Judy, there is EM work on first person experiences, e.g., James Heap's
piece on "depression" in Human Studies, Vol. 5, o. 4: pp. 345-356.
In my own dissertation, I spent a whole chapter (40 pages single-spaced)
on my research journey (how I got into the classrooms, my relationships
with tthe teachers and students, the times I spent with them... all full
of accounts of people's experiences. I also have a section on my own
interactions with my supervisor and my thesis committee members... and
on how these interactions have affected my research.
Jay, thanks for your very very helpful reply. You're right, there're
more problems with our data than our theories... lots of work to be done
in that area! :-) keeps us busy...
Just a question Jay, do you really believe we (meaning educational
researchers) can make a difference? (like doing something really useful
or may be of some help to those in the schools?) I remember what you say
about dissertations and journal articles: you said both do not have many
readers... and yet don't you think we spend most of our working life
producing these 2 things... grad students produce theses/dissertations;
professors produce journal articles... what's the point (excerpt the easy
answer of practical purposes e.g., job, tenure, etc...)? Sorry don't
want to spoil the New Year mood :-) just these days I keep asking myself
these questions and still could not figure out a satisfactory answer!
Cheers,
Angel
P.S. By the way, could someone tell me why people sing Auld Lang San
(spelling correct?) in the New Year? :-) I'm just interested in the
historical origins of this practice... then I can explain to my students
in Hong Kong :-) Thanks...
Angel