Growing with your research

Abstract

Growing with your research is an exposition of interconnected learning between two stories; that of the researcher learning about research (which has the upper hand in this paper) and the topic being studied; the basis for proenvironmental behaviour. For the neophyte researcher there is a fascinating tug of war between Dena’s conceptions of what research is at the start of her project (scientifically infused) and what research can be from a socio-cultural perspective. Setting out with scientific confidence, but already creeping doubt through the reflections at the start, some factual essays on environmental issues establish a grounding in motive and cause to conduct the social inquiry that lies ahead. Then, at a threshold in learning, the ‘stats’ are abandoned, and research poetry is embraced to analyse, present and make sensitive inferences from the data. Reflexivity is the consistent element in this paper to follow the evolution of the researcher and her thinking about pro-environmental behaviour. The poetry sings of discovery and learning from all involved.