Enhancing Practice through Practitioner Research

1. Involvement with Practitioner Research • Developing Research and Evaluation Cultures • Studying for a Qualification Paul Davies, Lancaster University, April 2008

2. Developing Research and Evaluation Culture • Careers/Connexions Service • Education Action Zones • PLRI • AimHigher and Widening Participation ‘Teams’ • Specialist Schools and Academies Trust Paul Davies, Lancaster University, April 2008

3. Studying for a Qualification • CPDA • Foundation Degrees • MA - Adult Literacy, Numeracy and ESOL • MA - Professional Studies Paul Davies, Lancaster University, April 2008

4. What is Practitioner Research? • Insider Research • Action Research • Teacher Researchers • Evidence-based Practitioners • Reflective Practitioners Paul Davies, Lancaster University, April 2008

5. Why do Practitioner Research? • Themselves • The Organisation • The ‘Wider Community’ Paul Davies, Lancaster University, April 2008

6. Types of Projects • Impact/Effectiveness Studies • Feasibility/Development Studies • Reaction Studies • Insight Studies Paul Davies, Lancaster University, April 2008

7. Characteristics of Practitioner Research • Problem/Solution Focused • Case Studies - limited resources and good access to specific data • Provide a contribution to practice rather than theory, and one that is modest • Very influenced by context Paul Davies, Lancaster University, April 2008

8. What is Practitioner Research? • Follow the ‘gold standard’ of full time academic research? • A semi-academic exercise? • A professional development exercise? • A distinct approach to research? Paul Davies, Lancaster University, April 2008

9. Academic Research • Research viewed as ‘problematic’ • Locate within a research approach or tradition • Justify the chosen methods, samples, etc • Acknowledge the limitations • Written for (in which order?) academics, policy makers, practitioners? Paul Davies, Lancaster University, April 2008

10. Characteristics of Practitioner Research • Approach, theory, methodology - “good enough” • Format - accessible and appealing to multiple audiences • Findings - “relatability” • Dissemination of findings - challenging Paul Davies, Lancaster University, April 2008

11. Role and Value of Practitioner Research • Influence on Practice? • Staff Development? • Community Building? • Contribution to Enlightened, Learning Organisations? • Bridge between the ‘worlds’ of practitioners and full time researchers? Paul Davies, Lancaster University, April 2008

12. Is Practitioner Research Different? • Depends on context - whether the practitioner is feels independent or closely linked to an organisation such as a university? • If linked to as university linked as what - a student, a mentee, a colleague? Paul Davies, Lancaster University, April 2008

13. Is Practitioner Research Different? • Depends on context - if PR is located between the ‘worlds’ of academic research and practice - what is the nature of the relative ‘gravitational pulls’? • Does Practitioner Research try to fulfil the demands of one ‘world’ and just be ‘good enough’ for the other? Paul Davies, Lancaster University, April 2008