Abstract

As with any creative process, conducting a study is often a mixture of stages of excitement and frustration. Although gathering a rich set of research data brings forth multiple possibilities, it often leads the researcher to wonder how to distance oneself from self-evident presumptions in order to reach an accurate understanding of the phenomenon under study – whilst acknowledging that the researcher’s understanding is always incomplete and interpretive. In addition, a research project is expected to generate precise and wellargued reports, while the journey of conducting an inquiry is most often anything but simple or straightforward. Reflecting on her own doctoral study of ‘digital musicians’, Dr. Heidi Partti will discuss questions related to academic writing as a learning process, reflexivity about one’s subjectivity, and the requirement of trustworthiness within a qualitative research process.

Bio: Dr Heidi Partti (PhD, MMus, MA Applied Music Psychology) works as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Faculty of Music Education, Jazz and Folk Music at University of the Arts Helsinki, Sibelius Academy, Finland. Her research interests revolve around collective creativity, new media and different kinds of music-related learning communities. Heidi strives to have an active role as a social advocate in Finland in creating and enabling wider opportunities for creative music making at all levels of education. In addition to her work as a researcher, Heidi works as a musician and music teacher.