Week Thirteen: Mining for Gold

In some of the small amount of my free time I have taken to watching the television show Gold Rush.  Within the show several groups of miners are on the quest for gold amidst the recent Alaskan gold rush.  I cannot help but reflect on the fact that to me the process of determining a research interest or dissertation topic is much like the process of mining for gold.  It involves sifting through many topic options, at first large and then progressively smaller until the final stages where nuggets are uncovered.  As graduate students we develop inquiry depth within our courses over time.  Throughout that process we narrow down interests.  Topics narrow first in large chunks, either by eliminating or highlighting potential options.  As time passes, interests continue to narrow until there a research need, the gold at the end of the mining process is found.

In a previous entry I mentioned the venn diagram that represents the need for research to fit within an area of need within a field of research.  Further reading on that post is located in the Week Nine entry.

Like mining, research also involves instincts.  At first we follow our gut to places that feel like they might be a good fit.  They are exciting, intriguing and spark additional curiosity.  In time we continue to read and stumble upon resources that refine our research topics.  Throughout this process we also are afforded the chance to network with other researchers who have input, ideas and resources that can continue to add depth.

At a conference this past weekend I interacted with a prominent researcher in Higher Education that made a great point about how her research interests unfolded that resonated with me.  She said that throughout her career she had things that caught her interests and somehow an opportunity serendipitously was presented that allowed her to pursue.  Each step she took, another opportunity managed to present itself to her leading to her current work.  She referred to opportunities as doors that opened that she just had to “walk through”.  To me this spoke to the patience required to pursue passions.  There is time needed to network and build resources worth chasing.  All of this time is worth using and remembering.  The process of narrowing research is not easy, and I am sure at times is frustrating.  Reminders like this  are important to hold onto throughout the process that lies ahead.

Remember that what lies ahead might be a challenge but it is worth every minute.