Ed.D. Action Research Dissertation Guidelines

Action Research Dissertation Guidelines

Purpose

The action research doctoral dissertation is the capstone experience of the ASU Doctoral Program in Leadership and Innovation. Like this doctoral program itself, the action research dissertation is innovative and different from traditional Ph.D. and EdD dissertations. In this program, the dissertation study is the last of a series of action research studies conducted by the candidate. The action research doctoral dissertation is distinctive because of its interrelated purposes:

• • The purpose of a doctoral candidate’s action is to make a positive difference in a local workplace setting in which the candidate currently is serving.

  • The purpose of a candidate’s action research is to investigate the action systematically and methodically through a form of disciplined inquiry.

  • The purpose of a candidate’s action research dissertation is to report the investigation of the action to an external audience.

In general, the purpose of the action research dissertation in the ASU Doctoral Program in Leadership and Innovation is to report the consequences of a particular educational change effort. The purpose is not to fill gaps in the knowledge base of a scholarly discipline. More information on the basic principles of Action Research is available here: Primer on Action Research

Features

The following are key features of an Action Research Dissertation

• • The scale of the action is small enough to be completed in conjunction with the author’s full-time work as a leader in an organization; yet, it should be substantial enough to potentially demonstrate positive benefits for the participants in the study. It ought to be small enough to do well and large enough to matter.

  • The action is informed by the best scholarship available. The review of scholarship in the dissertation reports especially apt selections from the professional literature that supports the change effort. It is targeted, selective, practical, and highly relevant to the change effort. A comprehensive literature review is not appropriate for action research dissertations.

  • The research design features are based on action research and mixed-methods methodologies. Random assignment to treatments, control groups, and inferential statistics generally are not appropriate for this action research dissertation because it is not concerned with generalizability, universal principles, or hypothesis testing.

  • The resources needed to complete the action research dissertation are modest. Resource demands do not exceed what is normally available in the candidate’s workplace setting.

  • The required product of the action research dissertation process is a reader-friendly written report that describes the needs addressed, the action taken and reasons why, the consequences for participants, and lessons learned by the author.

Voice and Audience

Use clear language; position yourself as a member of a community of like-minded practitioners. The primary audience for your dissertation is leaders in education who face challenges similar to what your dissertation addresses. Provide enough information so your readers can (a) generate their own insights about how your study might apply to their situations and (b) conduct their own study in a manner similar to yours.

Length

The body of the complete dissertation should be jointly determined by the student and LSC Chair. 

Format

The format of the dissertation should be jointly determined by the student and LSC Chair.  Formats include, but are not limited to traditional 5-6 chapter dissertation, journal article format, series of journal articles, and portfolio format.  If you and your LSC Chair choose to follow the traditional format, a guide is provided below for your consideration.