Reading Log #5 - Part 2

Reading Log, Golden-Biddle & Locke, Introduction and Chap. 1
Summary:

The authors explain their philosophy regarding qualitative research and the manner in which it should be written via the introduction to the book. They believe that qual research must be thoroughly linked to existing research via connections with the literature, in order for qual research to be viewed as making a serious contribution to the thought in any discipline.

Using the example of a child's cartoon story of a melting snowman, Golden-Biddle and Locke introduce the idea of a "theorized storyline," or a way of writing that links field research with academic literature.

Chapter 1 concerns what the authors term "the writing enterprise in the context of our professional lives." (p. 10) They use the chapter to illustrate the tension that lies between the spare academic style of writing and the need for fuller, richer, more nuanced writing that conveys not just the facts but the perceptions of meaning as well.

Reflection:
As the authors state, "the practice of academic writing is neither plain nor simple." (p. 11)This struggling academic writer must shout AMEN SISTAHS! to that assertion. It is especially difficult, nigh unto schizophrenic,to write one minute for a class requiring the academic wriring associated with quantitative research, then to switch gears the next moment in order to write in the richly narrative style required for qualitative work. The importance of learning to write in both styles is not lost on me, yet there are days on which I would like to shout "Enough already! - pick a style and let me get on with it!" I do realize that this ultimately happens when one chooses a dissertation topic, research design, and hence a way of looking at and writing about data. Until then I would just ask the folks on both sides of the textual fence to understand the strain that straddling said fence can cause. Pun fully intended.

Side note: I take great umbrage at the statement characterizing the library as "that academically removed knowledge repository." (p. 10) It is precisely as a means to becoming less removed, more in tune, and open to the great conversations of Higher Education that this librarian chose to pursue a PhD, not in librarianship, but in Higher Ed! :) That said, I have to forgive any authors who reference my favorite book on the wriring process, their mention of Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird absolves them of any anti-library offenses for which they may be guilty.