Data Collection Methodology

Research Question/Topic: How can I as a new assistant director

foster team collaboration?
Data Source

Professional
Literature

Questionnaire

Data Collection Plan

Timeline/Plan for Intended
Collection
Learning/Purpose
Ongoing search
for and use of
professional
literature to
inform my work
throughout the
semester.

A questionnaire
will be given to
each participant
to be filled out
before we begin
to meet.

A questionnaire
will be used at
the end of the
data collection

Through the literature,

I intend to learn about
my topic, and whats
current in the field. I
also plan to learn from
other researchers
approaches to data
collection and to see
how their findings may
be similar or different
than the findings from
my study. Sub-topics
for my literature
include: teamwork,
teacher collaboration,
teacher practice,
school culture.
This questionnaire will
inform me of their
thoughts and ideas
about what they feel
we need to accomplish
during group
meetings. I also would
like to get their
general feelings about
the morale and
teamwork.
This questionnaire will
be like the initial
questionnaire. The
data from this
questionnaire will be

Adaptations/Changes
made during Data
Collection Period
I added a subtopic
based on discussions
with participating
staff and information
from surveys. I will
also be looking at
leadership and team
morale. I am no
longer going to look
for articles on
teacher practice.

No changes were
made.

period.

A questionnaire
will be given to
all staff members
not participating
in the group
meetings.

Researchers
Journal

Journals/
Written
Feedback

compared with the

initial data from the
first questionnaire to
see if anything has
changed.
This questionnaire will
be similar to the
questionnaire given to
the staff participating
in the group meetings.
This will allow the data
collected from the
group to be compared.

Observation
notes will be
conducted during
each of the group
meetings at least
once a week.
Reflections will
be added to the
observations.

I hope to notice a
trend or change as we
progress. I would like
to use the
observations to
understand the
perceptions others
may have. I also hope
to use the
observations to
document the
attitudes and
motivation of the
group or individuals.

Journals will be
used on an
ongoing basis
throughout the
data collection
period
participants will
need to record at
least once a
week.

These journals will be

used for participants to
record their thoughts
and feelings,
perceptions, attitudes,
what they took away
from the group time,
any changes they
made because of our
discussions and how

This was added after

looking at the data
being collected from
surveys and seeing
that the staff felt that
teamwork was high
but team morale was
low. I wanted to see if
that trend occurred
throughout the whole
program. I also
wanted to see if the
team meetings will
influence this.
No changes were
made.

After completing the

team meetings and
asking the teachers
for the journals, I
found that most did
not use their journals.
So, I asked if they
would be willing to
email me or write
down the things they

the change helped or

didnt help.

liked or didnt like

about the team
meetings. They could
also turn in any
journal entries that
they may have had.

Description of Data Sources

Professional Literature: I plan on using the professional literature
throughout my action research. The information collected through
this process will help to guide my action research question and
data collection. It will also compare similar findings from research
on the same topic conducted by others. As I learn from the
research, I hope to find some strategies that can be implemented
during the action research process to help build team
collaboration.
Researchers Journal: I plan on using observations to gain an
understanding of perceptions, attitudes and experiences of those
who will be participating. Observations will help to focus time
spent with the team and adapt or change the process as needed.
Observations will be compared with journals. Observations will be
conducted at least once a week during the 6-8week period.
Reflections on observations will also be included.
Journals/Written Feedback: I plan on using journals and written
feedback to gain an understanding of the participants attitudes,
perceptions, and experiences directly from them. These will be
compared with the observations. Journals will be used throughout
the 6 weeks. They will be collected at the end of the data collection
period. Written feedback will be collected at the end of the 6
weeks.
Questionnaires: I plan on using questionnaires at the beginning
and end of the action research process. The questionnaires will be
compared to see if any changes have occurred over the 6-week
period of time. The data collection will then be used to determine
what fosters team collaboration.