Recolección de Datos

The first phase of my data collection encouraged me to explore the possibility of attending and observing a training event with DAFS presence. Having been

informed of a major training conference in October 2016 organized by WICSEC, the professional organization serving child support professionals in the western states, I quickly searched for possible funding opportunities to help cover the cost of my travel and accommodation. On February 2016, I received an email announcement regarding the Russell Trust Awards aimed at postgraduate students requiring support for travel costs associated with their research project. With support from my supervisors, I pursued this opportunity and submitted an application on March 14. I was invited for the next round of review on April 17 and was ultimately awarded on May 23. I then explored possible assistance for accommodation and registration from the organizers of WICSEC. I reached out to the same person who put me in touch with the federal office, as he was already aware of my research project. I found out that he was also a board member of WICSEC and inquired about scholarships for research students. Although WICSEC scholarships were available, they were only awarded to

68 individuals employed at a child support agency. Nevertheless, I was encouraged to put in an application, clearly stating the specific support required in case the organizing committee considers my case an exception. I also stated my research interest in attending the conference. Although my WICSEC scholarship application was

unsuccessful, the WICSEC Board of Directors voted to waive my registration fee. On September 2, I received an email from the WICSEC President informing me of the Board’s decision. She also generously offered to share her Presidential Suite, with two

ensuite bedrooms, to help with my accommodation, which I accepted.

The conference ran from 2nd to 6th of October 2016 and was held at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. On my arrival, the President expressed the Board’s support for my project and told me that she would be happy to put me in touch with some of the key players in the child support community.

Informed in advance of my research objectives, she invited me to join her at the vendors-sponsored evening reception to meet the private sector representatives and WICSEC board and committee members. She also invited me to attend the luncheon meeting organized for the Commissioner and state directors. Both invitations were very much appreciated as they presented opportunities for engaging with high-level child support professionals outside the more structured conference sessions and for observing interactions that would not have been possible otherwise.

With “Peak Performance” as its theme, the WICSEC conference offered additional insights on the performative effects of the measures on the wider child support community and an opportunity to observe DAFS participation in the conference. At the opening plenary session, the President did a roll call of all the states and tribal nations; she also made my presence known to the attendees of the conference. I observed all the plenary and seven breakout sessions and attended the social events. The morning and afternoon coffee breaks were utilized to carry out informal conversations with child support professionals. I also managed to conduct a face-to-face interview with a private sector representative. Throughout the

conference, I managed to speak to several attendees from different state and county agencies about the performance measures and obtained some insights on how the measures may have shaped their practices. I also interacted with representatives (e.g. CEOs, executives, and managers) of private companies to understand the nature and

69 extent of their involvement in the child support program. Throughout the conference, I took notes of my observations and insights. The role of technology in the program seemed to stand out. The general atmosphere of the conference was filled with a strong sense of performance and productivity. Organizers, speakers, and attendees seemed committed to promoting a collaborative environment, building relationships with clients, improving technology, and capitalizing on predictive analytics for greater program efficiency (see Appendix for Conference Program). Overall, the conference displayed a tight-knit community that is supportive of and eager to learn from each other, while remaining competitive; a phenomenon alluded to by one of the

participants at DAFS during a face-to-face interview.

After each phase of data collection, I also spent a considerable amount of time searching and gathering electronic documents and websites to which study

participants referred. These included news articles, reports, regulations, assembly meeting minutes, organization web sites, and others. These sources provided valuable insights into participants’ accounts of their social construction of reality. I also jotted down my reflections and annotations on some of the dominant themes or tension- filled narratives emerging from the interviews and observations. Thus, initial ideas, thoughts, abstractions, and the like, became part of my tracing effort and eventually helped me write a rich description of DAFS’ network of relations to explain DAFS’ transformation.