In this blog, I try to translate theoretical concepts into everyday language and to open up a little bit about how the concepts in research shed light on everyday events in my own life. I describe examples that will never fit in any scientific publication. These reflections can benefit, for example, a student who wonders and ponders what these concepts and theories (heard on a lecture) mean in real life, and would like to hear more examples.
More detailed information about the researcher
Current position: University Teacher in Early Childhood Education, University of Oulu.
Previously: University teacher (early childhood education, psychology, educational psychology, educational sciences), many years also an education coordinator in early childhood education projects.
”What do you do after doctoral defense?” This is the question I heard many times during the year 2022. Well, I guess I’ll fold some clean laundry, go skiing (hardly on my own initiative, rather through my family members’ creation of zone of promoted action and lack of my own …hmm…freedom? Or maybe lack of good excuses not to go, like unfinished dissertation.) Or I’ll watch the same movie with my spouse (instead of writing on my laptop) or read a book (which is not related to research, at least not directly). I bake more often. I guess those are the answers. Since I work as a full-time university teacher, almost nothing changes at work. Change happens (has happened or should have happened – depends on whom you ask) more in relation to free time at home. After completing the dissertation, there should be more time for something else. Children should not see the mother on the computer writing in the evenings and weekends, at least not very often, and so on.
Oh, and on holidays I’m really going to be on holiday (!!) Not pretending, that research-leave from my own work in the middle of holiday season is kind of a nice holiday. (Many warm thoughts for all of you who are sacrificing your free time, evenings, nights, weekends or holidays for studies, research, or some other project of your own that needs to fit in with the rest of life scenes!)
I’m “afraid”, that I already have such a good routine for “writing something” as my own hobby. So family won’t even notice any difference (before or after completing the doctoral dissertation). And no matter what I’m doing near the laptop, everything means “work” for children and spouse. After the dissertation, space begins to open up for new research ideas, let’s see where it leads.
About education background: Master of Education (majoring in early childhood education), Early childhood education teacher, and Primary school teacher (class teacher). The master’s degree includes a long minor in psychology. Those master studies were completed around the time of the birth of the first child in 2004. (Somehow, after the baby was born, it took me 7 months (!) to print my master’s thesis and get the pages right between the green covers. Those theses were green books in the library back then.)
I officially graduated in 2005. In doctoral studies, ten years later, I continued with psychology, majored in educational psychology, and completed my dissertation in 2022.
Something about work history: In 2005 I started a part-time job as a tutor teacher for students in online courses in educational sciences (it’s good to have something to do while baby is sleeping. Totally forgot or ignored the advice ”sleep when the baby sleeps”). Later, alongside my university work, I was also a part-time teacher in vocational school and university of applied science, always focusing on the contents of early childhood education and psychology.
In the research, I am interested in everyday life, dynamics of development and agency. The published articles cover, among other things, the everyday life of a distance student and multidisciplinary cooperation at the school (see list of publications). The main concepts are conduct of everyday life, agency, life scenes, life trajectories. In addition, my own special thing is to study the dynamics of development; possibilities that take shape in education and interaction, spaces, and their boundaries (see the doctoral thesis) = freedom and structures. The research material in the doctoral research was about the everyday lives of adults, but in teaching and post-doctoral research (as well as in theoretical background) there is slightly more emphasis on childhood research.
The research group: https://www.oulu.fi/en/research-groups/m Publications: https://arjentutkimus.com/julkaisut/ Presentations: https://arjentutkimus.com/luennot-ja-esitykset/ Contact information: maria.peltola(a)oulu.fi https://oulu.academia.edu/MariaPeltola RESEARCHER PROFILE: https://www.oulu.fi/en/researchers/maria-peltola INSTAGRAM: @arkea_tutkimassa (= exploring everyday life) and @seepramaria |
Arkea tutkimassa 