Tuesday 28 April 2009

Supervision meeting

Supervision Meeting for Nothando Ngwenya on the 28th of April 2009 at 11am at Beaconside

Present: SM, and NN.


1) We discussed the themes for the second study and the categories derived from the data.
2) SM suggested reviewing all the categories and making a better description/explanation of the tables and also to justify the categories. A better, clearer and appropriate sense of data audit trail is necessary for readers to understand how the themes emerge from the data and the process I used.
3) We agreed that I would need a tree diagram that showed how I got from the data to the codes that led to the categories used to build the themes.
4) We then discussed the content of the themes, and we agreed that the themes should be linked to ones from the previous study. I should include the theme about research and show that it is a recurrent theme from the previous study.
5) An interesting category I identified within the data is the use or non-use of new technologies by elderly people. Although one person mentioned this it will be interesting to explore this as I have interpreted that it as an explanation to the answers in the previous study of old people not using technology.
6) SM advised to refer to the cultural lag literature and look at the history of technology and backward compatibility. Some useful references are Jenny Preece, and Shirley Turkell
7) With the discussion I get add another sub section of other points and discuss interesting points that have come up within the study.
8) SM advised to do a trend analysis of the blog contents for the LIWC as I would have to explain and justify why I have decided to use only two blog posts (1st and last) for analysis and results.


Things to do by next meeting

1) NN to do a trend analysis of the blog post LIWC results

2) PK and SM will decide and bring some names for examiners

Tuesday 7 April 2009

Spervision Meeting

Supervision Meeting for Nothando Ngwenya on the 7th of April 2009 at 15:00pm in Paul’s Office, BL167.

Present: PK, SM, and NN.


1) I submitted Chapter 6 of the thesis which is the study of the hospice officers.
2) We briefly discussed the contents of this chapter and how it links with all the other chapters.
3) PK and SM advised on the layout of the thesis and also advised on the importance of chapters 8 and 9. Chapter 8 is the synthesis chapter which brings together the three studies and also builds the framework developed within the thesis. Chapter 9 is the conclusion which should review the strengths and weaknesses of the thesis.
4) We all agreed I would continue to work on the analysis of the next study, which is about the online participants.
5) We discussed the time schedule and tentative deadlines for the chapters (about 6 weeks each) and the complete draft of the thesis (August).
6) PK said if I had not completed by the end of my funding there was a possibility (not guarantee) of getting a part-time extension for 2 or 3 months.
7) I have also decided to look for and possible apply for jobs with a start date after September. SM, and PK advised not to lose focus on the thesis but we all agreed it would be okay to do so.
8) We had a brief discussion about examiners, but PK and SM will make the decisions.
9) Next supervision meeting will be Tuesday 28th of April at 10am.



Things to do by next meeting

1) NN to complete the preliminary analysis for the 2nd study and send to supervisors for approval before completing the chapter
2) PK and SM will try to bring feedback of Chapter 6.