The ZEN of Writing EDU 2300. Knowledge Check Using the action research article by Maureen Andersen...

The The ZENZEN of Writingof Writing

EDU 2300EDU 2300

Entering a ConversationEntering a Conversation

• This topic is intriguing to you; convey this to your reader.

• Think of yourself as an expert!

Action Research ProjectsAction Research Projects

• General Issues– Different from empirical study though

employing similar concepts.– Context specific; convenience sample; no

generalizability even if study is quantitative.– Don’t take on too much, try to solve the

world. Remember the KISS principle. Pick a slice.

Substantive IssuesSubstantive Issues

• Introduction– Why is this study intriguing to you?– Explain context of your school

http://www.nces.ed.gov/globallocator/

– Research questions– Why will knowing more about this help you

and other teachers?– Multiple paragraphs – Should use 1st person


• Language– Consistency of Terms– Define terms.

Although many generically use the term “self-efficacy” as synonymous with perceived sense of competence (Jones, 2000; Smith, 1999; Williams, 2000), Bandura (1982) defines self-efficacy as a self-judgment of one’s ability to perform a specific task in a specific domain. When I use the term self-efficacy, I mean….


• Literature Review– SYNTHESIZE!!– Giving an overview of what’s been done in the

field on this project– Patterns in literature– Rationale for study– CRITIQUE the empirical studies!– Largest section of project

Literature ReviewLiterature Review

• CRITIQUE the studies!– Research questions– Samples/participants– Validity/reliability or trustworthiness– Methods

• Data collection• Data analysis

– Results/conclusions


• To help reader, use– Topic Sentences– Transitions– Summarizing sentences or paragraphs

• Outline your paper!

Technical IssuesTechnical Issues

• APA formatting– General Guide

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

– Electronic sourceshttp://www.apastyle.org/elecmedia.html

– Power Point Guidehttp://library.villanova.edu/app/Web/userfiles/Images/apa_stylerev012009.pps


• APA citationsAlthough many generically use the term “self-

efficacy” as synonymous with perceived sense of competence (Jones, 2000; Smith, 1999; Williams, 2000), Bandura (1982) defines self-efficacy as a self-judgment of one’s ability to perform a specific task in a specific domain. When I use the term self-efficacy, I mean….


• Types of sources– Remember qualitative studies may include

numbers (descriptive data).– Quantitative studies assume generalizability if

they used a random sample.– You may use > 10 sources. If so, you may

use > 1 theoretical paper or literature review.


• Abstract of ≤150 words – Study purpose– Participants/ context– Data collection methods– Maybe data analysis methods– Results (why results will be useful)

Data CollectionData Collection

• What will help you to answer your research question?

• Does your question lend itself to a qualitative or quantitative approach?

• What is the best way to collect this info?

• Who should your participants be? Number?

• When could you collect the data?

Data AnalysisData Analysis

• Anticipate how and when you will analyze the data.

• What makes sense to answer the research questions?

• How are you addressing validity& reliability or trustworthiness?

• Apply concepts we’ve addressed throughout the course.

Analyzing an Action Research Analyzing an Action Research ProjectProject

• Are the research questions appropriate?• Is the problem researchable? Important?• Is the review of literature adequate? Does the

author identify patterns, gaps, contradictions, strengths, weaknesses?

• Does the literature review provide a backdrop for the study?

Analyzing an Action Research Analyzing an Action Research ProjectProject

• Does the researcher describe the participants?• Does the researcher adequately describe the

proposed methods? • Does the researcher adequately describe the

proposed analysis?• Do the research question, sample, methods,

analysis, and importance of the results align?

Next WeekNext Week

• Read Orcher Ch 8, 16

• Bring in ages of 8 family members or friends and the mean of those ages

• Keep gathering sources for Action Research Proposals

• Start working on writing Intro/Literature Review

The ZEN of Writing EDU 2300. Knowledge Check Using the action research article by Maureen Andersen...

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