Methodology

Chapter Three: Methodology

Here, you explain how did you did the action thesis. In most cases this will NOT be a long chapter. Use headings such as those suggested below, to help the reader. Organize this in terms of what you actually did. The headings and outline below should help you identify what to describe, but don't simply try to cram a set of processes into this outline if they don't fit.

If you did a Human Subjects (IRB) application, much of what goes in this chapter is in there and can be pasted here.

What was the design of the research and/or project, and why did you choose that design? What were you trying to accomplish or change by using that design? If you did a study, tell the reader what research design you used, such as a case study, survey study, participatory action research study, etc. In most cases, this section will only be one paragraph long.

Setting Where did the study or project take place? If you haven't already described the setting earlier, describe it here. If there is anything particular about the school or setting that readers should know (related to your topic), say that here.

If you did a study, you should describe:

Research Participants Who were the research participants? Describe them. How did you select them? How many were there? If you did interviews and a survey, how many people did you gather each kind of data from?

Data Collection What specific methods did you use to collect data? If you did interviews, what were the questions? Did you tape rercord or take notes? If you did a questionnaire, is there a copy in the appendix that readers can look at? How many questionnaires did you pass out and how many did you get back? If you analyzed test scores, what were the tests, and how did you get the data? If you did observations, what did you observe? Did you use an observation guide? If so, is there a copy in the appendix that readers can look at?

Instruments If you used any instruments beyond a list of interview questions, describe the instruments, and either where you got them, or how you developed them. This includes any tests that you might be using data from. You will probably include a copy in the Appendix.

Data Analysis How did you analyze the data? Just describe what you did.

If you developed a project, you should describe (only write about what is applicable):

Were there any standards, curriculum frameworks, etc. that you used to guide your development of the project? If so, tell the reader a little bit about what they were and how you used them. You might have described them already in Chapters 1 or 2. If so, don't repeat what you have already said, but if you used them for specific guidance, there might be some details about that guidance process that fits here.

Participants Were their any participants who were directly involved? For example, if you were developing curriculum for some specific students were they? Describe them. How many were there? If you gathered background information about them, interviewed them, or in any way involved them in the process, tell the reader about this.

How did you gather information (besides library research) that informed the project? For example, did you interview anyone? Review any documents?

What tools and resources did you use, and why? For example, if you designed a project on the web, why did you choose the web? If you designed interactive software, what kind of interaction do you intend the user to engage in and why? If you chose to use a specific web authoring program, why did you choose it?

How did you go about developing it? How did you plan it out? Were there materials you used that you got from somewhere? Were there ideas you were working with that guided your thinking that you haven't explained in an earlier chapter? Go step by step here in telling the reader how you created or developed it.

Did you try the project out with anyone as you went, for feedback on how it works? If so, describe this process.