ELSI7 Research Methods in Educational Leadership for School Improvement T1 Week 4 AY 2026

Academic Year	2026

ELSI7 Research Methods in Educational Leadership for School Improvement

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• LEARNING OUTCOME 1: Design an ethically sound research proposal that is sensitive to cultures and diversity in educational settings in contexts related to educational leadership for school improvement in the UAE.
• LEARNING OUTCOME 2: Develop competence in formulating good research questions related to educational leadership for school improvement.
• LEARNING OUTCOME 3: Undertake critical evaluation of the literature as a basis for formulating good research questions and to enhance research-based knowledge related to educational leadership for school improvement.

Assessment 1

Development of research questions, literature review, research methodology & design, research tools, data analysis & reporting techniques.

Section 1 (Recommended to complete by Week 6):

Word limit: 1,200-1,500 words

1. Identify and develop a research focus expressed by a set of specific research question(s) and/or hypothesis(es) related to an area of challenge and/or innovation related to educational leadership for school improvement.
2. Your research focus should be informed by insights and understandings you develop through the conduct of a brief critical literature review. The research focus (questions and/or hypotheses) should be amenable to investigation in a school and/or classroom setting.
3. In view of your research question(s), identify, select, and develop appropriate research methodology and design that clearly link to your research question(s) and the area of educational leadership for school improvement.
4. Provide a rationale for the development of your planned research design supported by relevant research methods literature.

Assignment 1 – Section 1

• Title 
• Introduction

Research Topic

Overview

• The Research problem 
• Purpose of the Study 
• Research questions

Significance of the study

Literature Review

• Theoretical Background 
• Previous studies

Methodology

• Philosophical Underpinning
• Specific Research Design
• Alternative Methods
• Data Collection Methods
• Data Collection Methods
• Demographic Data 

References (APA style)

Introduction

Research Topic Overview:

• Start with a general background of the topic area. 
• Gradually introduce key concepts/constructs and context.
• End with the specific topic under investigation. 
• Add citations to support claims and highlight why the topic is important.

Research problem:

• Clearly articulate what problem the study is addressing.
• Connect the problem to relevant literature, citing studies that show a lack, conflict, or gap. 
• Add a sentence or two on the practical consequences if the problem is not addressed. 
• Ensure the problem is specific and researchable.

Purpose of the Study:

• Use purpose-driven verbs (e.g., explore, examine, investigate). Mention the population/sample, setting, and variables.
• Use a formal phrasing such as: The purpose of this study is to investigate/examine…….

Research questions:

• List the specific questions guiding the study.
• Ensure each question aligns with the problem and purpose. 
• Use precise, measurable language.
• Avoid vague or double-barreled questions. For example: How satisfied are you with your instructor’s teaching and feedback?

Significance of the study:

• Justify why the study matters academically and practically.
• Highlight how the study fills a literature gap (use citations). 
• Explain its potential implications for policy, practice, or future research.

Methodology

Clearly state your overall research approach (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods) and justify why it is the most appropriate to answer your research questions.

For Qualitative Studies:

• Philosophical Underpinning: Identify and briefly explain the philosophical worldview guiding your study (e.g.,
  constructivism, interpretivism, realism, postmodernism, or pragmatism). Why is this philosophy suitable for your research topic?
• Specific Research Design: State the design (e.g., case study, phenomenology, grounded, ethnography) and explain why it fits your research questions.
• Alternative Approaches: What other research approaches were considered? Why is your selected approach more suitable for achieving your research aims?
• Data Collection Methods: Describe how data will be collected (e.g., semi-structured interviews, focus groups, document analysis) and why these tools are appropriate.
• Type of Data: Specify the type of qualitative data you will collect (e.g., verbal responses, written reflections, observational notes, etc.).

For Quantitative Studies:

• Philosophical Underpinning: Identify and briefly explain the philosophical worldview guiding your study (e.g., Positivism, Post-positivism). Why is this philosophy suitable for your research topic?
• Specific Research Design: Clearly state your research design (e.g., descriptive survey, correlational, experimental, quasi- experimental) and justify its suitability for answering your research questions.
• Alternative Methods: Briefly mention other possible approaches and explain why your choice is better aligned with your research goals.
• Data Collection Methods: Identify the tools you will use (e.g., questionnaire, test, rating scale) and explain how they support the research design.
• Variables: Clearly define the independent and dependent variables in your study.
• Demographic Data: Indicate the demographic variables you will collect (e.g, gender, age, grade level, teaching experience) and why this information is relevant.

What is Action Research?

Action research is a qualitative method that focuses on solving problems in social systems, such as schools and other organizations.

Proponents of action research support the idea that research should not just be an observational exercise but an actionable one that involves devising practical solutions.

They believed in the idea of research leading to immediate social action, emphasizing the importance of involving the community in the process.

Can action research be quantitative?

Yes, though it is usually qualitative. Most of the time action research uses natural language rather than numbers.
This research focuses on specific situations and their context.
Hence, action research is not typically generalizable to other populations, but it is possible that the evidences that a leader-researcher gathers have the potential to influence other leaders who work in similar situations.

Activity 1: Action Research in Educational Leadership

Imagine that you are interested in examining a specific problem that occurs in your school. Please refer to the example below to assist you in designing your action research plan

1. Identify a problem (e.g., fewer girls are enrolling in advanced math courses after middle school).
2. Devise a plan (e.g., develop an intervention for teachers to help increase the interest of female students in advanced math),
3. Implement the plan (e.g., teachers conduct the intervention for two Terms)
4. Observe the outcome (e.g., administer surveys questionnaires to measure how the students rate their math and career interest)
5. Reflect on the process (e.g., note whether the intervention was successful or not and discuss possible areas of improvement).
6. Write the report about the 5 steps above and reflect on how effective you think that action research was.

Activity 2: Action Research Study (~ 15 minutes)

Please work in groups to complete this task
Action Research Study: A Tool for Promoting Faculty Development and Continuous Improvement in Leadership Preparation

1. What was the purpose of the study?
2. Identify the research problem
3. What were the research questions?
4. Identify the target population and the sample.
5. What measures (i.e., data collection tools) were used to collect the data?
6. What actions were taken to solve the problem?

Activity 3: Exploring Different Qualitative Approaches (From Week 3)

With your group members, select and carefully read the abstracts of two research studies (out of the four provided), and answer the following questions.

1. What is the title of the study?
2. What is the purpose of the study?
3. What are the research questions?
4. What qualitative approach is used?
5. What instruments were used to collect the data?