Essays on Action Research

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Change Model for Short-Term Change

The planned change is to set-up a website to sell-off long-standing inventory items. This change is small and specific and would involve only a small number of people. For this kind of scenario, the Action Research would be suitable (Weiss, 2016). It has been proven effective for planned change for small to medium-scale change interventions. It can allow implementers to immediately go into planning and implementation through data collection and analysis. The project leader will also act as a change consultant to effect the implementation of the website. His first task is to identify impacts of ...

Report on Sierra Ltd.

Report on Sierra Ltd.

Introduction

This report will assess the dip in profit of the Sierra Ltd. and will closely monitor the current costing and pricing strategies. It will also assess whether the activity based costing is suitable for the company or not. On further, if activity based costing is implemented, the steps that should be taken by the management to ensure the implementation will also be analyzed. Mr. Kaur’s suggestions will be deeply assessed to ensure if going along his way is safe and profitable. The important concerns of the Sierra Ltd. are due to the refinancing to ...

Organization Change

Analysis

When it comes to globalization, the impacts are often looked at in terms of corporations and businesses. However, the scope of the globalization and the change management involved goes quite far beyond that. Just as one example, globalization and its effect on higher education is massive. There are a couple of major theories and trends and some of them are rather different in nature. For example, there is what is as the convergence thesis. This thesis explains and asserts that there is a shift towards homogenization. In other words, there is an attempted fusing of multiple cultures and ...

Abstract

The growing demand for the competitive specialists justifies the particular attention and concern to the Malaysian students’ reading comprehension skills from the Malaysian authorities. The introduction of teaching the Malaysian core school subjects in the English language (Yassin et al., 2009) provided the continual attempts and experiments to define the most efficient way to decrease achievement gaps in the reading of Malaysian pupils. Starting from the 5th grade, students extend their vocabulary through reading (Zubairi & Sarudin, 2009). The following research proposes the method of using “Reading Cues’ as scaffolding answering the closed or WH-questions to improve the performance of ...

Idea 1

The first idea is to use PAR for studying the adaptation of climate change in China. China is one of the greatest contributors of greenhouse gases and it would be helpful to perform a community study of one of the major Chinese cities such as Shanghai or Beijing. The idea is to understand the adaptation people in the Chinese city to problems of climate change by emphasizing on the participation of the sample. The key components of the PAR project would be focusing on change, emphasis on collaboration of community, and context specific. The goal is to develop a ...

Analysis of Article

(Author, Department, University,

Analysis of Article In an article researchers worked on a counselling method, i.e. Motivational Interviewing by school nurses, in the prevention of childhood obesity (Bonde, Bentsen, & Hindhede, 2014).

Who is the study sample?

In the study (Bonde et al., 2014), researchers took interviews of 12 school nurses, so the study sample is nurse representing a population of nurses assigned for motivational interviewing of students to prevent childhood obesity.

Is the study sample generalizable?

The study sample could not generalized as the nurses of the study had long working experiences. Whereas, sometimes less experienced nurses may also work in schools, who would show different perceptions about motivational ...

Describe the similarities and differences between conducting insider and outsider Action Research.

Weather a research is an insider or outsider Action research is based on the relationship between the researcher and the system/setting/community under study. However, both insider and outsider AR are aimed at achieving positive change/action and are participatory in nature. In other words, in both cases the community must participate in every step of the study in order for the action to be affective in solving the identified problem.

The differences between conducting an insider and outsider AR are based on the merits and demerits of either approach as well as what is valued by either the outsider or ...

Insider action research faces several challenges associated with the political dynamics of the researcher being a member of the system/community/organization he is researching. The political dynamics, if not well managed, have the potential to undermine the research endeavors and impede the planned change (Coghlan, 2007). The main challenge is the challenge of the validity of the data because the inside researcher is suspected to be biased, emotionally attached to the system/organization under study and thus what constitutes valid data is intensely contested and politicized. Other challenges include gaining access to data, using data, publishing and disseminating the results. In addition, ...

Abstract

There are different research designs that we have. Different people prefer to use the different designs for different reasons. There are threats to validity for each of the designs. There are factors that can affect the research design that an individual or a group of people carrying out the research will prefer to use:

A researcher must first find out the best research design for the particular type of research they are undertaking. Different research works work different with the research designs. The individual will have to look at the available designs and see the advantages and disadvantages of ...

Patient Advantage. (2009). Proposal for a pilot study to identify cost saving measures in management of muskuloskeletal conditions. Patient Advantage.

The proposal gives details the methodology, objectives and expected outcomes of a pilot project aimed at identifying the opportunities for saving cost in the management of musculoskeletal problems, with a particular focus on myofascial pain. The literature reviewed in the proposal identifies myofascial pain as a major underlying factor in many cases of chronic musculoskeletal pain and yet it is grossly under diagnosed and under treated. This justifies the need for the study using the action research modality. The proposal identifies different methods used to measure the cost of healthcare which include direct costs, indirect costs, claims cost and goes on to ...

Introduction

Evaluative research is generally defined as a study methodology that employs the practice of standard social research techniques for evaluative purposes, as exact research technique, and as a valuation process that employs distinctive methods exclusive to the evaluation of social programs (Powell, 2006). On the other hand, action research is defined as a well-organized process of analysis conducted by and for the people participating in the action primarily for refining or improving the actor’s actions (Sagor, 2000).

Similarities in the Action Research Cycle and the Planning-Evaluation Cycle

Although the evaluative research defer slightly in definition with the action research cycle, they are similar in the structure and procedure they employ to ...

Online Retail Business is one of the fastest growing business enterprises in today’s markets. Various entrepreneurs have ventured into the market with the aim of exploiting new business opportunities. This research project seeks to provide a guideline on the ways to effectively start and run and online research business. There are four research methodologies that can be used in analyzing the business environment for such a consumer-oriented project. For the purposes of this outline; this proposal is going to explore four research methodologies namely; qualitative, quantitative, Mixed, and Action.

Part 1: Overview Research Methodologies.

Qualitative

First of all, it is important to understand that normative ...

Research Strategy

A customer has asked a firm known as Akron Research to develop a customer driven research plan and strategy, and to write a research proposal. Akron research firm studies other firms to access their needs; the company concentrates on needs such as product, process improvement, manufacturing, and consulting services. The project will involve picking a project and deciding on the research design and methodology to be applied. The methodology explains the tools that will be used in carrying out the research. The research design will include a topic, purpose statement, literature review, research questions, and hypothesis.

The format of analyzing data and writing a report ...

Matrix

Module 1 SLP discusses some of the research methods that are commonly used in the field of education. These are quantitative or qualitative in nature or use a mixed method approach. These types of research methods include the experimental research, the correlational study, the survey research, the grounded theory research, the ethnographic research, the case study method, the narrative research, the mixed method research, and the action research. This paper also discusses the characteristics of a good research problem, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the qualitative and quantitative methods.

When forming the research question, it should be ensured ...

In my research design, a classroom of students taking an Arabic second language acquisition course at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center will be evaluated in terms of a specific intervention program intended to increase oral and language proficiency for the students, mostly American, who take it. At the end of the 24-week course, the Oral Proficiency Test (OPI) will be conducted and the cumulative scores collected and analyzed. At the same time, interviews will be conducted with the participants in order to gauge their collective feelings about their classroom experience while taking the course. This mixed methods data will ...

Memorandum

This memorandum will examine a scholarly article that discusses organizational change and managerial sense-making. The article critique will be presented in this memo by focusing on the thesis, methods, evidence of thesis support, contribution to literature, recommendation and implication.

Thesis

The strategic planners design change management programs, while the middle managers implement these initiatives by managing resistance and emotions of subordinates to ensure organizational transformation. The article, Organizational Change and Managerial Sense-making focuses on the critical aspect that managers must focus on ‘sense-giving’ to reduce skepticism and uncertainty among subordinates regarding the intent and dedication of their bosses about change management ...

Change is the new “cool” for businesses, but it is crucial for businesses in the technology sector to embrace the element of change more than any other business. Various change models have been developed that help companies move through their change process smoothly. However, every company might prefer a different model based on its individual circumstances. Three of the models that will be discussed in this paper are; Lewin model, Kotter’s eight steps, and the five steps of action research. The Lewin model deals with three major stages of; unfreezing, changing, and refreezing. The idea of unfreezing aims ...

Abstract

Perceptions often play a very significant role in determining the overall performance of an organization. Due to their enormous influence on performance, they tend to exhibit more of interaction levels of employees and their management as well as determine – to a greater extent – the culture of an organization. Indeed, it has been observed that perceptions could be a great channel through which the study of employee motivation can be achieved. Further, motivation in a company can serve as a starting point to understanding employee, as well as leadership perceptions. The research seeks to get perceptions of employees at Google, Inc. In finding the perceptions ...

Introduction

This paper explores how people can engage in research together. It will investigate the utilisation of participatory research (PR) and participatory action research (PAR) in sports education using focus groups. A focus group is a manifestation of a qualitative study in which a set of individuals are questioned about their judgements, beliefs and opinions towards an item, a benefit, or an idea. However, queries are raised in an intelligent group setting where members are allowed to talk with others in the group (Brock and Pettit, 2007). PR is a methodology used with groups that emphasise support and activity. It looks at comprehending the ...

Introduction

Definitively, personal development involves all activities that improve awareness and identity of the individual. In this regard, personal development encompasses the improvement of an individual’s talents, dreams and aspirations. Centrally, personal development results in the facilitation of human capital appreciation which then enhances employability of such a person. However, personal development is not only limited to the development of the individual since it extends from self-help to assisting others in their own development. Hence, personal development extends from the individual to the development of staff at the workplace. Just as one learns a language through teachings and practice, personal development ...

Let me begin by a confession that at the start of this module, I did not anticipate so much. As a matter of fact, I thought it will be straightforward. They say change is inevitable; like growing. You can’t do anything to change the inevitable, can you? On hindsight, I now look at my initial disinterest with a lot of dismay. I was on the brink of missing out on one of the most significant aspects of an organization’s survival. I am now aware that change is actually an optimization process in the quest for an ideal state. On a professional ...

Abstract

This paper is about reflects action research in education. It will also address some critical questions action research. Last, it will explain why this is important.

Main Body

Action research is about change for the better. It about learning how to be more effective and stronger and caring teacher for their students. It means takings the steps to learn how to reflect with an open-minded. Last, it reminds me a teacher the purpose of being a teacher. “There are two kinds of teachers: the kind that fills you with so much quail shot that you can't move, and the kind that just gives ...

[Institution Affiliation]

PART 1

- At least one problem or guiding question related to your personal or professional setting that could be used in a program evaluation. (Note: Anything related to education, elementary schools, etc). Each year, federals, government and foundations fund educational projects and initiatives with the main goal of transforming lives of students, adults and families. Such a program needs to be evaluated in order to determine whether its goals and objectives are being met. - A statement defending the choice of problem or guiding question for program evaluation with support from the Spaulding text, Program Evaluation in Practice. ...

Article Review:

In their article ‘“Defaulting to Management: Leadership Defined by What It is Not’”, the authors Brigid Carroll and Lester Levy (2008) develop the concept of a default identity or aor baseline identity that influences the performance, acquisition, and understanding of more emergent identity constructions, such as the leadership identity. In the qualitative study that tThe authors conducted where they interviewed 53 upper-middle and senior managers about to ascertain their definitions for of leadership and leadership development, it is foundfinding that most of the participants lack a concrete understanding of what leadership is. They cannot provide a concise definition for leadership and leadership ...

Abstract

This paper examines the strategic influence of on the business strategic decision-making process. The proposed research will study a multinational company in the manufacturing industry for a period of 24 months. Action research (AR) will be used to make inquiries into the selected company and make conclusions based on the comparison previous results and recorded performance after the implementation of an integrated bottom to top analytic-strategic decision making model.

Introduction

Knowledge is power and the digital age has created an unprecedented quantity of data for conversion to knowledge. Digital data grows tenfold every five years yet a majority of business executives is still ...

Abstract

A company started loosing its market share due to a prolonged period of the system development life cycle (SDLC). We ensure that the time-to-market is reduced in order to increase a company’s competitiveness as we also work on minimizing the requirement engineering (RE) phase of the SDLC while holding the current quality levels of product high. In solving this problem, action research was utilized to a large extent as the preferred method of inquiry. Action research is divided into five types; dialogical, participatory, canonical and dual imperative. In this study, we combined the joint application design (JAD), group decision support system ( ...

Introduction

Golden Gulag: Prisons, Surplus, Crisis, and Opposition in Globalizing California is a book that is authored by Ruth Gilmore. The content in the book is as a result of research that was done in California Prisons (Gilmore 34-45). The author takes an ironic reproach to the conservative politicians and self-proclaimed criminologists who argue that prisonisation is the rational process to end crime rates and dispel fear from the streets. She takes a sharp critique at the unprecedented prison expansion in the United States. California is nicknamed ‘the Golden State’ since it houses natural beauty within rectangular borders. The power of the ...

I have learned a great deal in my cursing studies, however when I think about my future career goals I realize that I still have aspirations that I wish to obtain. By enrolling in the MSN program, I feel that I will have the chance to develop new skills that can launch my career to a higher level of success.

Academic Coursework in Other Fields

Foundations of Graduate Studies will give me the skills I need to be successful in this endeavor. By planning and working hard, this course proposes the path I need to take to obtain my degree. Setting goals and accomplishing them is ...

Research is the “process of systematically acquiring data to answer a specific question or to solve a problem” (McNabb, 2008, p.78). There are at least four kinds of research depending on the methodology used: (a) quantitative, (b) qualitative, (c) mixed methods, and (c) action research . Qualitative derive their conclusions from the conduct of experiments, and surveys. Qualitative method includes case studies and ethnographies which are both focused on a more in-depth discussion about processes and dynamics of the object of study. Mixed methods, as the name suggest, combine the previously mentioned two types. A typical process would be a survey at the first phase to ...

Introduction

Educational research is undertaken to generate knowledge. Its five objectives are “exploration” “description,” “ explanation,” “prediction,” and “influence” (Johnson & Christensen, nd). Among the many areas of educational research are quantitative research, qualitative research, mixed methods, and action research. These four areas will be discussed in this paper as well as the research process, and specific applications of these methodologies.

The Research Process

There are seven basic steps involved in conducting a research. These are (1) identifying the research problem, (2) review of literature, (3) specifying a purposes, (4) developing research questions, (5) collecting data, (6) analysis and interpretation of data, and (7) reporting the research ...

DQ two week two

DQ two week two Introduction Action research helps develop new ways of organizational management and operation that would increase efficiency. Action research has many merits because of the drastic improvements it can cause in an organization. However, there are demerits that come along with action research. It depends on the management’s view on whether an organization becomes a candidate of OD research or not.

Action research in organizations helps develop clear ideologies concerning the organization’s objectives. This helps streamline the organizational structure to suit the desirable objectives. Action research also helps the management understand the nature ...

Both public and community health care have many benefits and disadvantages, by understanding these factors one can better gain how to provide the best health care policies to benefit the largest number of people. By understanding how community nursing works we can better determine how to address the public in a more efficient manner. A geopolitical community refers to with geographically defined boundaries, for example it may be a particular town or city. (Homan, 2010). The geo part indicates geographical boundaries while the political part is applicable because usually these defined areas are under a unified political power. A phenomenological community ...

- Analysis of data The action research study addresses the following research questions: what is the effect of critical viewing on the acquisition of literacy skills? Does critical viewing assist in better retention and application of literal terminology as compared to the traditional mode of learning? The data collected in the survey that was conducted in the fall and spring of 2003 answers the first research question. During this survey, 64 twelfth grade students were asked to identify the medium that assisted them to recall the facts more easily. The students were drawn from the traditional English course ...

Central issues

The question as to whether television is a tool critical for aiding the acquisition of knowledge has been the subject of debate among scholars. Some scholars argue that television is a hindrance to the process of learning hence should be left out of the learning set up. In a seminal review on the role of media in education, one scholar points out that media is not a determinant of the outcomes of learning rather the content presented is what determines the learning outcomes. He concludes his research in stating that the media is basically “ a mere vehicle of delivery” hence it does not determine ...

After completing the test I found out that I am a postmodern person. I believe that “truth” is a relative concept as well as “proof”. The concept of truth depends on the person who is saying it. We can believe differently in different things. So truth falls into what it is that you believe to be true. Some people may believe that “2+2=5” and that it will be true for them. However others will not agree with it. So truth for each person may be different. Everything in world is changing and we cannot stop this process. It will ...

Part 1:

Qualitative Research Method: Qualitative research is used in multiple disciplines like market research, social research, psychology etc. Qualitative research provides an in-depth investigation of any behavioral aspect and various factors associated or contributed towards that behavior. This research method yields very satisfactory results when applied on a small sample size. Qualitative research should be conducted when it is difficult to understand a complex case by quantitative research. To gain more insight and in-depth understanding, qualitative research should be performed. For example to understand any organizational process, it is required to have in-depth discussion with the various employees and teams. ...

Action research

Action research is a method of research which allows researchers to build up on their knowledge or understanding while they carry out research. It makes it possible for research to be carried out in situations where it may be difficult to use other research methods. For instance, researchers may find action research useful when they want to remain flexible or they wish to engage the people in the system that is being researched. This kind of research is also useful in situations that are too ambiguous to come up with precise research questions. Additionally, action research can be used in ...

Response to “Disrupting the Status Quo”

The main purpose of this article is to urge the inclusion of action research dissertations as a requirement for the Ed.D. degree. In many schools offering doctoral degrees in education, there is insufficient differentiation in the dissertations between the Ph.D., which is normally more of a research-oriented degree, and the Ed.D., which is more of a practically oriented degree. Research has shown a connection between the quality of an organization’s educational leadership and the quality of the achievement of that organization’s students (Firestone and Riehl, 2005). In the areas of boosting equity in educational outcomes, and increasing overall student excellence, having ...