Research for Post-MA Development Richard Watson Todd http://arts.kmutt.ac.th/crs/research/Research.ppt

A quick survey Have you conducted research since finishing your MA? Have you published research since finishing your MA?

What is research? “Research is an attempt to understand something better through the systematic and formal collection and analysis of empirical data” (Shanahan, 2002: 10) research is not ‘proving’ something research is not necessarily changing something

Why do research? “Research is valuable because it offers more than results. It provides grounds for thinking more deeply about what is being studied” (Shanahan, 2002: 15) Uses of research To identify problems To increase our understanding of how things work To develop applications (e.g. materials, methods)

Development Teaching development Knowledge development Qualification development Career development Institutional development

Teaching development Teaching focuses for research Focus on method (e.g. test - teach - test research) Focus on interaction Focus on teacher Students learn despite the method Action research focusing on interaction or teacher Key issue is insightfulness

Knowledge development Upgrading knowledge through reading Difficulties of upgrading knowledge without a motivation Research providing the motivation for reading

Qualification development Formal qualifications: PhD implies research CV improvement: publications

Career development Upgrading academic status (assistant professor etc., ajarn 3) Autonomous universities and university evaluation lead to evaluation of teachers Conducting research is important for evaluations

Institutional development Working in a professional environment Research promotes professionalism Research can inform materials, courses, plans leading to a more effective institution

Summary so far Research for deeper understanding and thinking Potential positive developments impacts of conducting research

Issues of conducting research in Thailand 2 surveys concerning conducting research Faculty of Humanities, Srinakharinwirote University Faculty of Humanities, Naresuan University

Issues of conducting research in Thailand 90% of teachers want to conduct research Key motivations include curiosity and improving work, especially teaching Only 50% actually conduct research Key reasons for not conducting research: Lack of time Other responsibilities have a higher priority Lack of knowledge and experience in conducting research

Conceptions of research Survey of teachers’ views of what makes good research (Borg, 2007) Research must be objective Research involves testing hypotheses Research involves controlling variables Research needs large numbers of subjects Traditional model of research

Influence of environment Traditional model of research is prevalent in Thailand Environment influences own ideas Easy to accept traditional model of research Traditional model of research is not the most effective at promoting a deeper understanding

Traditional research and development Traditional research rarely leads to useful insights - not most useful for teaching development Traditional research has predetermined expectations - less need for wide reading and knowledge development

Traditional research and development Traditional research is not necessarily publishable - little effect on qualification and career development Traditional research can help promote professionalism, but may not be most useful for course (etc.) development

Research development If not traditional research, then what? MA thesis new to research pressure to finish quickly Developments in research methodologies and focuses

Alternatives to traditional research deductive predetermined confirmatory outcome Alternative inductive emergent exploratory process

Alternatives to traditional research Analysing student processes (e.g. introspection, stimulated recall) Analysing student communication (e.g. discourse analysis, conversation analysis) Analysing teacher beliefs (e.g. metaphor analysis, diary studies) Identifying key issues (e.g. critical incident analysis)

Bringing it all together Development is important Development has several aspects Deeper understanding and thinking lead to development (Non-traditional) research promotes deeper understanding and thinking Therefore (non-traditional) research promotes development Since development is important, research is important Need to make time for research and give research a high priority