The Research Journey

Designed to foster inquiry-mindedness, this book prepares graduate students to develop a conceptual framework and conduct inquiry projects that are linked to ongoing conversations in a field. The authors examine different ways of knowing and show how to identify a research question; build arguments and support them with evidence; make informed design decisions; engage in reflective, ethical practices; and produce a written proposal or report. Each chapter opens with a set of critical questions, followed by a dialogue among five fictional graduate students exploring questions and concerns about their own inquiry projects; these issues are revisited throughout the chapter. Other useful features include end-of-chapter learning activities for individual or group use.Useful pedagogical features include:*Framing questions for exploration and reflection.*Chapter-opening dialogues that bring in perspectives from multiple disciplines.*Example boxes with detailed cases and questions for the reader.*End-of-chapter activities and experiential exercises that guide readers to develop their own inquiry projects.*Suggestions for further reading.

Designed to foster "inquiry-mindedness," this book prepares graduate students to develop a conceptual framework and conduct inquiry projects that are linked to ongoing conversations in a field. The authors examine different ways of knowing and show how to identify a research question; build arguments and support them with evidence; make informed design decisions; engage in reflective, ethical practices; and produce a written proposal or report. Each chapter opens with a set of critical questions, followed by a dialogue among five fictional graduate students exploring questions and concerns about their own inquiry projects; these issues are revisited throughout the chapter. Other useful features include end-of-chapter learning activities for individual or group use.Useful pedagogical features include:*Framing questions for exploration and reflection.*Chapter-opening dialogues that bring in perspectives from multiple disciplines.*Example boxes with detailed cases and questions for the reader.*End-of-chapter activities and experiential exercises that guide readers to develop their own inquiry projects.*Suggestions for further reading.

1. Inquiry as Learning: Beginning the JourneyIntroductionWhat Is Inquiry?The Learner as Knowledge GeneratorDrawing on Values and PassionYour Journey into Systematic InquiryFor Further Reading2. Ways of Knowing: Finding a CompassWays of KnowingFundamental AssumptionsMapping PerspectivesBack to Ontology and EpistemologyFor Further Reading3. The Cycle of Inquiry: More Than One Way to Get ThereInquiry in Action/Inquiry as PracticeThe Systematic Inquiry CycleValidity, Credibility, and TrustworthinessFor Further Reading4. Being an Ethical Inquirer: Staying Alert on the RoadEthics in InquiryThe Inquirer as a Moral PractitionerStandards for Practice and Procedural MattersEthics, Trustworthiness, and RigorEthical TheoriesEthics and ReflexivityFor Further Reading5. Constructing Conceptual Frameworks: Building the RouteWhat Is a Conceptual Framework?Building an ArgumentEntering the Conversation: Your Community of PracticeEntering the Conversation: Your EngagementEntering the Conversation: The Communities of DiscourseWays of OrganizingChapter SummaryFor Further Reading6. Designing the Inquiry Project: Finding “True North”Moving from the Conceptual Framework into DesignConsidering Various DesignsSamira’s Research Questions and Possible DesignsA Short Course on Research MethodsPlanning for Analysis and InterpretationThe Research Proposal: Bringing it All TogetherAn Example of Connecting the What and the HowChapter SummaryFor Further Reading7. Things to Consider in Writing: Staying in the Right LaneWriting IntroductionsThe Nasty Problem of PlagiarismUsing Proper Citation FormatFor Further Reading8. Knowledge Use: Arriving at Your DestinationUsing What You have Learned Who Cares?: Potential AudiencesCommunicating for UsePassions and Closing the LoopFor Further Reading