Thoughts on this research question (Education)

M

Hi all! I'm early in my program; a little more than halfway finished with my coursework. I'm trying to direct my papers towards my research topic. I want to look at the humility or the lack thereof with educational leaders and it's inhibiting of innovative educational developments. Here is my research question thus far:

Is leader's arrogance a major barrier preventing innovative educational success from developing in organizations?

Your thoughts?

J

Reads like a leading statement to me, like you have already decided that it does. The use of the word arrogance is also strong. I would want to know from the title what sort of education you mean: education funding, teaching, FE etc.

M

Okay, so what if I reword it to say:

What are some of the barriers that prevent effective professional learning communities from taking effect in English language departments in Saudi Arabian Universities and what can be done to overcome these barriers?

I currently work as an English teacher in a Saudi Arabian University.

L

That is less leading, but appears very broad. Also, how are you defining 'taking effect'?

M

Any other word you'd suggest? I see leadership as a major barrier preventing the establishment of innovative technologies such as a PLC from being implemented in Saudi Arabian universities. So I want to discover truly what prevents PLC's from being established. Would "implementation" be a better word?

J

The revision is better, but to be honest I wouldn't worry too much about the final title until the end.

Avatar for Andersan

I wouldn't judge a whole department and university on one week. It may be that it's a time when everyone has tight deadlines they are trying to meet. I would never leave something unless I gave it a good couple of months. Yes, finding a job afterwards may be hard, but as you say it was hard without a PhD too, that's just the job market at the moment. If you really love your subject it will be worth it, if you don't then have a think about what you really want.



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Fai

M

Okay thank you for the advice. I was under the assumption that you must first begin with a research question.

L

What is exactly is a PLC??

I think Jellybeanz2 is correct in advising you end with the title.Of course you will be investigating research questions or testing your hypothesis - which you can word how you like, providing it accurately describes to your supervisors what you are testing/investigating.

Would you not be asking something like: 'After ?? attempts to introduce PLC's into (number) Saudi Arabian universities/name the institutions, why have such attempts resulted in failure / been unsuccessful? (Or if you are looking at one university, be more specific in the question.)

However this seems a gigantic project. What is the size of your thesis??

Avatar for Andersan

wouldn't judge a whole department and university on one week. It may be that it's a time when everyone has tight deadlines they are trying to meet. I would never leave something unless I gave it a good couple of months. Yes, finding a job afterwards may be hard, but as you say it was hard without a PhD too, that's just the job market at the moment. If you really love your subject it will be worth it, if you don't then have a think about what you really want.



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M

LizzieJamesCartoon a PLC is a professional learning community; where school staff, studies, works, plans and takes collective action on behalf students learning.

I think I will refocus this to:
Do employee's in a particular Saudi Arabian University perceive the need for a professional learning community?

The research questions that I will examine in this my study are:
1. How does teacher isolation at a particular University in Saudi Arabia impact their perception of their work experience?
2. How will the institution of a professional learning community impact the work environment according to teachers’ perception?


Thoughts?

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