action+inquiry

An introduction to research practice could begin with Aristotle regarded by many as one of the most influential father of "modern" research. He helped introduce the idea that measurement and observation based on meticulous experiments was the only way to advance knowledge as opposed to relying on pure reasoning or pre-conceived ideas. He believed literature revues should be the first step to research followed by the general consensus on the subject and a in depth study of related subjects. ([|Shuttleworth, 2009] ) Research has now evolved to using a number of methodology and methods based on a range of assumptions and ideas held by the researchers of what is reliable and valid. These philosophical assumptions have a profound effects on how research is done, Mertens (2005,[] ) for example speaks of a definition of research which is influenced by the researcher's theoretical framework which was, in my case, limited to a fairly old fashion and restricted only to the quantitative positivist view. These have been divided in different ways by the research community, Neuman (2006) categorized 5 group when speaking of the philosophical assumptions we hold regarding the purpose and nature of science and how they influence our approach to research. He identified the following range and differences between research paradigms

**Positivist**
It originated out of the French Enlightenment with Auguste comte who created a paradigm shift to replace Rationalism ( []) and as such is still the oldest and mostly used approach in science like physics,chemistry or biology who tends to use a quantitative approach to research based on precise observations that can be repeated. In social research, experiments or statistics obeys positivist rules with the understanding of it's limitation with regard to human experiences ([]). Free will is for the positivist mostly an illusion as human nature is shaped by external forces. Most importantly perhaps, the values we hold should not influence, for the positivists, the research being done as opposed to interpretative or critical approaches. Positivism, seemingly, tends to reduce people to numbers and use theories not relevant to them. For the positivist the word is deterministic and operates by laws of cause and effect ([]), prediction and control are the main drivers behind this philosophy of research.

**Interpretative**
This approach has a definite focus on the people and on understanding our social life as a specie, the interpretative researcher is involved with the research and the people he is researching. The focus of it is on meaningful social action and on motivating factors which makes us who we are. Essentialist or constructionist orientation are possible which will affect greatly this understanding of reality.



**Critical**
Focuses on understanding and reacting accordingly to our social reality, to empower people to change and rectify mis-justice, to understand the hidden factors which are responsible for inequalities, to demystify the apparent reality.



**Feminist**
Incorporate both an interpretative and critical approach while rejecting the positivist view believed to be a typical male dominated type. Their main goal is to advance feminist values. Feminist are by definition mostly women fighting for their rights but it does also include a few men which understand the dilemma our society faces with this non-egalitarians system. I believe our society have still a long way to go before a fair balance is found between the sexes but in my practice a fair system is, for me, in place with a range of safeguard to protect all the people in it. (it should be noted that an gender imbalance still exist in particular in management.)

**Post-modern**
In essence Post-modernism reject modernism 's ideas, for example logical reasoning, belief in progress or humanist values. Research, for the post-modern, has for goals to entertain, express a subjective self and to be playful.

when others []) would speak of ===**positivism versus** **post-positivism, a term which incorporates** **critical realism and** **constructivism:** === **Post-positivism is in essence the rejection of positivism,** and is in direct opposition to positivism with views about observation being fallible, this belief has for result that all theories and results are potentially wrong and may need to be reviewed on a regular basis. This understanding of the universe by the post-positivist doesn't stop them from attempting quality researches but this awareness changes the tools and techniques we must use. Triangulation, for example, is a favored post-positivist research method which attempts to gather data from different angles to reduce the risks of potential errors, a tool which seems for many to be appropriate in social action research

Constructivism, with the belief that we construct our reality based on ideas linked to the real world but distinct from it, including the belief that languages contains world view which affect our perception of it bring another potential error; if these perceptions are erroneous the construct is likely to be incorrect as well. This view, which I agree with, can be of great importance, for example when designing questionnaire or holding interviews and reflecting on this type of data and their meanings.

Earlier work from Maykut (1994) would refer to positivism versus phenomenology:

**Positivism**
"objective inquiry based on measurable variables and provable propositions" Maykut used (kincheloe 1991) to describe it as Quantitative research. "Explanation, prediction and proof are the hallmark of it"

**Phenomenology**
To understand the meaning of events and the effect it has for the people being studied knowing that the world and the individuals are co-constituted.

Maykut (1994) sees positivism and phenomenology as the 2 main research paradigm and believes sets of postulates makes up the paradigms we follow. The positivist approach to research for them is mostly patriarchal as opposed to Phenomenology which is seen as having a more feminist or post-modern inclination.

When speaking about possibilities of research generalization the positivist believes explanation can be generalized as opposed to the alternate paradigm which believes the uniqueness of all proposition makes it difficult at best. (This could have a definite effect on any research done at the college)

In conclusion to this chapter on paradigms demystification I could add that Interestingly, Wadsworth ([]) sees Participatory action research as another Philosophy of knowledge which includes critical constructivist, post positivist and critical interpretative within it.

The following shows the 3 major paths for gathering data which are a direct result of the paradigm held by the researchers. These, I should add, are only representations of theoretical ideals, a theoretical demarcation which is for some researchers restricting as they are abstract concepts which do not belong into the real world ([]) []

an illustration of complexity of qualitative versus quantitative paridigms

**Qualitative research**
Qualitative research is in essence born from a fairly recent paradigm shift and is a direct response to the restriction felt by social researchers in particular.

It was seen until fairly recently by some of the scientific community as not "rigorous or scientific" (Maykut 1994), for Maykut data analysis is where quantitative and qualitative research differ from each other. The data analysed can be words, objects or pictures for example from discussions or interviews, artifacts or even videos. The 2 main direction data can be collected are direct (non-disguised) or indirect (disguised), focus groups or depth interview can be used for the direct way as opposed to projective techniques ([]) which uses varies stimulus to gather data. (Association, completion, construction or expressive techniques can be used) A very important assumption linked to qualitative research is that people have meaningful actions or experiences and these can be obtained and interpreted with the appropriate questioning techniques focused on groups or individuals This "new paradigm of social science" ( [] ) tends to be more economical and flexible and giving answers to hows and whys no inferential statistics are used to analysed the data as opposed to quantitative research data <span style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 13px;">Understanding of a specific cause and effect in a specific context or ideas and feelings are usually the focus of this type of research lastly, discoveries made under this research paradigm are not necessarily duplicable as reality is believed to be dynamic. []

<span style="font-size: 1.1em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">**Quantitative**
the "old paradigm science" ([]) the perceived traditional approach to science, based on observation that are "converted into discrete units that can be compared to other units by using statistical analysis" (Maykut 1994) This type of research use a range of type of statistical, descriptive or causal analysis which usually requires lots of time and large sample sizes to be validated. The goal of quantitative research is to validate facts and not explore new ideas. under this paradigm reality is seen as being static and therefore liable to have universal laws discovered and applicable to all. []

reducing theory...

<span style="font-size: 1.1em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">**Mixed**
this term refers mostly but not exhaustively to the use of qualitative and quantitative methodology of inquiry, it offers the widest range of research methods which bring the advantage of a richer and deeper sources of data. The participatory methodology It should be noted that a<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;"> mixed qualitative, quantitative or participatory methodology could easily be used with a range of methods, this technique can be referred to as triangulation and has the advantage of bringing finding which are richer and deeper. (a small description needed again)

Maykut shows a possible approaches to research with a clear choice having to be made between quantitative or qualitative research but this approach can prove to be limiting for researchers, another option open to the researchers is the mixed approach where each system is used to bring a wider range of benefits. This possible choice is obviously linked to our personal paradigms but for any research to be effective a basic self-awareness is a necessity Deciding which approach to take is no easy task (if at all possible), some would say to follow your instinct (<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; padding-right: 10px;">[] ) in order to keep self-motivation high or even to be aware of the preferences of our teachers or managers!

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">now speaking about the approach I favour... <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px;">[] =<span style="font-size: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">**<span style="font-size: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">Choosing Your Research Methods **__<span style="font-size: 1.4em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">//and their relevance to your professional context// __ = Assuming action research is our goal, that a mixed methodologists approach is fitting within the paradigm held by the researcher, the range of methods which can be used are: A very popular tool for research in colleges or at least in my college where I have seem these homemade boxes appear regularly in staff rooms but a choice which carries many problems, notably with the lack of enthusiasm staff or students display about them. They are also standardized and sometimes difficult to understand. In my field students or even staff often want to give "right" answers as opposed to true answers, one could also argue that they can also be more objective than methods like interviews.
 * <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: blue; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px;">[|Questionnaires]

Grounded theory: It is an explicitly emergent research which does not start with an hypothesis, it can be similar to action research as it aim to understand situations and discover the underlying reasons or theories of a situation and therfore ([]) helping people making sens of them

can be done in a number of ways: phone, internet, mail, person to person, electronic. Among other factors case study can add an element of depth to the research, it can also be positivist, interpretative, critical or feminist depending on the philosophical assumptions held by the researchers a type of interview done on a one to one basis, this could be very usefulin particular if the research involves a sensitive issue useful for a specific problem to be investigated as the variables can be controlled but the results can be limited due to the structure of the philosophical assumptions of the researcher. Useful to find, use or create new research in a fast and easily accessible medium but this system can be restrictive to computer literate people, have some privacy issues, people can also have a tendency when using online survey to go into a"click" superficial mode an indirect technique where people are asked to complete or interpret stimulus (free word association or sentence completion for example) ambiguous or visual stimulus ([]) fun and engaging, useful to express private feelings especially in matters which be embarrassing or threatning and can also be easiliy used online. this method can offer researchers a new avenue of possibilities for action research instead of questionnaires or discussions but projective techniques typically disguise the reason for the research and as such may create a moral dilemma: can my philosophical assumptions or the ethics of action research allow for such technique? One particular type of projective technique is the use of a third party questioning system to identify the feeling of the interviewed, for example with sentences starting with: Most people at the college... as such, I believe it could be a useful way to identify hidden feelings or motivations from people unwilling or unable to face them
 * <span style="color: blue; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Surveys
 * <span style="color: blue; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">case study
 * <span style="color: blue; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">development researc h
 * historical research
 * This type of research can help see if a pattern is repeating itself over a period of time
 * <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: blue; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px;">[|Interviews]
 * depth interview
 * <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: blue; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px;">[|Focused group discussions]
 * can show a lack representativeness and be difficult to analyse but they offer a fast method which can stimulate a group in a safe environment but they needs to be lead by an experienced moderator. Very usefull to understand why people do what they do. A possible problem is that the subjectivity of the researcher can affect the data gathered during such meetings
 * <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: blue; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px;">[|Observation]
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Scanner data
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Physiological measures
 * <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: blue; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px;">[|Documentary analysis]
 * <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: blue; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px;">[|Experiments]
 * <span style="color: blue; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Quasi-experiment
 * <span style="color: blue; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Online research
 * <span style="color: blue; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">projective techniques: Association, completion, construction or expressive technique

All these methods will provide researchers with data which can be also divided in 2 categories: Primary and Secondary, the primary type refers to a type of data collected directly by the researcher (questionnaire, survey or interview for example) as opposed of using evidence previously collected by others (reports, articles or publications for example) which have been published. Therefore Secondary evidence will often be used when introducing a research project to possibly set the scene on a particular topic.

Participative action research:[]

<span style="font-size: 1.1em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;"> Action research
As seen previously a range of approach to research can bring varied benefits as all methods brings qualities to projects but time constraints, funding availability, philosophical assumptions to name a few does limit our choices. Action research has been described as<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',Calibri,Corbel,Verdana,sans-serif,Arial; line-height: normal;"> a type of research which focuses on advancing and solving real issues faced by practitioners. It's main difference from other type of research could be define with the ability of the researcher to change or influence the environment which is been investigated, possibly in a cyclic system <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',Calibri,Corbel,Verdana,sans-serif,Arial; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Action research has a definite focus on quality as opposed to quantity but still keeps the meticulous approach it deserves. <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',Calibri,Corbel,Verdana,sans-serif,Arial; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> The main aim when doing this type of research is to understand and improve the environment we work in and then further research the impact this evolution brings to our practice. <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',Calibri,Corbel,Verdana,sans-serif,Arial; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The data collected by action research is likely to be from varied sources in a triangulable system with some critical reflection included within each cycle ( [])

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',Calibri,Corbel,Verdana,sans-serif,Arial; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> another way to describe this process could be "look, think and act" <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',Calibri,Corbel,Verdana,sans-serif,Arial; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px;">[]

<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',Calibri,Corbel,Verdana,sans-serif,Arial; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px;"> [|Look, think, act]

=<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',Calibri,Corbel,Verdana,sans-serif,Arial; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px;">helping students and teachers live, work and learn together =

Wadsworth speaks of another level of action research with Participatory action research where all people are involved: <span style="color: #006600; font-family: Palatino,Garamond,Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;">The researchers, the researched, the researched for (critical reference group) or the researched for (initiators): working <span style="font-family: Palatino,Garamond,Times;">together in order to improve the system Participatory action research includes for Wadsworth ([]) most types of social research because of the awareness and consciousness of it's assumption regarding the collective nature of social research. an approach particularly well suited, i believe, in education.

<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; padding-right: 10px;">[] <span style="color: #006600; font-family: Palatino,Garamond,Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;">"In other words, there are times when the initial use of fuzzy methods to answer fuzzy questions is the only appropriate choice. Action research provides enough flexibility to allow fuzzy beginnings while progressing towards appropriate endings."

=Data analysis and interpretation techniques are, once more, dependent on the research paradigm one follows and the research community has divergent opinions on the subject.= <span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-size: large; line-height: 0.42cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 0cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm; widows: 2;">**3 parts of data:**

<span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-size: large; line-height: 0.42cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 0cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm; widows: 2;">**__**gathering**__** <span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-size: large; font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.42cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 0cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">for example questionnaires, interviews, focused group etc <span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-size: large; line-height: 0.42cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 0cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm; widows: 2;">**__**analysing**__** <span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-size: large; font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.42cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 0cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">Software can be used to do the analysis

<span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-size: large; font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.42cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 0cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">2 possible approaches are possible <span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-size: large; font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.42cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 0cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">The emerging or the pre-defined ideology the researcher carries will dictate how the analysis of data is done.

<span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-size: large; line-height: 0.42cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 0cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm; widows: 2;">**__**interpreting**__**

<span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-size: large; font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.42cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 0cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">Graphs has the advantage to make funding visually pleasing and interesting and make the interpretation of representations easier <span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-size: large; font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.42cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 0cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">A useful key is needed, without it a graph can add nothing to the interpretation of information, a narrative interpretation does help. <span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-size: large; font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.42cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 0cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">Standard deviation is a very important data representation which must be included to make sense of tables.

<span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-size: large; line-height: 0.42cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 0cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm; widows: 2;">**__**Presenting**__**

<span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-size: large; font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.42cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 0cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">Pattern are easily identified with well designed graphical representations and is particularly well suited to visual learners

<span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-size: large; font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.42cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 0cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">Interpretation <span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-size: large; font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.42cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 0cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">What does it all mean? Etc <span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-size: large; font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.42cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 0cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">elaborate a bit with the hand-out, I think it is important

with regard to the quantitatively focused research, it is a process of presenting and interpreting numerical data with a clear demarcation between the gathering and the analysis ([])and uses mostly statistical analysis, these includes descriptive and inferential statistics. " <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">__<span style="color: #2d6d73; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[|Descriptive statistics] __ include measures of central tendency and measures of variability about the average. These give the reader a 'picture' of the data collected and used in the research project. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">__<span style="color: #2d6d73; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[|Inferential statistics] __ are the outcomes of statistical tests, helping deductions to be made from the data collected, to test hypotheses set and relating findings to the sample or population." )

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;">Qualitative interpretation, with it's somehow wider range of systems has a less clear demarcation between gathering and analysing data ( [])<span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: normal;">, Ratcliff ( <span style="color: #000000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;">[] ) has identified 15 data analysis methods and used Tesch's summarization to describe these in 4 categories:

"Language Oriented Describing Regularities  Meanings of Actions or Text  Reflective Methods
 * Cognitive structures--//structural ethnography//
 * Process of interaction--//analytic induction//
 * Discovering elements, categories, connections--//constant comparison//, //matrices and charting//
 * Discovering patterns--//naturalistic inquiry//
 * Theme discovery--//phenomenology//
 * Interpretation centered--//hermeneutics//
 * Metaphorical analysis"

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">when others would refer to 3 broad approaches for qualitative research: <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Hermeneutic, semiotics, focused on narative and metaphors or grounded theory (<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; url(http: //www.wikispaces.com/i/a.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; padding-right: 10px;">[]

Once again our preferences or the paradigms we follow will dictate which system we are likely to use, the statistical system used in quantitative research is for some researchers an easier option but the limitation it brings with reducing all information to quantities or statistics offers less scope to meaningfully understandable human research data. the qualitative approach, on the other hand, gives you " meaning and descriptions of personal significance"

<span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-size: large; font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.42cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 0cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm; text-decoration: none; widows: 2;">it should also noted that Qualitative data can be changed into quantitative data if these data sample is big enough but a small amount would not require this. **one could argue that Because of time and funding limitations action research will have a limited quantitative amount of data link to action research**

<span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-size: large; line-height: 0.42cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 0cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm; widows: 2;"> **even if my philosophical assumption**

<span style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-size: large; line-height: 0.42cm; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 0cm; padding-left: 0cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm; widows: 2;">** don't forget to mention ethics **

In conclusion using both system seem to have become the favored approach held by researchers because of the varied reliable information it can bring to research and in particular social research

So, the question is how can understanding research practice affect my practice as a college lecturer? <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">or in which way may I, my students or the college benefit from this education? <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"> We could finish answering this question by examining which research paradigm and methodology I was aware of, and the repercussion this had on my professional practice. <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"> My understanding on what research is or what I believed good reliable research should be was pretty much limited to the traditional quantitative approach, a type of research for ever out my league due to my perceived limited education and pre-conceived ideas. I was aware of the existence of feminism for example but this understanding was limited and made of with what we could hear or see in typical western media! Today, still, most of our preconceived ideas have the medias for sources and I find this is very worrying, especially for professional teachers in further education.

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">In my previous assessment I discovered critical thinking which open my eyes to a word of new questioning, understanding research practice is now giving me the tools to seek answers to make a small contribution to our system of education. This new understanding of quantitative, qualitative or mixed type of data, the varied views held by the community on the approaches we can takes: positivist, interpretative, critical, feminist, post-modern or phenomenological to name this few offers new possibilities and is opening my mind to the existence of an intelligent, argumentative and opinionated group of our society. <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"> This new awareness regarding my responsibilities or obligations as a lecturer comes with a price, the knowledge that I am responsible, as a teaching citizen, for what is happening in my class and my college and that I can no longer totally depend on the SQA or managerial staff for the necessary guidance, moral or otherwise it should have. I, can make a difference.

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"> **Link it to your own practice and a learning environment (method of research and qualitative methodology)**