10/10/2012

1. Dissertation/Action Enquiry
Introduction, Module Guide and
the Plan/Proposal
October 2012

2. Agenda
• Module Guide(s)
• The Programme
• The Assignment
• The Structure of the Assignment
• Level Descriptors
• Reading on Research
• Harvard Referencing
• The Plan/Proposal Submission
• The guidance of Colin Robson
• http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/robson/powerpoint_slides.asp

3. Aims and Assessment Criteria
• An empirical piece of practitioner
research.
• In depth knowledge and understanding.
• New insights for generalization.
• Research skills and scholarship.
• Independence, autonomy, decision
making.

4. Teaching and Support
• Workshop Programme (Live and
Online)
• Online Conversation and materials:
– http://www.mdxpartnership.org.uk
• Supervision

5. Assignment
• AE - 12,000 words
• Dissertation 20,000 words
• Research Report
• Format in module guide/handbook

6. Task: Familiarity with the End
Product
Task: Investigate and create a bullet point list of
characteristics of Past Assignments under the
headings:
Format
Genre/style of writing
Focus
Audience

7. Structure and Format
• Introduction, Context and Need with
Professional Autobiography
• Review of the Literature and Research in the
field
• The Methodological Issues of the Research
• Data Collection and Analysis Procedures
• The Results, (Description, Analysis,
Discussion, Impact)

8. Reading on Methodology and
Procedures
• Cohen,Manion and Morrison Research methods in
Education (2000) Routledge
• McNiff J, Whitehead J (2005) Action Research,Sage
• McNiff J, Whitehead J (2009) Doing and Writing
Action Research.Sage
• Robson C Real World Research
http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/robson/powerpoint_
slides.asp

9. Impact
• Development of New Insights/Knowledge for
other researchers.
• Recommendations for practice for other
practitioners.
• Impact on own knowledge and practice.
• Impact on learning experience and outcomes
of pupils

10. Plan
• 1. Title
• Your working title: try to be as precise as possible. It needs an introductory
phrase such as: an enquiry into..., an critical investigation into..., a critical
review of... an evaluation of...., a case study of.... ]
• 2. Rationale and Need
• What is your research focus?
• Why do practitioners need this?
• Why do researchers need this research?
• What is your purpose?
• Why is your research important to you, to your institution, and/or to
education?
• 3. Literature Review
• Who are the major writers in this area of education?
• What are the main concepts and ideas?
• What has been written already on this research topic?

11. Plan
• . Research Questions
• What are you proposing to investigate?
• How are you expressing the questions?]
• 5. Methodology
• What research tradition or philosophy are you proposing to work
within?
• What research approach or strategy are you intending to use?
• Provide a brief justification for this approach.
• Explain why this approach is suitable for what you intend to
research.

12. Plan
• 6. Data Collection Procedures (Observation, Asking
Questions, Analyzing Secondary Data, Research Journal)
• What data collection procedures are you proposing to use?
• How much data will you produce?
• What is your sample?
• Provide a brief justification for these methods.
• Explain why these methods are suitable for what you intend
to research.

13. Plan
• 7. Resources and Support
• What resources are you going to need?
• Where will these come from? What support might you need
from supervisors?
• 8. Ethical Issues
• What ethical issues could be involved?
• Consider permissions for access.
• What issues concerning access and confidentiality could be
involved?
• How are you going to address them?

14. Timeplan
• 9. Timescale
• Write a GANTT* chart of how the various aspects of the research
would be carried out. Consider: -
• Research Planning,
• Data Collection,
• Data Analysis and
• Report Writing.
• Include a timeline for writing and checking with supervisors
• (a) Introduction and Context.
• (b) Review of Literature.
• (c) Methods and Methodology,
• (e) The Result.
* A Gantt chart is a type of bar chart, developed by Henry Gantt, that
illustrates a project schedule. Gantt charts illustrate the start and finish
dates of the terminal elements and summary elements of a project.
Terminal elements and summary elements comprise the work
breakdown structure of the project.

15. GANTT Chart
0 N D J F M A M J J A S
Plan x Submit
2ndNov
Intro and
justification
Reading and Lit
review
Methodology and
methods section
Data collection
Analysis of data
Writing up

16. Task
• Draft your GANTT
• Discuss what issues of timing does it
raise?