sustain:if:able kiwi

baking cakes and marking research transitions

Three of my action research cohorts have finished in recent weeks. As part of our ending, I’ve enjoyed baking cakes.

Banana cakes, with either chocolate or lemon flavoured icing!

I’ve baked cakes for several reasons.

1. It marks a change. Probably as much for me as for my participants, it’s a way of marking and ending. As I cream the sugar and mash the bananas, there’s a chance to reflect on our time together and be aware of a change.
2. It expresses gratitude for time. My participants have generously given eight hours to share together in spiritual practice over eight sessions. Some research projects offer incentives to participants, like book vouchers or cash payments, to thank them for their time. However, financial incentives can make the research feel more transactional and might not match the motivations of my participants. A homemade cake feels an appropriate thankyou for my particular cohorts.
3. It manages the debrief. Once the final pieces of data are gathered, I offer to share a brief explanation of the research design. Some participants are interested. Other participants aren’t. Having a cake provides a way to relationally manage the range of responses. I offer serviettes and invite people to take a slice of cake and leave if they wish. Or to stay, enjoy the cake and learn a bit more about the research. People are different and the cake help manage the debrief with a bit of humour and humanity.
4. It navigates a relational transition. The ending of data gathering means there is a farewell. This is with myself as the researcher. It can also be between the participants. Some people want to linger, to ask me a specific question, to make an observation or to arrange to connect in a different way with someone they have enjoyed connecting with a bit more deeply. Having cake helps with this relational transition.

I’ve not baked cakes for other research projects. But it’s been an appropriate way to end this project and mark transitions with the different cohorts who have shared with me in religious practice over this particular piece of John Templeton funded research.