Action Research ProposalTerry L. Lockhart

EDU 671 Fundamentals of Educational Research

Dr. Kathleen Friedman February 27, 2017

Area of Focus

The purpose of this study is to learn how to keep my meetings productive by creating an effective agenda. This study will consist of strategies that I can use to keep my meetings on track and productive.

Explanation of the problem

In my current position, I am responsible for hosting a countless number of meetings and based on my own observation I have noticed that my last three meetings have been off task and unproductive. I even noticed that there was a small decline in attendance at my January meeting. This is what led me to select this topic for my action research project.

Defining Variables

Since I will be doing this research on myself, there are very few variables that may occur. I have compose a list of some issues that could possibly occur.• Equipment failure• Internet not working properly• Coalition members arriving late

Research Questions

• Quantitative: What will be the difference in my meeting when Robert Rules of Order are applied over a three-week period?

• Qualitative: What is my perspective in regards to using Robert Rules of Order during my next meeting?

Locus of Control

During the process of evaluating my action research, it is my belief that my idea is within the locus of control. I believe that my research can be conducted with a positive outcome because the decisions that will be made pertaining to my action research will be influence by me and not an outside force.

Intervention

As a intervention, I will use Robert’s Rules of Order. This book was written to provide individuals with assurance that when they assemble to make decisions, order would be sustained during the process. I will use Robert’s guidelines to assist me in creating an agenda that can be used to restore order to my meetings (Jennings, n.d.).

Negotiations

Since I will be doing this research on myself, I will not have to make any major negotiations. My research environment will be in my office building and the researcher has signed consent from the buildings’ immediate supervisor.

Ethics

In an effort to ensure that my action research does not yield to unbiased results, I will take the following actions: • I will make sure that the information that I collect and

present will be accurate and not exaggerating information obtained in a way that will enable the researcher to get favorable or unfavorable results.

Ethics Continued

• I will make sure that the data collected will be selected from journal articles, library books, course work content and credible website sources.

• No coalition member will be coerced into giving false information and the data analysis will be conducted openly without manipulation.

Timeline

• Week one: I will prepare my pre-survey for coalition members before my upcoming meeting. The researcher will request that each member go to Survey Monkey to fill out the survey prior to the day of the scheduled meeting.

• Week two: The researcher will create the agenda based on the responses from Survey Monkey using Robert’s Rules of Order.

Timeline Continued

• Week three: During this week, I will host the first meeting using the above intervention. After the meeting, coalition members will fill out a post survey and I will view video footage to see if the intervention was effective and determine if there are any changes that need to be addressed.

Statement of Resources

• Coalition members• Venue for meeting• Ashford Library • Survey Monkey• Copy of Robert’s Rules of Order• Computers/ internet

Data Collection

With the data that I collect from this action research project, I will be able to determine if my intervention were effective. I will also be able to see where I need to make adjustments.

Data Collection Continued

Research QuestionsData Collection Tools

Why this tool? Justify its use in your study. How does it match with what you are attempting to find and measure?

 Time frame:How and when data will be collected.

 What will be the difference in my meeting when Robert Rules of Order are applied over a three-week period?

  

Video observation

 After my meeting, has concluded I will watch a video recording of my meeting. All of our conference rooms are equipped with video surveillance so I will be able watch my meeting from start to finish to determine if my intervention works.

Data will be collected after the meeting. At this point I will be able to view video footage to determine the effects of my intervention

 What is my perspective in regards to using Robert Rules of Order during my next meeting?

 Pre-surveys

 Post-surveys

 I will conduct post surveys using Survey Monkey to measure my perspective of the meeting. I will conduct the same survey over the next few meetings and analyze the results.

Data will be collected before and after the meeting. I will ask Coalition members to log on to Survey Monkey to take the online survey.

  

References• Jennings, C. A. (n.d.). Robert’s Rules for Setting

an Agenda. Retrieved from http://www.dummies.com/careers/business-skills/roberts-rules-for-setting-an-agenda/

• Robert, H. M. III. (2011). Robert’s Rules of Order. Retrieved from http://www.robertsrules.com/

• Landrum, R. E. (2013). Research design for educators: Real-world connections and applications. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

• Mills, G. E. (2014). Action research: A guide for the teacher researcher (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.