Audio Essay: 2010

Introduction

This page features an 'audio essay', a new concept with which we
experimented in our audio production course this year. The aim was to apply principles drawn from qualitative social research methodology to a
reflective discussion of our experiences of putting together audio
documentaries. At the bottom of the page, there is an explanation of the
relationship between my own approach to the practice of producing audio documentaries and principles drawn from qualitative social research
methodology.

The right hand panel lists concept drawn from social research that I find of value to my own practice. In the main panel, I present a series of radio talks reflecting on different aspects of my experience of producing an audio documentary. Each talk draws on the theoretical concepts that I discuss on the page. By listening to the talks and studying the text, listener’s \ readers will hopefully find that theory and practice comes together into a meaningful whole.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

My original plan

Here I speak about my initial ideas for the documentary and the reasons that lead me to change my mind. I also speak about lessons I learnt once I entered the research field.

NB: I've taken a relaxed and conversational style in presenting these podcast's. You should find what I have to say quite easy to understand.

The interview stage

In this podcast I speak about my great experiences interviewing my research subject. The difficulties I encountered and how I went about dealing with them. I also speak about the emotionally draining process that is... exiting the research field. You will like this... please do listen!

From raw material to paper edit

Here I speak about how usefull I found this exercise, while at the same time I had difficulties structuring the documentary the way I had envisioned it to sound in my head.

Changing back to Sound

This podcast talks about the difficulties I faced when I changed the paper edit back into sound. I also speak about the way I structured the documentary and what I wanted to achieve with that structure.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

My Journalistic phillosophy: Qualitative research meets Audio journalism

Qualitative research sees the social world through the eyes of the research subjects and understands actions and meaning in their social context and thus it says it collects naturally occurring data.

Field research appeals to people who like to who like to interact with people from different social groups, people who like face to face social interaction with real people in their natural setting. This type of research method is far more exciting than quantitative research methods that use complicated mathematical statistics that do not look beyond the observable variables (Newman, 2001; 379). Field research allows for studying fascinating unfamiliar social worlds such as sex addicts, gangs, criminals and many other hidden social groups that would make great documentaries and news feature content.

Audio journalists as qualitative researchers

Most field research data are in the form of field notes, researchers often write their observations down into a number of academic pages and sometimes but rarely they also use audio recorders. Audio recorders are often used as supplements in field research to researcher’s written field notes.

Traditional qualitative researchers do not approve of using audio recorders as a sole means of collecting field data, as they feel recorders create “disruption” and an increased awareness of surveillance; of course this is not true for me and later I shall reveal ways that writing on the field can be “disruptive”.

Researchers who use audio recorders also have to deal with associated problems such as checking batteries and memory storage. Transcribing large hours of audio is time consuming and there is great risk of not accurately interpreting the mumbled words. When listened to at a later stage of audio recordings; they do not often convey subtle contextual meaning (Newman, 2001: 412).

However some researchers are now convinced to use audio recording material as it is becoming increasingly difficult to take good written notes on the field.

When furiously writing notes down researchers cannot see and hear the action happening on the field. The attention given to note writing is taken away from field observation where it should be. Written scholarly work actually has the same interest as those of documentarist’s, preserving local cultures, understanding often different ways of life and giving voice to often ignored societies.

Guide Lines: list of concepts drawn from social research

In-depth interviews:

An in depth interview is a qualitative research method. It involves asking questions, listening, expressing interest, and recording what was said. Generally they involve one or more people being present, occur in the field, and are informal and non-directive.

In-depth interviews are a joint production of a researcher and a member where the members are active participants whose insights, feelings, and cooperation are an essential part of the discussion process that reveals subjective meanings. The kinds of questions asked are flexible, iterative and continuous. The idea is to get to know the subject well, be interested in the subject and thus give them an opportunity to speak about what they find interesting and important in their lives (Newman, 2001; 378).

Ethnography:

Ethnographic research is the scientific description of specific human cultures and societies, based almost completely on fieldwork. Ethnography is the study of people acting in the natural courses of their daily lives. The fieldworker (journalist) ventures in the worlds of others in order to learn firsthand about how they live, they talk, behave and what captivates and distresses them (Newman, 2001; 368).

Flexibility:

Successful field researchers tend to follow a number of flexible steps that are necessary in achieving the goal of their research. Being flexible when conducting field research would give the researcher an advantage as they can easily seize opportunities that become available to them and would easily shift direction and play by the ear and adjust to fluid social situations (Newman, 2001; 378).

Research site or subject:

Selecting a site or subject is equally important. A site according to Newman (2001; 385) is the context in which events or activities occur, a socially defined territory with shifting boundaries. Three factors are relevant when choosing a research site; richness of data, unfamiliarity and suitability (Newman, 2001; 386).

Gate keepers:

Having chosen a site, there is also need to gain access to a site and there are usually gatekeepers. A gatekeeper is someone with the formal or informal authority to control access to a site (Newman, 2001; 387). If it is a community that has been chosen, then maybe there is the community leader who would have to be approached to seek permission. Sometimes, they do not have to be specific authorities but people who are well known and respected because they can help in having the community be more open to an “outsider”.

Exiting research field:

Finally, leaving the field is also just as important and can be difficult because a person may have built emotional connections and friendships with the people. Therefore, the stage implies exiting, dissolving relationships and emotional disengagement among other things (Sarantakos, 2005: 209).

Audio Essay

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