EDU 671 Week 6 Final project (Action research project)

1. Action Research Proposal
Terry L. Lockhart
EDU 671 Fundamentals of Educational Research
Dr. Kathleen Friedman
February 27, 2017

2. Area of Focus
The purpose of this study is to learn how to keep my meetings productive by
creating an effective agenda. This study will consist of strategies that I can use
to keep my meetings on track and productive.

3. Explanation of the problem
In my current position, I am responsible for hosting a countless number of
meetings and based on my own observation I have noticed that my last three
meetings have been off task and unproductive. I even noticed that there was a
small decline in attendance at my January meeting. This is what led me to select
this topic for my action research project.

4. Defining Variables
Since I will be doing this research on myself, there are very few variables
that may occur. I have compose a list of some issues that could possibly
occur.
• Equipment failure
• Internet not working properly
• Coalition members arriving late

5. Research Questions
• Quantitative: What will be the difference in my meeting when Robert Rules
of Order are applied over a three-week period?
• Qualitative: What is my perspective in regards to using Robert Rules of
Order during my next meeting?

6. Locus of Control
During the process of evaluating my action research, it is my belief that my
idea is within the locus of control. I believe that my research can be conducted
with a positive outcome because the decisions that will be made pertaining to
my action research will be influence by me and not an outside force.

7. Intervention
As a intervention, I will use Robert’s Rules of
Order. This book was written to provide
individuals with assurance that when they assemble
to make decisions, order would be sustained during
the process. I will use Robert’s guidelines to assist
me in creating an agenda that can be used to
restore order to my meetings (Jennings, n.d.).

8. Negotiations
Since I will be doing this research on myself, I will not have to make any major
negotiations. My research environment will be in my office building and the
researcher has signed consent from the buildings’ immediate supervisor.

9. Ethics
In an effort to ensure that my action research does not yield to unbiased
results, I will take the following actions:
• I will make sure that the information that I collect and present will be
accurate and not exaggerating information obtained in a way that will
enable the researcher to get favorable or unfavorable results.

10. Ethics Continued
• I will make sure that the data collected will be selected from journal articles,
library books, course work content and credible website sources.
• No coalition member will be coerced into giving false information and the
data analysis will be conducted openly without manipulation.

11. Timeline
• Week one: I will prepare my pre-survey for coalition members before my
upcoming meeting. The researcher will request that each member go to
Survey Monkey to fill out the survey prior to the day of the scheduled
meeting.
• Week two: The researcher will create the agenda based on the responses
from Survey Monkey using Robert’s Rules of Order.

12. Timeline Continued
• Week three: During this week, I will host the first meeting using the above
intervention. After the meeting, coalition members will fill out a post survey
and I will view video footage to see if the intervention was effective and
determine if there are any changes that need to be addressed.

13. Statement of Resources
• Coalition members
• Venue for meeting
• Ashford Library
• Survey Monkey
• Copy of Robert’s Rules of Order
• Computers/ internet

14. Data Collection
With the data that I collect from this action research project, I will be able to
determine if my intervention were effective. I will also be able to see where I
need to make adjustments.

15. Data Collection Continued
Research Questions
Data Collection
Tools
Why this tool? Justify its use in your
study. How does it match with what
you are attempting to find and
measure?
Time frame:
How and when data will be
collected.
What will be the difference in
my meeting when Robert Rules
of Order are applied over a
three-week period?
Video observation
After my meeting, has concluded I will
watch a video recording of my meeting. All
of our conference rooms are equipped with
video surveillance so I will be able watch my
meeting from start to finish to determine if
my intervention works.
Data will be collected after
the meeting. At this point I
will be able to view video
footage to determine the
effects of my intervention
What is my perspective in
regards to using Robert Rules
of Order during my next
meeting?
Pre-surveys
Post-surveys
I will conduct post surveys using Survey
Monkey to measure my perspective of the
meeting. I will conduct the same survey
over the next few meetings and analyze the
results.
Data will be collected before
and after the meeting. I will
ask Coalition members to log
on to Survey Monkey to take
the online survey.

16. References
• Jennings, C. A. (n.d.). Robert’s Rules for Setting an Agenda.
Retrieved from http://www.dummies.com/careers/business-
skills/roberts-rules-for-setting-an-agenda/
• Robert, H. M. III. (2011). Robert’s Rules of Order. Retrieved
from http://www.robertsrules.com/
• Landrum, R. E. (2013). Research design for educators: Real-
world connections and applications. San Diego, CA:
Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
• Mills, G. E. (2014). Action research: A guide for the teacher
researcher (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.