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I am now back from two weeks annual leave.\u00a0Going on leave doesn\u2019t mean leaving your research and teaching interests behind. As often happens, I had a thought or two during my \u2018downtime\u2019.<\/p>\n
In fact, we had hardly begun our drive through the Highlands when we came across a large group of motor cyclists outside a caf\u00e9. And when I say large group, I do mean large \u2013 about forty bikes, many of which carried two people. Of course, it\u2019s not uncommon to see such large biker groups gathered together on routes where it\u2019s possible to ride very long distances without getting bogged down in traffic or villages. The Highlands are certainly one such place.<\/p>\n
It was pretty clear to anyone \u2018outside\u2019 the group that this was a community. My experience of such communities is drawn from the camaraderie of dog walkers and the ease with which we can strike up a conversation about breeds, names and various canine doings. And I imagine something similar goes on with motor cyclists.\u00a0Bikers have a mode of transport in common \u2013 and I\u2019m guessing here \u2013 share the pleasure of the sensations of a physically exposed way of getting from A to B as well as the unwelcome experiences of suspicious glances and dangerous moments.<\/p>\n
So it\u2019s not surprising that groups of motorcyclists, whether they actually know one another or not, readily strike up conversations about the road and weather conditions, good places to stop, various kinds of bikes and accoutrements. That\u2019s what we saw as we drew into the cafe car park.<\/p>\n
On this particular occasion, I overheard the same phrase several times in as many minutes. As people got on their bikes to leave the caf\u00e9 car park the ritual good bye seemed to be \u201cHave a good ride.\u201d Nothing about getting where you wanted to go. Nothing about arriving in one piece. Nothing about staying safe on the road. And nothing about seeing you at the next stop. It was simply \u201cHave a good ride\u201d.<\/p>\n
Having a good ride seemed to be as much, or perhaps even more, the point of the ride than reaching your destination. Having a good ride was about the process, the getting there. You could get from A to B through either a good or bad ride, and not surprisingly, it was most desirable for it to be good.<\/p>\n
So why did this strike me so forcibly?<\/p>\n
Well, it\u2019s probably obvious. But it goes to something that I often worry about.<\/p>\n
When we teach people about research we generally focus on the end point. The point of doing research is to find something out. The point of reading literatures is to design the research that will help you answer the research question. The point of generating data is that it\u2019s the stuff that gives you an answer the research question. The point of analysing data is so that you get to something that noone\u2019s thought about in quite in this way. It\u2019s all about the outcome.<\/p>\n
But, and yes I know you can see my argument here, but let me say it anyway\u2026 \u00a0you can get the answer to your research question in different ways. \u00a0Research can be a process that you rush through \u2013 you read the literatures as quickly as possible, you generate the data as efficiently as you can and chaff at the bit all through the analysis. Writing the text at the end is just another time-consuming task that comes before you actually get to say proudly \u201cHere is my research, here is my answer to this question, here is the contribution\u201d.<\/p>\n
This is the scholarly equivalent of riding a motorcycle without taking time to enjoy the experience of getting there. It\u2019s as if the process of research itself is unimportant, is strictly utilitarian, has no particularly notable value of and in itself.<\/p>\n
OK. Before you say it, yes, the bikers sometimes have bad weather, crappy roads and unfortunate encounters with other vehicles. But this is not what other bikers wish<\/em> for each other. Their ritual goodbye was\/is in fact that none<\/em> of these things happen \u2013 that the ride \u00a0to come was\/is an optimum experience, one the rider enjoys, where they just simply focus on the experience of near-naked travel at speed with the wind in their face \u2026<\/p>\n So, I thought, while paused at the road side caf\u00e9 in the Highlands, maybe there\u2019s an equivalent wish for researchers, something that we could say to each other as we embark on our inquiries.\u00a0Like.. Have a good research ride. Is that so impossible a community saying? It\u2019s naff, but it does make the point. The process of research can be great fun and enormous pleasure.<\/p>\n Take time to enjoy. It\u2019s not all about producing the answer to your question.<\/p>\n Relax into the project rhythm \u2013 it takes as long as it takes.<\/p>\n Find the moments to listen to the words of others in your ears.<\/p>\n Relish unexpected responses.<\/p>\n Delight in bringing order to an unruly mass of numbers and words.<\/p>\n Experience intense satisfaction in small steps completed.<\/p>\n Feel the joy in fleeting moments of clarity.<\/p>\n Thrill in the risk of following a hunch.<\/p>\n Play without inhibition on a theoretical road less well-travelled.<\/p>\n Understand the blessing of time available to play with the right words to express what the analysis might mean.<\/p>\n Indulge in the luxury of a space to think and write.<\/p>\n