5 Quality Indicators To Use And How They Are Benifical

Quality Indicator 1

Context of Study - this means to provide the context in which my research has taken place the background and surroundings.  To do this I need to consider all the aspects with in the design of my action research and study and how it relates to my current situation and surroundings.  By taking careful consideration of how I situate the research others can then understand my context, surroundings, background, and environment.  This will obviously provide the information the reader needs to relate the context of the situation to their own.

Quality Indicator 2

Wonderings and Purpose – I need to explain the fundamentals of my wandering in detail.  I also need to connect my wonderings to pertinent literature that will clearly back up or relate to my wondering.  I need to stay clear of education jargon and focus on my experiences and surroundings so that I can affect them in a positive manner.  In closing I need to make sure that my wondering honors the complexity of a principal and the many tasks they must perform.  In doing this the reader will be able to appreciate the research and understand the complexities and what all was involved so that they can use the information to learn from.

Quality Indicator 3

Principal Research Design (Data Collection and Data Analysis) – I need to collect multiple sources of data and consider all sources that could potentially give me insights into my inquiry.  I need to be sure that I use three or more quantitative data sources as well as pertinent literature that relates to my topic.  I need to reflect and be flexible as I explain all the procedures associated with my research, timeline, and implementation of my plan and make changes when necessary.  Being flexible will allow the research to turn in the right direction.  Using multiple sources will provide deeper understanding for the reader as well as providing substantial material that will back up researched findings for credibility. Explanation of the procedures will also provide deeper understanding and clarity for the audience.

Quality Indicator 4

Principal-Researcher Learning – Select a strategy to illustrate my research to others.  Then I need to make sure that my findings are supported with excerpts from my data collection.  Making sure that I keep an open mind so that the data does not reflect the opinions or values that I had precluding the research.  Then carefully eliminate data that does not fit with the patterns and claims of my research but do not omit them from my report but rather explain why it does not fit.  I need to relate my own experiences and readings into the analysis and interpretation of the analysis.  Reflection needs to occur in two ways: from a standpoint of what I learned about the action research process, and from the standpoint of what I learned from the administrative side of the research.  Clarity in illustration is very important to the audience so that confusion does not enter the equation.  Staying unbiased allows the research to cover broad spectrums for deeper truths and clarification of findings that can be dependable findings for others.  Explanations of the eliminations, allows the reader to understand deeper about the topic and the direction of your research. Relating your own experiences and reflections help the audience to understand where you are and where you are coming from and how it relates to their circumstances.

Quality Indicator 5

Implications for Practice – This involves reflection of changes that need to be made as a direct result of the inquiry.  Determine logical growth that can be learned from the inquiry.  Then design a plan to assess the changes made as a result of the inquiry and share new wonderings that might emerge. Assessing the results and procedures provides me with new inquiries as well as providing me with necessary changes to my own research methodologies so that I can continuously improve my own professional development and contributions.  These contributions when shared might save someone else from similar challenges found within their own inquiries.