Action Research STUDY REPORT - Analyze & Write
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Action Research Study Report
Insert your Name Here
School of Education, Capella University
EDD8040: Research Design for Practitioners
Insert the Instructor’s Name Here
Insert the Assignment Due Date Here
Important Writing Instructions
This assignment needs be written in the third person voice. Do not write in the first-person voice (I . . .). There should be none of you and your voice in this assignment or the course project. However, for those questions that ask you your opinion or how something applies to your Applied Improvement Project, you can answer in the first-person voice. Do not use awkward language such as The researcher . . . or The learner when referring to yourself. Do not refer to yourself unless you are answering those questions that ask you your opinion or how something applies to your Applied Improvement Project. Do not write in the second person voice (writing that uses the language you or your).
Always present the study and other literature with past tense verbs (APA 6th ed. p. 78); for example: Mostofo and Zambo (2015) conducted . . .
Scholarly writing is meant to be read and interpreted literally. Please avoid slang, colloquialisms, anthropomorphisms, and conversational writing (refer to APA p. 68). Instead be clear, precise, and accurate.
There might be instances in which you use a direct quote that came from the article’s literature review. If the article’s authors use a quote or cite another author and you want to use that text as a direct text, be sure to quote your authors as the secondary sources. Here is an example of a direct quote using Kim (2015) as the secondary source:
Zula and Chermack (2007) stated “HRD academicians have virtually ignored human capital theory” (as cited in Kim, 2015, p 8). Please note that you do not include Zula and Chermack in your reference citations. Only include Kim (2015) in your reference citations.
Here is another example in which paraphrasing is used: Not much research has been conducted on the impact of human capital on organizational performance (Cho & McLean, 2000, as cited in Kim, 2015). Again, do not include Cho and McLean in your reference citations. Only include Kim (2015) in your reference citations.
Do not write with bullet points. Instead use complete sentences developed within coherent paragraphs. Use transitional language to smoothly move the flow of the thought.
Apply APA formatting rules and adhere to APA writing style guidelines.
Here is an important self-assessment final step to help ensure you do as well as you can with the assignment: Self-assess your assignment by reviewing the corresponding scoring guide and compare the distinguished column criteria to your draft and revise as necessary.
Please remove these instructions before posting and write your sections in black font.
Introduction
Briefly identify the action research study by following APA writing style, which means citing the authors’ last names and year of publication. When identifying and discussing the study do not include the article’s title in your text as that is not how APA style writing is done. The title can be found in the reference citations below. Instead follow APA writing style and include only the author’s last name and the year the article was published (refer to APA pp. 174-175 and p. 177 Table 6.1).
Briefly describe the key features of the action research study. Describe the purpose of the study. Did the study attempt to resolve a problem or improve a process? Identify the variables and/or contextual factors. List the research questions ensuring that if you use direct quotes that you use quotation marks and an in-text citation. Describe how the study represents and embodies an action research approach. Refer to your Stringer (2014) text pp. 5-13.
Research Theory Framework
Briefly summarize the research-theory framework. Upon what theory or model or previous research is the action research study positioned? or put another way: What theory or model and or previous research was used to describe the foundation for this action research study? Also describe the contextual factors and related research.
In addition, answer the following questions (note – please do not remove the five questions):
1. Mostofo and Zambo (2015) chose Vygotsky Space as the theoretical framework. Additionally, later in the article, the authors asserted that,” Jim’s goal was to create an innovation that allowed preservice teachers the opportunity to teach more in the methods classroom before teaching in the field-experience classroom and to systematically investigate the effect of this” (p. 499). Based on the chosen theoretical framework, reflect on the degree to which you think this framework was appropriate for and aligned to the intended purpose of this action research project?
2. Mostofo and Zambo (2015) collaborated with a variety of colleagues to develop this action research intervention. In light of this process, reflect on what potential roles stakeholder collaboration might have on the conceptualization and development of your AIP?
Methodology
Briefly describe the study sample (number of participants, where they were studied, and their demographics). Describe the intervention and the cyclical nature of the study. Describe the study's instruments to collect quantitative and/or qualitative data (note that the primary instrument through which data are collected, analyzed, described, understood and interpreted is the research – the researcher is the primary instrument), and the procedures used to collect and analyze the data. Note how threats to validity and any ethical considerations were addressed, referring to the Creswell and Creswell (2018) text and/or your CITI training. If the threats to validity and ethical issues and considerations were not discussed, that omission is a weakness and limitation in the study and indicate that these were missing.
In addition, answer the following questions:
3. What are your reflections on collecting and analyzing qualitative data to demonstrate the impact of a potential AIP?
Results
Include a comprehensive summary of the major findings of the study. Remember – at the doctoral level you should use direct quotes sparingly because the bulk of your writing should consist of summarizing and paraphrasing.
In addition, answer the following question:
4. Was the data analysis sufficient to verify the impact of the intervention? Why or why not?
Discussion/Conclusion
Describe how Mostofo and Zambo’s findings fit into the systems literature (the term systems literature refers to the related relevant literature presented in the study’s literature review). In other words, what theoretical concepts, assumptions and or expectations from the literature review were confirmed by the findings and what does that confirmation mean? Describe the strengths and limitations of the findings. How might the study have been improved? Describe Mostofo and Zambo’s recommendations for future research and implications for practice.
In addition, answer the following question:
5. Based on the recommendations for further research or any other aspect of the study, describe how an Applied Improvement Project could be developed to address the issue being described or a similar issue. What intervention might be implemented for preservice teachers related to your area of interest or discipline?
References
References go on a separate page. Ensure references are in the hanging indent format and are properly APA formatted; refer to APA Publication Manual 6th edition (2010) Chapter 7 for guidance and examples. Please remove these instructions before posting and write your sections in black font.
Mostofo, J., & Zambo, R. (2015). Improving instruction in mathematics methods classroom through action research. Education Action Research, 23(4), 497-513. doi:10.1080/09650792.2015.1019903
Stringer, E. T. (2014). Action research: A handbook for practitioners (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.