Conducting Research:

A Proposal for Action

Dr. Marina Stock McIsaac
Arizona State University
Prepared for workshop at
Wenzao Ursuline College of Languages
Kaohsiung, Taiwan
June 11, 2008

Pedagogy
Communities of practice
Computer Supported Collaborative
Learning (CSCL, Collis)
Social Network Knowledge
Construction (SNKC, Dawley)
Formal vs nonformal learning

Action Research
is a process in which participants examine their
own educational practice systematically and
carefully,
uses techniques of research in order to improve a
teachers own practice.
In most of its forms it requires investigator
participation
is usually qualitative in design.

Action Research
Includes research methodologies which look
for action (or change) and research (or
understanding) at the same time. In most of
its forms it does this by
using a cyclic or spiral process which alternates
between action and critical reflection and
refining methods, data and interpretation in the light of
the understanding developed in the earlier cycles.

Dick, Bob (1999) What is action research? Available on line at

http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/gcm/ar/whatisar.html

Action Research Process

An emerging process which takes
shape as understanding increases;
A repetitive process which leads
towards a better understanding of what
happens.

From Martin Ryder University of

Colorado at Denver School of
Education

Action Research Cycle

1. Think about the problem
2. What is the question you want to answer?
3. Plan ways to get the answers - involve
questioners, those questioned
4. Do fieldwork to get answers and improve your
understanding of the problem
5. From the answers generate an imaginative
idea of what to do to change and improve
6. New actions. put ideas into practice (stop,
reflect, is question answered, if no repeat)

The cycle

From: Yoland Wadsworth What is Participatory Action

Research? November 1998

Some applied research questions

Why are students doing poorly?

How can I make this more interesting?
How can I teach this more effectively?
What would help this lesson?
What class management systems would help?

Review the cycle again

From: Yoland Wadsworth What is Participatory Action

Research? November 1998

Methodologies
Choose the correct method to answer your question
Do you seek
quantitative, measurable, mathematical, answers?
qualitative answers to questions governing human
behavior?

Methodologies
Action Research is a process with diverse
methodologies
Quantitative
Experimental control
Manipulation of variables

Qualitative
Participant observation
In-depth interviews
Content analysis

Mixed methods

Most Action Research is primarily qualitative

Triangulate qualitative data

Interviews
Portfolios
Diaries
Audio tapes
Surveys
Case studies
Participant observation
LAB Action Research

5 Phases of Inquiry
QuickTime and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.

E.Ferrance, LAB

Research proposal
Choose a topic that will help improve your
teaching practice
Identify the steps needed (see the cycle
fig.)
Write a brief outline for a proposal
following guidelines

Improve your proposals

Good topic
Workable plan
Concrete information
Structured research method
Good theoretical foundation
Planning-action-reflection-change
Evidence of good writing

Reasons for proposal rejection

Not action research, belongs in general research

Methods and procedures not action research
Missing cycle: planning-action-reflection-change
Problem not clearly stated
Questions, purposes, methods, data collection
unclear
Uses old data (last semester)
Doesnt follow guidelines for research ethics
Doesnt suggest changes to improve teaching

Models

Examples of successful proposals can be

provided to you by the Faculty
Development Center

Designing General Research

Select a topic
Identify the research problem
Conduct a literature search
State the research questions
Determine research methods
Identify data analysis procedures
http://www.aect.org/Intranet/Publications/Research/index.html

Writing for publication

Introduction
The problem, the literature review
Conclude introduction with purpose of study
Method
Participants, research design, materials
Procedure, analyses
Results
Discussion

http://www.aect.org/Intranet/Publications/Research/4.html

Action Research links

LAB Action Research (PDF excellent, includes how to)
http://www.alliance.brown.edu/pubs/themes_ed/act_research.pdf

Action Research Resources (very comprehensive

list ,Bob Dick thru 2004)
http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/gcm/ar/arhome.html

Action Research articles and resources from CU Denv

er
(Martin Ryder) http://carbon.cudenver.edu/~mryder/itc/act_res.html
AERA 2001 Action Research Papers (3 papers
accepted at the American Educational Research
Association) http://educ.queensu.ca/~ar/

More Links
Action Research (short article about)
http://www.infed.org/research/b-actres.htm

Action Research, Strategy (very simple, includes

one link and other refs.)

http://www.newhorizons.org/strategies/action_research/front_action.ht
m

Qualitative Research Net (online journal that

promotes sharing) http://www.qualitativeresearch.net/index.php/fqs

Hsieh Hsieh
mmcisaac@asu.edu