3rd of June

In today’s tutorial, I revised my research question from “How can we create ways for introverts to express themselves effectively” to “How can shy individuals naturally and effectively express themselves in public settings?” This refined question will help me anticipate potential challenges and identify the specific audience who will benefit from my research. It’s important for me to consider the practical implications of my research and how to effectively test its impact.

7th of June

I presented my research question on how shy individuals can effectively express themselves in public settings to the Dragon Dens. I explained why I chose shy individuals as my stakeholders, emphasized the importance of the project topic, outlined my research plan, and discussed my first and second interventions. The dragons showed great curiosity about my choice of topic and asked about my personal experiences. As a result, I realized the need to focus more on the specific experiences of my interviewees, understanding what triggers their shyness and how they cope with it. Additionally, the dragons asked many questions about my first intervention, the “Mask Game,” and advised me to carefully select the venue and participants to ensure the group’s comfort. They also offered valuable suggestions for my second intervention, an information platform for shy individuals, encouraging me to research existing platforms and strategize how to compete with them. Their feedback was insightful and helped clarify some of my uncertainties.

10th of June

Following the Dragon Dens presentation, I consulted with my tutor, David, who provided valuable guidance on developing my first intervention and conducting interviews during the summer. Initially, I plan to administer a questionnaire to approximately 30 individuals, including strangers and friends of friends, and categorize 8 to 10 individuals as “shy introverts” to form a focus group. Subsequently, I will conduct in-depth interviews with this focus group, considering factors such as cultural background, nationality, their personal definitions of introversion and shyness, and the specific scenarios in which they experience shyness, such as in dating environments or public presentations. The questionnaire will also include inquiries about preferred meeting places and activities, such as karaoke, home settings, quiet bars, or clubs. Following this, I will address any initial challenging questions that arise from the focus group by interviewing professionals skilled in public presentations. After gathering feedback from the experts, I will revisit the focus group to incorporate the insights gained and establish a research cycle to enhance my study. The information gathering and sharing platform should also be prepared for my second intervention.

16th of June

I found an article on LinkedIn titled “Introverted, Not Shy: 5 ways introverts are different from shy people.” This insightful piece helped me differentiate between introversion and shyness and even recommended some interesting books. One of the recommended books, “The Introvert’s Way: Living a Quiet Life in a Noisy World” by Sophia Demblings, caught my attention with a quote stating, “Introversion and shyness get confused because both are related to socializing – but lack of interest in socializing is very clearly not the same as fearing it.” This resonated with me, and I believe this book will provide valuable insights that I can apply to my interview questions.

21st to 29th of June

Celebrating my birthday and going traveling in this period…