Page 81 - Mike Ratner CC - WISR Complete Dissertation - v6

the dialogue group represented a container for conversation across racial differences. A dialogue

unhinged is a conversation among peers, in which everyone is equally responsible (Isaacs, 1999).

Researcher Positioning

My perspective and perceptions about the importance of locally-based public dialogue

derives from my involvement and experiences as participant, facilitator, and observer of many

dialogue practices throughout my WISR studies and interest in public engagement. My prior work

in the field of communication, media relations, sales, internet talk radio, teaching and local

activism contributed to my understanding of public engagement as a process useful to constructive

exploration about issues of mutual interest between stakeholders and government officials.

The method of research and inquiry, grounded theory, allows for discovery and assessment

by sifting through various individual perspectives about the issues and experiences encountered

through dialogue processes from multiple perspectives. Although I have little prior experience

coding, the procedure for developing a baseline understanding of problems about the host

environment is derived from reviewing and analyzing comments and perspectives individually and

taken together to create a picture about what is going on within local efforts and organizations. I

have come to view interviewing and data gathering processes as a multi-dimensional interaction

between the interviewees or participants and me. Many issues help to determine the extent to which

the interviewee will feel comfortable enough to disclose candidly and transparently during the one-

on-one interview process. As such, the introduction and setting, in addition to my actions prior to,

during, and after the interview, are important in the process of data gathering. These actions were

also important for learning about and understanding the aware experience of participants in civic

dialogue settings that constitute the heart of engaging quality Community Conversations.

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