My main tasks so far for this IDRP have been data collection and data analysis. Before undertaking this IDRP I thought I understood clearly what both of these things meant, however my understanding of them has changed.
This never-ending search for data has made me realise that at university I would normally build my essay argument around whatever I could easily find. Often this approach has worked well for me. On the other hand, this project requires very specific data to help justify a particular argument. For example, to be able to analyse any potential renewable energy model for rural electrification, we need to know how many unelectrified villages there are in Indonesia.
Finding this kind of statistical data for the report has proven to be quite painstaking at times. To find data on the example above, it took me over 5 hours. I searched academic journals, development agency reports, news outlets, in both English and Indonesian and found multiple varying numbers. I could not just take the data at face value. I had to take time to carefully understand how it was obtained, by whom it is being presented, and for what purpose.
With this IDRP being remote-based work, I have to log all of the hours that I am working. At first, I felt uncomfortable logging 5+ hours to find one specific statistic. However, I have come to realise that I should not beat myself up about it. Ensuring that the most reliable data is being used is a part of data collection. Moreover, I have been able to develop a list of skills to help make it easier. This includes something as simple as making lists of search terms I have already used.
Overall, along with new skills in being able to collect and analyse data, this experience has taught me two key things. Firstly, it is both okay and sometimes even integral to take time to find data, especially if it is integral to the project. Secondly, it has taught me to appreciate data more. That data that I would typically use in my essays because I came across it easily has taken people many hard hours of work to compile.
Jacob 