1. Methodology and Methods
Action Research:
Methodology and Methods
Rinnelle Lee-Piggott
This evening we’re going to look at methodology and methods. No doubt you know about this, so please feel free to share as we co-construct our knowledge and where ever you need clarification, do ask. Dr De Lisle, Gwen, Sean, myself and your colleagues are here to help.

2. Outline Define methodology Focus on the Action research methodology
Focus on methods
Over the next few minutes, we will go through an extended definition of methodology

3. Methodology
Refers to:
“…the assembly of research tools and the application of research rules. … It is how the toolkit of research methods is brought together to crack an individual and specific research problem”
(Newby, 2010, p. 51).
What is methodology?
Peter Newby (2010) defines it as [read definition in white font]. He continues by saying [read definition in yellow]
Now, it is important to internalise that your ‘methodology’ is the ‘how’ – the research strategy, design blueprint – hence the background theme of the slides. Methodology is not to be confused with ‘methods’; although as you read you may find that some authors use the terms interchangeably

4. How do you determine a methodological framework?
Ontology ??
Epistemology ??
Methodology
Methodology is determined by your ontology and epistemology, which in turn has implications for the method or methods you select.
Is anyone familiar with these terms and willing to venture definitions.
Method(s)

5. how and what we can know about social reality
Ontology
“…assumptions are concerned with what we believe constitutes social reality”
(Blaikie, 2000, p. 8).
World view
We have different ways of seeing the world
Epistemology
“… is a theory of the nature/form of knowledge”
(Hitchcock & Hughes, 1989, 1995).
how and what we can know about social reality
It is possible to have divergent world views, which have been shaped by our upbringing, what we value and come to value and our experiences.
Derived from the Greek words episteme (knowledge) and logos (reason),

6. Types of Epistemologies: Positivism
sees knowledge as:
obtained through the senses, natural science
value free, i.e. objective
Positivism is linked to the Quantitative paradigm
Methods: experimentation, surveys, causal relationships
I’ll briefly mention the main types of epistemologies. [Read slide]

7. Types of Epistemologies: Interpretivism
respects the differences between people and animals or things
recognises that human beings are capable of developing subjective meanings to their experiences
seeks to make sense of those subjective meanings (Cohen et al., 2007)
Interpretivism is linked to the Qualitative paradigm
Methods: interviews, narratives, projective techniques

8. Types of Epistemologies*
Social Constructionism
takes some tenets of both but leans more to interpretivism *
uses multiple methods may be used from either paradigms
Pragmatism
is concerned with ‘what works’ for useful results!
uses mixed methods that integrates quantitative and qualitative data at various stages of the research process
may emphasize one paradigm over the other
Social constructionism
Positivism and Interpretivism are the two main types that supposedly oppose each other. So you would see/hear positivism being term hardcore, rigorous research, while interpretivism is soft and not as rigorous. However, there is no real basis for these arguments. You would find that other authors consider interpretive research to be just as rigorous and probably more difficult to analyse than quatitative research. If you don’t think that any one epistemology suits you and your research, you may want to consider these:

9. Video: Ontology, Epistemology, Methodology and Methods

10. Methodology (research blueprint or design)
Concerns:
Methods – Which ones? and How many?
Participants – Who? Why? How many?
Access
Ethical considerations
Data Analysis

11. Types of Methodologies
See pg 65 of Newby (2010).

12. Action Research Methodology
Founding father - Kurt Lewin, whose work sought to change the lives of disadvantaged groups
Useful for investigating and improving a variety of areas in education, including*:
teaching methods,
learning strategies,
assessment procedures,
attitudes and values of stakeholders,
CPD of teachers,
student behavior management,
administration
[please think of which area your research problem falls into]

13. Action Research Methodology
Characteristics
Cohen, Manion & Morrison (2007, pp )
Before we have a look. In pairs, identify two characteristics of Action Research Methodology. – 5 mins
Ask one pair to name their 2 characteristics; ask if any other pair identify anything different.
Look at pages 3= and point out characteristics to note
In pairs, identify 2 characteristics of Action Research

14. Methods: research tools
What research methods do you know of?
So now we understand our methodology, let’s turn our attention to the methods we can use.
Our methods are our research tools, what we will use to collect data and understand our research problem

15. Methods: research tools
Questionnaires
Interviews
Observation
Tests
Personal constructs, e.g. laddering
Narrative
Critical incident technique
Document research
Visual sociology
Many different methods!!!
Laddering - asks why over and over to discover a person’s construct/underlying reasoning behind an idea/choice etc.
The idea of presenting these is to make you aware that there are many different methods from which you can choose to best get answers to your research questions.
This is not a comprehensive, all inclusive list!