Hello all,
I am undertaking an action research project with a thesis as an output. Domain and topic are defined and I have been collecting data points and observations for a number of years, in over 30 countries...so I'm not short of raw material.
Looking for guidance on how long I should, or could, span the write up? Currently thinking:
Cycle One: The Beginning: 5 years of data points and observations
Cycle Two: Perfect Storm: massive change to the 'domain' 2 years
Cycle Three: The Intervention 1 year (hypothesis)
Cycle Four: No Intervention (a null hypnosis to the Intervention) 1 year
Cycle Five: Piloting a repeatable framework 6 months
Cycle Six: Impact Assessment. 3 months
So in all the thesis would cover about 10 years observations, plans, actions and reflections. In my mind the loops (cycles start big and get smaller as they hone in on the 'change' But, that just in my head!
Am I kidding myself, or can someone point me to an action research thesis with the same sort of duration.
Thanking all in advance
Malcolm
Malcolm
whatvis your research question? The trap for many researchers is getting bogged down in oceans of data without a research focus. Your question is the old one of ‘how long is piece of string?’ To which the answer can only be ‘depends on what it is igoing to be used for’. Be very careful of an overload of data which though often interesting does not suggest answers to your research question. Good luck
Thanks Jim, I have my research question (my bit of string) and the data and observations are centered around that question.
Just trying to work out if its a small bit of string (one case study write up cover about 12 months of observations) or a long bit of string with a narrative and examples that stretches across 10 years.!
M.
I guess next issue then Malcolm is the research methiodogy within the Action Research paradigm whether your analysis will be quantitative or qualitative which I turn determine any research sub-questionns. I had a doctoral student once who describes himself as ‘drowning in data’. From all that you have gathered. And in the Context of your research question what would be a useful report within the domaiin of your research?
The research question is looking at what the role of governance in collaborative networks based in regional economies.
I have both qual and quant research data and write ups around this topic and am considering using the cycles of action research to build up a "narrative with numbers" (OECD 2018).
Hence my question, any guidence in how long a narrative can span!
Thanks for the input....
From what you say Malcolm the narrative seems to be the reportung of results section if your dissertation. In a full PhD dissertation with the usual acceptable length of 90,000 - 100,000 words, Chapter 4 would be the core of the dissertation. And normally account for around 35-40% . IF this applies to an action-research dissertation then your report would be 35,000+ word And perhaps you can decide what you narrative could encompass in such length. Does your university not provide such guidance? Are you familiar with the standard 5 chapter dissertation?
hooe that helps
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