- the research design - we have not really properly discussed the aims of the project, the details of the method, etc It appears that the others are quite happy to just keep a record of whatever they do in class, a case of "I studying me". Jeanne McNiff's name is bandied about to lend support to this adhoc way of doing research - it appears to me that the others are subscribed to the idea of "anything goes" when it's action research. I can't accept that. I'm particularly bothered about the lack of concern with validity issues. It's hard to engage in a proper academic discussion about validity because the term needs to be carefully defined in the context of our research, but the simplest way to put it is that my research needs to have credibility. It's not good enough to collect evidence : the manner in which we collect and record evidence must be defensible, our results must be seen as credible, and worthwhile lessons must be learnt from our research process, otherwise it's a waste of valuable time and resources. It'd be like groping and shooting in the dark. Tembak aje!
- the lack of collaboration: my concept of doing a research project is that we work as a team, so there is collaboration, sharing and mutual feedback. Apparently, on this project, each of us are supposed to take care of our own research with our respective class, and there's no need to exchange ideas on what we're doing. It seems to me a very strange way of working on a project !
I had wanted to withdraw from the research, but seeing that it would involve some tedious paperwork, and with Imran's assurance that even if I don't produce anything, there's still Fook Fei and Hafizah's data, I decided to just do the best I can. Afterall I'd already done quite a bit - designed the student profile questionnaire, made a short list of books for reference, and I've been practising the approach of encouraging independent learning for as long as I can remember! It's just that this time, I have a relatively "workable" class ( MUET bands 3 & 4) - though, if I had my way, band 3 should be separate from band 4, and better still, I'd have a pre-study questionnaire to assess the degree of independence of my subjects.
This is what I mean, there ought to be more detailed preparation, thoughtful and intellectual discussion and debate before we embark on a study, but now we are being rushed - because of circumstances? We can't control these particular circumstances?
I will from henceforth treat this as an individual study of my own.
