qualitative research

Wed May 1 06:51:38 PDT 2002

Hi Rich —

thanks so much for sending this on.  I discovered OST at the end of my
Master's process and didn't get a chance to use it then.  We'll get all
of this out there soon — I just know it.

J

>>> norr3888 at BELLSOUTH.NET 04/30/02 04:25PM >>>
Hi Judi,

I stumbled across OST while completing my Masters.  I was so intrigued
by it
that I decided to do my Masters research project on something connected
to
OST.  I looked in vain for published research on OST and found
virtually
nothing.   What I did find was a large collection of stories and
articles on
OST which I believed were "mini qualitative slices" of data attesting
to the
value of using OST.  Hence my Master's research project...."A Grounded
Theory Study on The Value Associated with Using OST".

I decided to pull all these together and squeeze some "quantitative
data"
from their "qualitative state".  I purchased software to help me do
this
(Ethnograph V 5.0, designed by Quali Research and distributed by
Scolari).
I then downloaded all the stories into the software, tagged each
"qualitative" item into a value categories: Time Frame - immediate,
post,
potential.  Type - personal, organizational.  System - management,
leadership, vision, community.  Alas I had some "simple numbers" to
help
guide me through the rest of the research.

What I found personally valuable from the project was the journey...it
was
an experience in "self organizing research" (which I believe is the
difficulty most qualitative researchers face).  I had no idea where the
data
would lead me so I trusted the process and let it roll!  The
results......70
some pages of "my ramblings" (required for a grade) and then 15 or so
pages
of I believe might be the most value to the OST community.  The
offering of
what others ascribed as "of value" categorized in tables, something I
had
not seen in my literature review on OST.  These can be found in the
research
paper.  http://www.openspaceworld.org/tmnfiles/OSTResearch2000.htm

I am grateful for the experience.  The next time I do formal research
on OST
I will do it "In Open Space" which is in my mind the next logical step
in
the process of researching OST and where "the full story lives"!

Hope this helps as you bring your project into focus and it becomes
what it
will be.

Rich Norris
norr3888@ bellsouth.net

----- Original Message -----
From: "Birgitt Williams" <birgitt at mindspring.com>
To: <OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU>
Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2002 10:53 AM
Subject: Re: qualitative research

> Hi Judi,
> Beginning in about 1996, if not sooner, as facilitators of OST, we
met to
> discuss the importance of research such as you are looking for. I
believe
> that you will not find what you are looking for "in the literature"
because
> for whatever reason, most facilitators of OST, myself included, write
up
> what has happened as stories (qualitative research?) with a few
people
> having done their phD thesis but very few contributing their findings
to
us
> as a collective to use it.
>
> Are their stories of how OST has been used to do data
> collection/research--there are many many stories (both written and
not
> written up). As a consultant, every time that I do an analysis of
> organizational health and balance with an organization, an OST
meeting is
> part of the data collection to enable the organization to have the
best
> possible data (research) to guide them in creating the future they
desire.
>
> OSI US was set up with an official Board of Directors and with a
charitable
> status number for a number of reasons (in 1996) including the
opportunity
of
> receiving grants for projects that would move work with OST forward.
I
> encourage a discussion about collecting data that substantiates our
claims
> about the value of OST. I sigh as I say this. I have very little time
to
> attend to this, because I am very busy getting the work done,
including
very
> intense work at the moment with development work with conscious Open
Space
> organizations. And yet, if we do not as a collective have the
"research"
> written up and documented, it leaves us in a weakened position
regarding
> enquiries such as yours.
>
> I wish your group would simply ask "does it work?" and "do you have
any
> stories you can share?".
>
> Blessings to you and all whom you make genuine contact with,
>
> Birgitt  Williams
> Mentoring for Organizational Effectiveness
>
> visit us at www.genuinecontact.com <http://www.genuinecontact.com/>
and
> join the list serve at
http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/genuinecontact
> <http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/genuinecontact>
>
> "I believe that Spirit matters and people are precious. I know that
> organizations incorporating these values have exciting, tangible
results
> including wealth, prosperity, and abundance. Daily, these
organizations
> attend to their health and balance. Participating in the Genuine
Contact
> program takes you on a learning journey of HOW to achieve the healthy
and
> balanced organization (the conscious Open Space Organization).”
Birgitt
> Williams, Dalar International Consultancy
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]On Behalf Of
Judi
> Richardson
> Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2002 9:30 AM
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: qualitative research
>
>
> Hi all — I had mentioned a health group looking to use OST as a
> research methodology.  Here is a more focused look at what they are
> trying to achieve — it might spark a few ideas!  For instance, has
> anyone done OST with pharmaceutical companies — this could assist
them
> in the proposal development.
>
> This is an interdisciplinary research group, developing a study to
> examine the pain experience of women having oocyte retrieval (part
of
> invitro fertilization). They want to hear women's voices and believe
OST
> is a technique that will enable women to share their stories and
> identify strategies to assist with pain control. However, we have
been
> unable to find any supporting data for the use of OST within the
medical
> and nursing literature. We need to find supporting data (published,
or
> research in progress) that has used OST for their research design.
This
> is necessary, to move forward with funding and approval by both
> qualitative and quantitative reviewers.
>
> Thanks and have a great day.
>
> Judi
>
> In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities;
> in the expert's mind, there are few.  (Suzuki Roshi, 1970)
>
>
> Judith L. Richardson
> Pono Consultants International
> Facilitating the Flow of Inspired Collaboration
> www.ponoconsultants.com
> 902-435-0308
>
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