Experience as a Research Assistant in the JATKOT Project
I heard about the position of research assistant from the Whatsapp group in Kassos, the association of education and adult education students (University of Eastern Finland). The job description would include the transcription of the dissertation researcher’s interview material. I had experience of transcription from my bachelor’s thesis and found it to be an engaging research phase. Working hours and scheduling my own work are great alongside doing the thesis, so I applied for the position and was happy to get it.
Work as a Research Assistant
My work consisted mainly of transcribing interview material collected by Katja Köykkä, where she interviewed police officers on the themes of intercultural competence and competence management at police. I was surprised by the huge and diverse amount of expertise that police officers need in their work. The interviews made me see the work of the police more complex than before, as well as a lot of ‘soft’ skills, such as interaction, emotional, and listening skills. Katja’s conversational, participatory and professional interview style was admirable to listen.
The research topic itself is truly interesting and diving into the topic with the work of the research assistant has also supported me in my master’s thesis process. In my master’s thesis, I deal with police material collected in the EDLI (Employee-driven learning and innovation) -project and examine the agency of police officers. The transcription of Katja’s material introduced me to the hierarchy of the police organization and job titles that I was not familiar with at all. I got a basic idea of what police work is or can be in different teams and working under job titles.
In addition to Katja’s material, I was able to be transcribing a few police interviews conducted in EDLI-project, which I’ll use in my master’s thesis. In addition, I defected to another world unknown to me when I was given interviews in the technology field and the headphones included the most special words related to electronics and mechanics. Above all, experience has brought me more experience and provided an opportunity to listen to the activities of different organizations.
A peek into the work of doctoral researchers
At the same time, being involved in the JATKOT group has opened the door to the dissertation researcher’s work. It has been interesting to hear from researchers about the various stages of research. For my part, experience has changed the stereotype I associate with doctoral researchers about over-humans performing straightforwardly, because in this group I have experienced the atmosphere first and foremost as human. The researchers involved in the JATKOT group have shared not only the successes and milestones of the meetings, but also the challenges and even negative emotions they have faced. Honest sharing of experiences has been gratifying to me and I feel that interaction in this group is based on peer support and open sharing of information and experiences.
Meiju, Research Assistant, JATKOT-group