I have been reminded recently that a good conversation about research has many benefits. It is enjoyable for starters to be able to discuss things that are on one's mind. One enhances one's knowledge because of what is said but also because of the chance to articulate partially formed ideas. Without these chances to discuss research, ideas are often left partially formed. It takes a certain level of trust between participants to have a good research conversation.
I'd like to see more comments appearing on the blog but they remain sparse. The numbers visiting the blog average around 40 or so a week. This is pretty good as I don't promote it much. Any suggestions on how to get more traffic would be appreciated. The more people that visit hopefully the better the dialogue we can have.
www.CompletePhD.com
I'd like to see more comments appearing on the blog but they remain sparse. The numbers visiting the blog average around 40 or so a week. This is pretty good as I don't promote it much. Any suggestions on how to get more traffic would be appreciated. The more people that visit hopefully the better the dialogue we can have.
www.CompletePhD.com
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Dear Craig,
ReplyDeleteIt is very kind of you to host this blog and to ask for comments. Below I jotted down some quick thoughts, which I hope you find useful (they are not at all meant as criticism).
There is, certainly, a snowball effect. As you say ‘The more people that visit hopefully the better the dialogue we can have’ – so, the issue is how do you let others know about your blog to start with, and/or give them a reason to visit again? Perhaps you can post a link in your LinkedIn profile, or on twitter if you have an account? Perhaps refer to it in your lectures, particularly if you teach research methodology? Or, once a month you could have a posting where you report on issues relevant to your audience – for instance, a summary of interesting blogs you found, or relevant call for papers, or an invited poster sharing an experience from conducting research? Of course, all these ideas are time consuming and unless you, yourself, can derive some benefit from it (e.g., ideas for a book, a database for your research students, …), I understand that it is hard to find the time and motivation to do so.
However, as you say, 40 visits or so a week is quite a good start – so, the question is, why are we/they not posting? I think that the lack of interaction may be due to style, expectations and habit.
Style – Generally, your postings come across (at least to me) as entries in a diary, not snippets inviting for feedback (though you do, sometimes, ask for comments). Perhaps you can experiment with different styles, such as polls.
Expectations – I can not point out exactly when or where I read it, but I seem to remember reading that you would not reply to postings because you did not have time, which I totally understand. The downside is that one thinks that it is not worth it raising a question or making a comment if you are not replying and one is not sure who else is reading the blog and might be able to add to the discussion.
Habit – your postings are not very regular (and by that I do not mean frequent; just with a fairly predictable frequency), which does not get people in the habit of checking your website, say, every first week of the month. I know how hard this is – I aim to post an entry in my own blog http://www.anacanhoto.com/Site/Ramblings/Ramblings.html) during the first week of every month but often struggle to find the time to do so.
Again, this is not meant to be a criticism of what you are doing. It is a hard task, particularly when you do not know who is reading your postings (incidentally, I wrote a short piece about this very same difficulty here: http://www.anacanhoto.com/Site/Ramblings/Entries/2010/1/6_Twitter_and_the_need_to_know_your_audience.html)
Best wishes, Ana
Hi Ana
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for your suggestions. They all seem sensible and great recommendations. I will try to act on a few of them.
On the point about me not replying to every post, this was mainly because I thought it better to give others a chance to reply. Otherwise it can seem as though I am validating every comment but I guess a balance is needed.
I will take a look at your blog.
Best wishes
Craig
This blog could be helpful for anyone pursuing a doctorate (i.e., Ed.D., D.Min., Psy.D., etc). I came across this blog through a link from a post I read in a qualitative research listserv. In my college, there is a Research Seminar & a Dissertation Seminar. This blog should be mandatory as part of these seminars for doctoral students. An outreach to doctoral studies offices would be a way to promote this. I am in the USA & will forward this information to be passed along. If each person who reads this does the same, it is another way word will get out & be promoted. I've finished writing my qualitative dissertation last month & wish I knew about the blog earlier in the process.
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