personal view and not feel pressure and ease. It also allows them to not be judge if they feel that from myself, even though I have voiced no judgement will be made I do realised that some people will not take this into account. I have also considered this as from personal experience in my vocational school I preferred sharing my views with this technique.

Interview with fellow dancer

Following on and developing the outcome, the next participants will be my fellow dance colleagues. Also taking the time to interview Sophie as part of the University. Working dancers and teachers have their own views on whether the qualification is a benefit or not. Using closed questions should be more effective within this group of people as this tool is slightly more personal and most of them have experience in the industry, which contribute to their beliefs. “Did you do qualifications in dance?” “Do you regret not taking up doing qualifications?” “Have you learnt more with experience?”  I will document their answers by recording what they say which will be slightly more formal but being a familiar face they will still feel at ease.

Employers

Proceeding on with the formal interviews the next participants will be personal employers to myself. This is to get an indication of the employees that work for them and whether all have a qualification or not. Open and closed questions will be used in this interview such as “ Do you think all employees should have a recognised qualification in order to teach?” “Are they people employed without qualifications?”

Environment

The environment of both interviews and focus group will be on familiar terms and on “home turf” which the studio is the most appropriate place for the class to discuss of all their ideas and opinions about the instructor constructively. There views will be straight from a class and so to be fresh and honest. This unfortunately may be slightly time consuming, however for the questionnaires the students are able to take home and answer the questions in their own time. 

The interviews will be well structured ensuring that the exact questions are asked and not to go into personal details. However, the individuals will be able to answer the questionnaires anonymously creating no pressure or obligation to write something that is not their personal thoughts. From personal experience when attending my vocational college we had to anonymously answer questions about other teachers for feedback.

The recording of the interview will be the questions that are wrote down by the students and then a tape of the interview with the employer and fellow dance instructors. I will have different evidence to back my focus group and interview up. Which will also show me for future analysis which of the evidence was the most beneficial.

Data protection Act- using consent forms and a contract stating that the all information documented from the interviews and questionnaire are for university use only. This will enable clean and honest environment and give the employer and student ease to voice their opinions.