README.txt
What comes first, the story or the data?
ABOUT THE DATASET
Title:
What comes first, the story or the data?
Creators:
Blundell, Peter
Affiliation: Liverpool John Moores University
ORCID: 
Rights holder(s):
Peter Blundell
Year of publication:
2026
DESCRIPTION
This dataset is an assemblage of physical and digital research materials created by Dr Peter Blundell. It explores themes of community, spirituality, hauntology, and the relationship between past and future through a post qualitative inquiry approach.
The dataset is experimental and intuitive in nature and aims to decentre humancentric perspectives and linear, logical thinking. It includes a collage, a fictional story titled Death of Small Church, a research diary, and a video documenting the work. Together, these components form a broader narrative that considers the agency of nonhuman entities and the concept of hauntology within community and spiritual contexts.
Data collection was undertaken without predefined research questions. Instead, the process involved the creation of a collage, which inspired the fictional story and informed the reflective research diary. The work is open to interpretation and invites viewers to engage with or disengage from the materials based on their own experiences.
Citation guidance:
Please cite this dataset as:
Blundell, Peter (2026) What comes first, the story or the data? [Data Collection]. Liverpool John Moores University. https://opendata.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/268
https://doi.org/10.24377/LJMU.d.00000268

CONTACT DETAILS
Principal Investigator:
Dr Peter Blundell P.J.Blundell@ljmu.ac.uk

TERMS OF USE
This dataset is made available under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) licence.
Users are free to share and adapt the material for any purpose, provided appropriate credit is given to the creator.

PROJECT AND FUNDING INFORMATION
Project title:
Data as a Story (Exhibition contribution)
Project dates:
Start date: 1 March 2026
End date: 8 March 2026

CONTENTS
The dataset includes the following files:
* Data as a Story (1).mp4
File type: MP4 video
Description: A video documenting the dataset and its components, created as part of the Data as a Story exhibition.
Additional physical and digital components associated with the dataset include:
* A collage
* A fictional story titled Death of Small Church
* A research diary
These materials are represented conceptually within the dataset and exhibition context.

METHODS
The dataset was generated using a post qualitative inquiry approach. This methodology emphasises intuition, experimentation, and creative practice rather than predefined research questions or linear methods.
The process involved:
* Creating a collage as an initial creative act
* Using the collage to inspire a fictional narrative (Death of Small Church)
* Maintaining a research diary to document reflections and emerging themes
* Producing a video to contextualise and present the assemblage
The approach intentionally decentrers human perspectives and explores the agency of nonhuman entities, allowing meaning to emerge through creative practice and interpretation rather than structured data collection protocols.