Thursday, March 4, 2010

Writing Fever

That's it!

I've gone back through all of my coded data, saturated my sub-categories, and made conceptual ties to portions that were previously more descriptive. My intuition was mostly correct as I only had to reword a couple of my sub-categories.

Of course, I moaned and groaned and considered giving up over the past 5 days of doing this, but the effort has proven worthwhile.

What is even MORE exciting is that tonight, I read a booklet written by a practitioner in the field that I am studying. This is DATA! And guess what?

Guess what???

My theory completely explains his perspectives!!!

Not only that, the data from him represents a group of people from which I had difficulty obtaining interviews. So I can quote him!!!

And best of all... well, not best best of all, but pretty close to best best... I sent that data with my theoretical scribbles in the margins to Adviser and sh'he wrote back saying that sh'he can't wait to read my theory!!!

The best best of all is this: I believe I have a really good theory on my hands!

No, I don't believe it, I know it!

I know it! I know it! I know it!

(Okay, did I overdo the exclamation marks?)

And now it's 5:40am and I refuse to go to sleep even after working 7 hours straight. I am writing out my theory now, and boy, am I ever excited!

5 comments:

timmyvj said...

Thanks - this helps me grasp more of the intricacies and complexities of the process. And to think, no, KNOW that your findings are not only being received but will prove to both corroborate others' findings and provide some ground-breaking stuff . . . that IS amazing.

PROUD of you.

Lonely Dissertator-No-More said...

Thanks for your comment Timmyvj. FYI, the final product is a theory, not so much a reporting of what was found (i.e. findings) as is typical of other methodologies. But you didn't come here to get technical. ;-)

Scholar Wannabe said...

It really IS a huge relief when the data confirms your initial hunch.

But I think that that's the real motivation for why academics do research/writing.

I'm so pleased and excited for you!!!

(And, no, I don't think that you overdid the exclamation marks. I would have used at least a half-dozen more.)

Peggy said...

Congratulations! You so seriously rock! I am mortified at the possibility of trying to defend my meager little diss in the same month that you defend yours! ;-)

Anonymous said...

You are now in the "drugless trip". That's why you are not tired.