Today I put a good amount of time into chapter three of the prospectus. Trying to explain what I think I’m trying to do. And why I think that is the right way to do it. I was surprised that the Valparaiso University library did not have a copy of Michael Patton’s book on qualitative research. So I started looking at the other libraries in the area and Purdue Calumet and IUN both had copies, so this morning I went to the library at IUN and got an IU library card and checked out two books by Patton. I have already used both of them in the prospectus. I don’t know if the committee looks at the number of sources used or not, but I do when I grade papers, so it seems like that will help also. Plus, everything I’ve heard is that Patton is the granddaddy of qualitative researchers. So having his “endorsement” of what I’m trying to do should help. I also used the textbook from my class in qualitative research methods. Esterberg (2002) is quite the liberal lesbian, but most of her points about research are just fine. It’s all her examples of women’s studies and stuff that gives away her “orientation.” Then there’s the book by Merriam. Her book is all about case studies and that’s what I’m doing. It seems like you could just say, “chapter three, whatever Merriam says.” But I don’t think the committee would go for that. I sent a request out to the FBC Alumni group today asking if anyone would be interested in reading all this stuff I’ve been writing. I can think of people around here that I would like to read it, but I also know how busy they are, and some of the reason they are so busy, is because I am putting off as many responsibilities as possible until I get this done. I have asked Dave Olson to teach my education class, Jeremiah Mitchell is teaching the HS band, I asked Dan Armacost to take on some more of the lessons in the Children’s Ministries class and as the weight of this grows, I think I’m going to see if we can get some others to preach some of the times I signed up for in College chapel. I like preaching in chapel and especially like the study I’m doing through the book of Galatians, but each sermon takes at least a whole day to put together and sometimes they take longer than that. I just know that the moment I am rolling along on the dissertation, I’ll have to stop to prepare a sermon. I can’t wait until this thing is over so I can study and read what I really want to. I think I’ll try to learn Greek. It was interesting what Quintillian said about teaching young children Greek before they have any formal study of their native language. I think I mentioned that already in some other rambling session. Well, that’s what you get when you ramble. I wonder how much longer I have to ramble. I would like to have Annette’s input on what I’m doing, but that is a lot to ask of her since she is already putting up with my bad attitudes toward this project. She had the idea of me reading it to her, which is not a bad idea. It would give me an audible read of what I have written, plus as she says, she would probably stop me and say, “what are you talking about!” When that happens, I’ll have to work at not getting defensive and rather rewording it so that the normal reader will be able to understand what the dissertation is all about.
Jeff Voegtlin
Check out my website. MAYBE it has changed since you last visited. http://www.jeffvoegtlin.com/
You Think Too Much! 