New Paper

I have been struggling for weeks to come up with the right angle for my new paper on the context of the my first case study. Luckily now I have a much better idea on what to do with the paper. I have with me (almost) all the data and have also collected relevant references so it will be pretty straightforward to develop the paper. But I might also need to collect a little bit more data on the perspectives of the decision makers, the client institutions, (potential) users, members of Parliament as well as the public in general (CSOs). Seems to be a lot of work but the thing is the whole discussion involved only a single topic. Time for finalising the results of the first field study. Looking forward for conducting my second field study :) Hang in there baby, Daddy needs just another year from you... then this all will be over...

One year on...

Wow it's April 2012 already. I now have so many things to share. But in short, my research has been going very well. Since the last update (more than a year ago :p) I have conducted my first field study last year (September to November 2011), have also successfully defended my research proposal (in November 2011), and currently working on finalising my data analysis for the first field study. Apart from these, I have also presented my papers in Europe and in China :) This is another way of saying, I have been traveling around and it's paid by the university :) I am now a very happy PhD student :) at first, working with a very demanding supervisor was quite overwhelming, but without it, I would not be able to achieve the very state I'm currently at. Thank you so much to my supervisor for being a strict mentor and forcing me to produce work on a weekly basis. The very good news I want to share is actually about my dissertation. Based on data from my first case study, I have developed my theory on the topic, and will try to enrich it by collecting more data to be able to clearly define its boundaries. Very much hoping to conduct the second field study within few months time. Meanwhile, I'm also quite busy developing a new paper discussing a particular aspect of my case study's context. Happy that I'm actually on the right track to complete the study on-time (3 years) :)

Basic Sosial Process (BSP)

The main objective of doing Grounded Theory research is to produce theory from collected data. One of the main tools for data collection is interview method. For theory building purpose, the researcher needs to be able to conceptualize data obtained. In order words, data is only treated as indicators and pointing to certain concepts. Once the core concept is identified, then the process involved around the core concept can be determined, and the theory grounded very much closely to data, has been developed.
The next task is to read inputs from available literature to test and identify more categories and indicators to further solidify the theory.

My biggest task is to develop a theory from ICT project implementation cases in a Least Developed Country (LDC). Big job, but also very rewarding since, my thesis will not be producing merely another DESCRIPTIVE Theory...

I wonder how much time will it take to complete the whole cycles...

First thing first:
1. Work hard to obtain the ethics approval. Planned to be submitted in March
2. The Research proposal. Planned to be completed in February...
3. The 'Nod' from my supervisor to proceed to data collection stage. Hopefully I can start this process by May or June 2011...

I can see a blur light shining at the end of the tunnel (could be just my hallucination)... I just need to work hard, and work harder.... God I miss my daughter...

GTM - Memo

One of the hardest things in my study is to keep teaching myself into a habit of writing down everything that I do and think of: Readings (papers, books), ideas, writings (yes! write down ideas about the things I'm writing about... weird but true). So from now on, I will write down everything that I need/want/must write in this blog..... (hope that this is not too late :( God help me! ).

Will be reading this postings again in a couple of years time...