Task 6A

Tools of professional Enquiry!

It is a daunting task of creating pilot surveys, interviews, focus groups and an observation. Having not done this before I am coming into this task very unaware as to what I may find.

I have got two evenings this week set aside to meet up with a few members of my SIG Mel Brown and Chelsie Johnson, in order for us all do our pilots. I am currently in the process of designing them and finding it harder than I thought. I am hoping that by engaging in this activity with my SIG members we can compare and contrast results, as well as discuss our findings. By doing this we can support each other and also explore which tools we plan on using within our Inquiry.

I have decided that as well as taking notes during our sessions I will record the interviews and focus groups so that none of the information is lost in transit! Although these are just pilots I want all the information gathered to be as reliable and valid as possible.

Due to the nature of my Inquiry from the research I have done I feel that observations are an irrelevant therefore I will not be conducting a pilot observation as not only is it a waste of my time it will also be a waste of the participants. I feel that observations can be very valid in other areas of research for example teaching however in these circumstances I will not be using observation as one of my Inquiry tools.

I am looking forward to the outcome and will blog it asap. I am also interested to see how other people experience the inquiry tools and will keep an eye out to read those blogs!

Task 5D - Ethical dimensions for my proposed Inquiry

This evening I managed to meet up with a member of one of my Sig groups in which we discussed the ethical dimensions of our proposed inquiry. Moreover looked in depth how we plan and prepare in order to be ethical while conducting the inquiry. 

A main aspect of our conversations revolved around the ethics of taking and storing data for professional inquires. We came up with the following points so that our data is collected and analysed in an 'ethically sound' way. 

Before we discussed the following points ethics used to be part of my everyday life with out realising it, however I have now come to understand in order to have an ethically sound Inquiry we must them at the forefront of our minds, as we don't only have ourselves to protect we are also protecting others. 

• If conducting an interview at the beginning you should tell the participant if they feel uncomfortable they can stop the interview at anytime. Also reassure them that they are under no pressure to complete or take part in the interview process.

• Agree with the interview participants that the data will be anonymous - I feel this is especially important in an interview situation as it means the participant will feel fully relaxed and answer questions more honestly if they know that they won't be named. Therefor in my inquires I may use X, Y or Z instead of their names. Perhaps with the focus groups as its an open discussion we may use names but only with the full written consent of those involved. All of which will be made fully aware of the intent to use the information given. 

• Make sure a consent form is signed by all participants making sure all the data is ethically available to use.

• Create a way to ensure that data is stored securely whether it is physical (for example locked in a filing cabinet) or online (safeguard documents so they are only accessible with a password, which only you have access to.)

• Only use the data collected for the purpose of the inquiry. 

• If your study involves under 18's it is critical to get the consent of a parent of guardian. (my inquiry will probably not need this ethical boundary but it was an important one we touched upon this evening)

• Ask questions which a relevant to your inquiry. Don't steer off the subject. For example it is not relevant in my Inquiry to know the sexuality of my participants therefore i will not ask them. How ever it is relevant to my inquiry where people live, as I feel there may be a link to those actively continuing training and searching for work while based in london are getting more jobs than those who live say back at home in the likes of Liverpool. 

• Before starting the data collecting process establish that everyone involved understands the objectives you have for the Inquiry. It is important that they know the purpose behind the inquiry and what you wish to achieve by doing it. 

• Destroy all the data once you have finished with it. As it no longer has a purpose. 

These are just the main points we touched upon this evening ethics is such a lengthy subject you could talk all day but I personally felt these were some of the best points that I wanted to share with you.

I would be interested to see what you all think about these ethical dimensions. I will also be looking out for other blogs on Task 5D so we can discuss different ideas and ethical principles. 

Brainstorming!!

I decided to try and get some of my thoughts on my inquiry out on paper this afternoon.
At this moment in time my inquiry title is looking likely to be ;

"The importance of Continuous Professional Development within Musical Theatre and how it can impact upon success with in the industry"

Still playing around with words but that is the basic principle. I have done two brainstorms one which explores different aspects that I feel link together to help create a strong base for CPD another which looks at who my inquiry will effect why I want to do it and the objectives I have!

Please take a look and let me know what you think. I may have missed out some important links or something you feel is worth while exploring. I am hoping these will help me form a basis into which I can create, surveys and interviews etc!

Exploring different aspects!

Who, why and objectives! 

If you click on them they will enlarge!

Task 5C

As I'm sure you all know by know reader 5 was slightly epic therefore I decided to air my views on a wiki rather than clogging up your blog feeds. I would really appreciate your views on my wiki so please comment below!

Task 5C

Thanks in advance!

5B - Codes of practice with in Theatre!

I have found this blog which I found really interesting and think you should read. It explores the codes of ethics and although it was written in 1945 most of the principles still apply now!

Code of Ethics Blog

I think within our industry our code of ethics lies among our professional conduct and the way we carry ourselves in our day to day life whether it be in a contract or at an audition.

Not only do I feel the above aspect is important, I also think we have a code of ethics when it comes to our audiences. The blog above touches upon it but I feel strongly towards the fact that whether there is 300 or 3000 people in the audience you should give them an equally as good performance!!

I think there is some stigma around equity but if as a performer you need any advise around our code of ethics or have an issue during a contract they are there to help so its a good go to if you ever have a problem or just want to find something out! I myself am a member and have gone to them before for advise and know many others who have too.

There is an endless list I could probably write about ethical codes with in our industry but I am going to give you my top 5!

1. Respect others, whether is mean being on time or having spacial awareness in auditions.
2. Treat others how you would like to be treated.
3. Adhere to your company ethos, as we all know we change jobs frequently depending what shows are around, but you must remember your next company may not work in the same way your current one does, so bear that in mind!
4. Be truthful, may it be in a performance or to yourself.
5. Always give 110% Although its a cliché when your self employed and constantly being told no you just need to get back up and fight for what you want!

Task 5a - My thoughts on Ethics within my profession.

I brainstormed my initial thoughts onto a spider gram, I found it quite hard as I feel some of the ethics we adhere to in our professional life's are so obvious we tend not to think about them. I will bullet point  some of the things I came up with.

1. Declarations (permission for filming us in auditions or on jobs giving the employers rights to the footage) There was a big scandal about Dirty Dancing EPQ quite a few years back regarding this right. As they were not asked and also not paid- eventually after a long drawn our process they got it sorted but it ended up costing the company a lot of money!!
2. Breaching of professional contracts whether with employers or agents.
3. Professional boundaries while at collage, ie no teacher student relationships
4. Professional boundaries within the work place for example if your choreographer also your friend you can be friends outside the room, but while your working you are their employe, do not cross the line. 
5. Copyright with the likes of sheet music.
6. Plagiarism with in the world with dance, copying choreography and trying to pull it off as your own.
7. Racism and discrimination.
8. Being respectful to the pecking order in your company.
9. Stealing - sackable offence.
10. Bulling mentally and physically.
11. Crbs when working with children, although this is not a requirement when your in a cast along with children I feel strongly that it should be! 

These are what I originally came up with. I then started a discussion with Mel and we continued to talk about a lot of them linking them in to professionalism and how you should conduct yourself within our industry. Many of the points are common sense and not only do they apply to our industry they also apply across the bored. Before engaging with the reader I would have said although I apply ethics in my everyday life I wasn't fully aware of them. However know they are in the forefront of my mind and I am actively thinking about them. I am excited to look into task 5B and too see what is brought up! 

CPD - what actually is it?

CPD stands for continuous professional development.

I found this website gave a good definition - http://orrdat.orr.gov.uk/whatiscpd.aspx

I feel very passionately about this line of enquiry as its very relevant to my current professional practice and practically everyone else in my profession.

I have been trying to do some reading on this subject and there is a lot about general CPD or CPD specific to other careers and jobs but nothing specific to CPD in the arts. All the more reason to do it I thought!

I want to look into the follow aspects -

1. How being the best you can be can impact on success
2. How networking can aid CPD
3. The best way to keep up with the next big thing - whats hot this week may not be next week
4. How to keep mentally strong in order to keep going 
5. How to keep physically fit when in and our of work in order to be at the top of your game
6. Keeping audition ready so you get that next job
7. Reflecting on events in order to learn and become a better professional

I would like to have your feedback on those points and also would be interested into what you would look into?

The reading I have been doing is looking at the basic understanding of CPD and how it can help you in your professional practice.

I found the following article very interesting as it poses a similar study into which I will be looking at. Although in a different field and time scale its good to look at parallel projects.

Jens Rowold, Sabine Hochholdinger, Jan Schilling, (2008) "Effects of career-related continuous learning: a case study", Learning Organization, The, Vol. 15 Iss: 1, pp.45 - 57 -

Off to continue reading! Please give me some feedback!!