Interview
This was a tool I did trail and found it to be useful. I firstly drafted a consent form giving an insight to what my inquiry was about and asking for the professional's consent to participate. I then thought up the questions necessary to gain helpful and insightful answers from and I was select in who I sent it to. My main focus for the pilot was professional dancers as I wanted to gain a view on management from their perspective.
The interview tool was perfect for me to receive qualitative data back and gave my participant a chance to answer with an explanation instead of one worded answers like the survey. It is definitely something I look to use in my inquiry and I intend to use early on in my process. I feel the response I gained give me good basis to research deeper for example I asked:
"What sorts of problems do you feel are your management’s responsibility to deal with?:
To keep the company running smoothly, build those contacts for possible sponsorships etc."
From here I would look further into how managers go about running their company smoothly and building contacts for sponsorship. I would also use interviews in my inquiry to learn how these were done by interviewing managers and experienced professionals within the field.
This was another tool I tried out and this time I was not so select with whom I sent it to. I created it on the website surveymonkey.com which was quick and easy to use and posted the link to my SIG. The results were all anonymous (automatically) and I received a lot more quantitative data than qualitative as this was how I structured the survey. With it being anonymous however it means although I could still quote, I won't know who or where the quote came from.
This tool was useful in gathering a wide range of data and generalisations although I imagine my inquiry to be more of a quantitative nature so I might find the interviews more useful. If I do use this tool it will also be at the beginning of my process as I find it a good measuring tool to see where things are currently at and where to develop further. For example on of my questions was "What attracts you to a specific company/production for employment?” The responses were different to what I had originally guessed (‘Inspirational Performances’: 25%) with the 75% answering ‘Staff you would like to work with’. This makes me want to look further into how managers attract employees to their company and in doing this which methods work best.
Focus Group
Although I didn't literally trial a focus group I have been engaging within my SIG and found this to be very useful in gaining and giving ideas to others with similar interests/situations. A focus group is something I may decide to do during my inquiry as I could get thoughts and responses from other colleagues within my workplace however I feel the negative side is the time consumption of a focus group. With very busy schedules a focus group may be difficult to get together so would involve serious forward planning.
Pilot Observation
This is another tool I didn't manage to try out as again, it's quite time consuming however I feel this will be a valuable method of research in my inquiry and will most likely factor it into my plan. It gives the opportunity for me to view how things are being done currently and learn more via observing. I will use the 'covert' method as a dancer because I can easily observe during rehearsals and this is less likely to distort results or behavior. However all those involved will be aware of my inquiry.’ This tool brings up a lot of ethical considerations in privacy but again, all will sign a consent form. I feel documenting this one could be slightly harder and may turn to video to do this.
