My independent study timeline for unit 3
July 4th–First independent study tutorial
Re-evaluate and narrow down the research question
After a final tutorial before Independent Study, I will reassess the initial question. If it feels too broad or unfocused, I will narrow it down to specifically target how to break the blindness to these traditional practices.
July 10th–tutorial
Rewrite the proposal
With the revised research question in mind, I’ll rewrite my WWHWI proposal, clearly defining my objectives, methods, and possible interventions.
July 10th—July 15th
First tutorial
I’ll meet with my tutor to discuss my progress so far, address any challenges, and get their feedback on the next steps.
July 11th
Library research
I plan to spend time at the library, gathering books and academic articles on funeral customs to build a solid theoretical foundation for my research.
July 15–20th
Field research in hometown
I’ll return to my hometown to conduct field research. This will include visiting local funeral supplies stores to gain insights into current practices.
July 20–28th
Interview family about my grandfather’s story
I’ll talk with my family members to gather details about my grandfather’s life and funeral. This will help me understand how traditional customs are practically applied.
July 28th–Aug 1st
Interview funeral industry professionals
I plan to interview people working in the funeral industry to get their perspectives on traditional and modern funeral practices. I’ll also ask about any unique or unusual funeral cases they’ve encountered.
August 2nd
Research unique funeral cases
I’ll delve deeper into some of the unique cases mentioned during interviews to analyze how they might challenge or transform traditional customs.
August 6th
Convince family to allow filming of the Ghost Festival rituals
I’ll work on persuading my family to let me film the rituals for the Ghost Festival (on the 15th of the seventh lunar month). Capturing this on video will provide valuable visual data for my research.
August 12th–16th
Participate in and document the ritual process
I’ll actively participate in the family’s Ghost Festival rituals and document the entire process to gather firsthand data for my study.
August 12th–18th
Discuss traditional and modern rituals with young friends
I’ll have discussions with my younger friends about the traditional rituals and explore their thoughts on new types of rituals and potential future directions.
Mid–August
Second tutorial
I’ll meet with my tutor again to report on the research progress, share key findings, and discuss the next steps, especially regarding any planned interventions.
August 20th
Organize and analyze data
I’ll take time to organize all the data I’ve gathered from interviews and field research, and then analyze it to identify key insights.
August 25th
Draft the research report
I’ll start drafting my research report, pulling together everything I’ve learned, detailing the interventions, and analyzing their impact.
August 28th
Final summary and report submission
I’ll wrap up by summarizing the entire research process, finalizing my learning log, and preparing to submit the completed research report.