Wednesday, July 28, 2010

PSBs and a Baby

I received a sweet comment on my Personal Style Blog Research post from Lorena, offering to take part, but also assuming I was done with my data collection. Though reasonable, it couldn't be further from the truth. I have spent the intervening four months doing tons of background research and not yet interviewing a single participant.

Here's the part that will make you laugh. Right around the time I wrote that post, I was busy getting busy and conceiving my first child. Yup! I'm pregnant! The baby is due 1/11/11.


Now, I could use 1st Trimester trauma as an excuse for why I haven't started interviews yet, but there's an even more practical reason I've lagged. I didn't have my own equipment yet. Equipment! Every good researcher's most important investment! For my pilot project I borrowed equipment to do seven interviews, which translated into a total of about 20 hours of work (seven hours of interviews and two additional hours for each interview to transcribe and sort the data).

For the next phase, I want to more than quadruple the number of interviews. This meant two things. One: I should own my own equipment. Borrowing stuff for 20 hours vs. ~100 hours makes a difference. Two: if I could find a way to speed up transcription, life would be golden. With this past paycheck I invested in the following, currently speeding to my doorstep: the Olympus WS-400S DNS Digital Voice Recorder Kit.

It comes with Dragon Naturally Speaking Software. Speech recognition technology: HUZZAH! If this program saves me even 15 minutes per interview, I will consider it money extremely well spent.

So that's my news. I have a baby bump, and I will be testing new equipment in the very near future. The project is in progress, and I truly need to get my interviews done in August. Naturally, the fun part will be where I get to talk to you!

24 comments:

  1. oh my goooodnessssss! congratulations Emily! on the BABY and the new equipment (ok, but mostly the baby). so exciting! I'm currently reading "The Birth Partner" by Penny Simkin and totally recommend it for your partner (I'm an aspiring doula, so this is a must read for my field!).

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  2. Ahh! That will be such a cool birthdate if the little one comes out on time. Best wishes for you and your growing family!! xx

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  3. WooHOO! Two huge developments! 'Excellent work!

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  4. congrats on the baby!
    you still look very chic :)

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  5. Congratulations!! we are just a couple of weeks apart, how exciting! I hope you're starting to feel better as you get into your second trimester.

    xoxo

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  6. Congratulations! Though I have to admit that I was a little alarmed by the due date because I read it as November 1. I'm also excited about your new equipment. Sounds super cool!

    Can you get keener undergrads to help with transcription? A colleague of mine in the sciences had an honours undergrad help her with a lot of stuff for the experience and a reference letter. Might be helpful with the super time-consuming transcription.

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  7. Congratulations! This is exciting news on both fronts!

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  8. Congratulations!

    In response to your comment on my post about consumerism... It does stress us fashion bloggers about wearing the same thing over and over again..especially if it's styled similarly. People like seeing new things, new ideas. It's hard to live up to that expectation every. single. day. Second, as for the cost-per-wear, sometimes I buy things and I only know of three ways to wear it and maybe it'll be $10 or so. That's still not under $1. Something might be $5 and I can think of 10 ways to wear it. Either way, I'd still buy those items if I can find several ways to wear it no matter the cost-per-wear. Third, you're right about magazines/catalogs vs. fashion blogs. Something we fashion bloggers always miss.

    clothed much, a modest fashion blog

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  9. Gah! I'm so excited for you! Being pregnant scares the daylights out of me, but I always get so excited when I hear about someone else's pregnancy. Please keep us updated with both of your projects ;)

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  10. Thank you and congratulations!! I'm very happy for you.

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  11. Congratulations! Good wishes on all fronts!

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  12. Oh my, congratulations! What fantastic news :)

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  13. There's just so much to be excited about! You! Your project! Equipment! Equipment? Interviews! Baby! Baby bump! Bumps that are not on babies! Ahhh!

    OK so I'm crazy. But in a good way-- I'm so happy for you! Even though your last comment MASSIVELY confused me to the point of laughing. Is my cardigan or the windmill sitting on the diamonds? Where did the diamonds come from? The tickets to that thing you love? I seriously hope you got that reference...

    Toast with Charmalade

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  14. I just saw this via Charmalade's post... a HUGE congrats is in order! Best of luck on the research and of course the baby!

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  15. Congratulations, Emily! This is awesome! And I love your ren costume.

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  16. HUGE CONGRATS, how exciting :)))))


    and such a cute little bump you have, awwwww!


    jess s//

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  17. congratulations!!!! what an awesome due date as well (so symmetrical!)!

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  18. WAAAOOO!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!! I'm so happy with these news!

    www.thejoyoffashion.blogspot.com

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  19. I am sooo behind on reading other people's blogs but what a happy surprise to see this news here! Congratulations!! What a cute little bump already!

    S.

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