1. Research for Post-MA Development
Richard Watson Todd

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

3. 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

4. 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)

5. Development Teaching development Knowledge development
Qualification development
Career development
Institutional development

6. 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

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

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

9. 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

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

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

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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

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

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

20. 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)

21. 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