Cycle
In this blog I intend to communicate how I have interpreted the Action Research Cycle, and will help clarify how I have responded to Learning Outcome 2 : Develop a feasible and detailed research design.
I studied the Action Research cycle that was presented at the start of this process in Sept 2024.
On our brief it says: “Action Research is both a philosophy and a methodological approach. It is a form of simultaneous action and enquiry, which enables you to experiment with creative and innovative methods“.
I found the Mcniff and Whitehead (2009) cyclical diagram illustrated above did not represent the work I was attempting to conduct within this timeframe. I couldn’t visualise my intended action research inside a complete circle. I felt more like I was traversing time, I was leaning into the past, present and future and seeing connections / actions / learnings across all these domains. I therefore designed my own diagram to help me communicate my approach to the Action Research cycle. See above.
The pink areas are the areas I am working with within this Action Research Project. The areas outside of the pink is work conducted in the past which I am building and reflecting upon. I am seeing my ‘action’ as a fusion of the time in the woods, I will also develop additional actions at the end of this work. Outlined in my last blog post.
Below is an overview of my research plan with dates to ensure the work conducted during this period is clearly described, suitable and manageable:
| Sept 23rd | PGCert workshop 1 : Define Research Topic and ethics framework | |
| Sept 30th | Plan workshop and make consent form | |
| October 9th | WORKSHOP 1 Conduct a ‘sensing’ workshop with the students who have experienced ‘forest school’ 2 weeks prior, during their first week at LCC. | 11 participants from the new student group |
| October 21st | PGCert workshop 2 : Exploring research methods and defining methodology | |
| November 4th | ACTION IN THE WOODS Taking 2 students with me as researchers into the woods, exploring together the questions and methodologies that might enhance our understanding of how the woods can be our learning collaborators | 2 students from the graduating year, joining me a researchers |
| November 18th | PGCert workshop 3 : Critiquing methods of data analysis | |
| November and December | Write up all the learning. Experiment with analysis methods: > Embodied analysis > Creative tools e.g. data poetry | |
| Janurary | Share learning and analysis with participants and future collaborators for their input – checking I have authentically honoured their contributions |
References
- Mcniff, J. and Whitehead, J. (2012). Doing and writing action research. Los Angeles [Etc.] Sage.