Practitioner-researchers have reported one or more outcomes as a result of their efforts.
Being a practitioner-researcher:
Most practitioner-researchers will have begun their inquiries in an informal way well in advance of designing a research project and submitting it to the Foundation.
Basically, practitioner research, participatory research, and action research all begin with …
Here are some ways to identify issues/topics for research.
Practitioner researchers begin their inquiries in an informal way long before they design an actual research project. Practitioner research begins when:
Here are some reflective prompts that many practitioner-researchers have found useful in getting started:
1Adapted and modified by L. Rowell and M. Riel (2019) from Field-Based Research: A Working Guide (1992). Published by the Province of British Columbia Ministry of Education and Ministry Responsible for Multiculturalism and Human Rights.
To move to the next step, practitioner-researchers then develop an overall inquiry focus for their project. This is the question that will be general enough to guide you through your process of change. It is often stated as a question:
To come up with your own inquiry question consider the following:
Here is an example of a worksheet for developing a focus.
Once you have an inquiry question you are well on your way to your first cycle question. A cycle question provides your best guess at a first answer to your question. It specifies the action you will take and the expected outcome that you will assess. To create a first cycle question you might try using this format (this format is most relevant and useful for action research and participatory research):
If I/we take this action (specify the action) what effect will it have on (the outcome you are hoping for).
Identify an area of change that is possible for you to make that will move you in the direction of your visions and values. What do you imagine will be the outcome of the action? How might it move toward a different future?
Value: Select a core value
Value Translated to Context: Identify where values do not align with practice [area of concern]. Example: My [area of concern] is not working as well as it could or should.
Nature of the Problem: Identify a problem you want to explore. Example: The problem or situation I want to improve is...
Inquiry Research Question: What is your overall Inquiry research question? What skill or practice do you personally want to improve?
Action to Address the Problem - Consider a specific intervention small in scope that will address the general problem. Example: My first idea about how to approach this concern will be to...
Anticipated Results: Identify an immediate outcome from the action you can assess. Example: I will be watching for a change in the way...
Cycle 1 Research Question: Compose your research question by describing:
Value: I care about problems of equity and social justice and I want to increase access to learning resources
Value in Context: If there are only boys in the tech club, have I done everything I can to assure equal access?
Nature of the Problem: How could I change the tech club to increase the diversity of participation? Overall Research Question: How do I improve the way I support all students to gain computer skills?
Action: Change the curriculum of tech club to activities that have been found to appeal more to girls and special needs students.
Anticipated Results: More equity in participation by gender and special needs students
Cycle 1 Research Question: If I shift the activities of the tech club to start with digital photography (action), how will this affect the participation of girls and special education students (Outcome)?
Value: I value innovative and participatory learning
Value in Context: I want the nurses and doctors I work with to be motivated to learn how to use new media tools
Nature of the Problem: To increase the use of streaming media in training sessions at the hospital
Overall Research Question: How do I improve my support of nurses and doctors in using video technology in their teaching?
Action to be taken: Increase the use of streaming media technologies among my colleagues; Increase innovation in teaching
Cycle 1 Research Question: If I encourage department leaders to create their first streaming media presentation with my support, how will this affect the use of streaming media in their future training sessions?
2 Taken from Action Research Tutorials (Tutorial 3- Activities), https://www.actionresearchtutorials.org/3-activities
3 Taken from Action Research Tutorials (Tutorial 6) https://www.actionresearchtutorials.org/6
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