This is also my first Research Methods class (I'm sensing a theme here). I have done the research for papers and such, like everyone else, and I have done some primary research. I sort of fell into research in past jobs, and realized that I really liked it. During my undergrad at Guelph, I worked at a market research company, where I did research interviews with people over the phone, mostly farmers and other people in argriculture. I also got to sit in on several focus groups as a note taker, and I found the process to be totally fascinating.
After my postgrad, I worked at a consulting firm, managing projects for web redesigns. I sort of fell into a research role there too, and trained on the job in developing qualitative projects. I did key informant interviews, and developed methods for user acceptance testing of new page designs and information architectures, which I usually executed on my own, since our team was so small. I also did webscans, evaluated client data, and did cognitive walkthroughs for certain projects.
Even though I have done this sort of primary research in my past career, I really wanted to take this class so that I could feel more confidant with some formal training. I learned on the job from others who had gone to school for research, and tried to do some reading on my own, but I was always wondering if I was going about something the wrong way. I'm looking forward to this class, and to seeing everyone's perspectives on the things we're going to be learning.
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