The ZEN of Writing EDU 2300

Knowledge Check Using the action research article by Maureen Andersen Write 2 strengths of this article Write 2 limitations (weaknesses) 10 points

Entering a Conversation This topic is intriguing to you; convey this to your reader. Think of yourself as an expert!

Action Research Projects General Issues –Different from empirical study though employing similar concepts. –Context specific; convenience sample; no generalizability even if study is quantitative. –Don’t take on too much, try to solve the world. Remember the KISS principle. Pick a slice.

Substantive Issues Introduction –Why is this study intriguing to you? –Explain context of your school –Research questions –Why will knowing more about this help you and other teachers? –Multiple paragraphs –Should use 1 st person

Substantive Issues Language –Consistency of Terms –Define terms. Although many generically use the term “self- efficacy” as synonymous with perceived sense of competence (Jones, 2000; Smith, 1999; Williams, 2000), Bandura (1982) defines self-efficacy as a self-judgment of one’s ability to perform a specific task in a specific domain. When I use the term self- efficacy, I mean….

Substantive Issues Literature Review –SYNTHESIZE!! –Giving an overview of what’s been done in the field on this project –Patterns in literature –Rationale for study –CRITIQUE the empirical studies! –Largest section of project

Literature Review CRITIQUE the studies! –Research questions –Samples/participants –Validity/reliability or trustworthiness –Methods Data collection Data analysis –Results/conclusions

Substantive Issues To help reader, use –Topic Sentences –Transitions –Summarizing sentences or paragraphs Outline your paper!

Technical Issues APA formatting –General Guide 0/01/ –Electronic sources –Power Point Guide mages/apa_stylerev pps

Technical Issues APA citations Although many generically use the term “self- efficacy” as synonymous with perceived sense of competence (Jones, 2000; Smith, 1999; Williams, 2000), Bandura (1982) defines self-efficacy as a self-judgment of one’s ability to perform a specific task in a specific domain. When I use the term self- efficacy, I mean….

Technical Issues Types of sources –Remember qualitative studies may include numbers (descriptive data). –Quantitative studies assume generalizability if they used a random sample. –You may use > 10 sources. If so, you may use > 1 theoretical paper or literature review.

Technical Issues Abstract of ≤150 words –Study purpose –Participants/ context –Data collection methods –Maybe data analysis methods –Results (why results will be useful)

Data Collection What will help you to answer your research question? Does your question lend itself to a qualitative or quantitative approach? What is the best way to collect this info? Who should your participants be? Number? When could you collect the data?

Data Analysis Anticipate how and when you will analyze the data. What makes sense to answer the research questions? How are you addressing validity& reliability or trustworthiness? Apply concepts we’ve addressed throughout the course.

Analyzing an Action Research Project Are the research questions appropriate? Is the problem researchable? Important? Is the review of literature adequate? Does the author identify patterns, gaps, contradictions, strengths, weaknesses? Does the literature review provide a backdrop for the study?

Analyzing an Action Research Project Does the researcher describe the participants? Does the researcher adequately describe the proposed methods? Does the researcher adequately describe the proposed analysis? Do the research question, sample, methods, analysis, and importance of the results align?

Next Week Read Orcher Ch 8, 16 Bring in ages of 8 family members or friends and the mean of those ages Keep gathering sources for Action Research Proposals Start working on writing Intro/Literature Review