Mini Hiatus?

I'm just starting my second year as a part-time PhD student, and it feels as though I'm in intermission for a few weeks.  I completed the literature review chapter as far as I could early in August and sent it to my supervisor.  When we met early in September, he agreed that it could be put aside until later, and that I could start making plans to start my fieldwork, or the proper research.  Apparently I'm well on track.

My supervisor has challenged me to define my population, and my 'unit of observation', whether it is the organisation or the actual interviewee.  This is taking some working out. I'm fast learning that I need to be able to define and justify all the elements of and steps I take in my research.

So I've completed and submitted my ethics application together with the required risk assessment and draft questions for the pilot study interview to the University two weeks.  I am waiting to hear back.  The university has agreed that I can use Dedoose for to collect and analyse my data. As I'm using mixed methods, I didn't want to have to learn to use two separate software packages (SPSS and NVivo).  I've heard good reports about Dedoose and I'm looking forward to being able integrate data collection and analysis.

The fieldwork will be in two stages: phase 1 comprises 20 - 25 interviews, including a pilot study. I'm starting to address the practicalities of doing the fieldwork, like preparing participant information sheets, and consent forms. Although I've volunteers lined up for the pilot study, I'm still working out how I'm going to recruit enough interviewees.  

And then, there's working out how to record interviews.  I'm trying to learn how to use a digital MP3 recorder and, for some reason, unusual for me, I'm finding it harder than I expected.  I've realised that it might help if I buy an external microphone to use with recorder. So if you see me wielding something that looks like a black USB memory stick and I casually place it close to you, beware ....... I may ask you if I can practise recording with you as we talk.

The best news of all is that I'm attending my first academic conference as a PhDer at the University later next month (October 2012).  And what was most reassuring was reading the opening paragraph about the conference and realising that this is where my research fits in, a kind of Eureka moment, and the realisation that your research idea is not so daft after all, and that it has a home...