A constructive Approach to Managing Faculty Conflict: An Action Research Study

Reconnaissance Phase

Exploratory Pilot Study. An exploratory design is conducted about a research problem when few or no earlier studies refer to or can be relied upon to predict the outcome. The focus is on gaining insights and familiarity for later investigation when research problems are in a preliminary stage of investigation (USCLibraries, 2021).
The researcher submitted a proposal to conduct an exploratory pilot study to the University of Kentucky’s Institutional Review Board (IRB), which is a committee that “applies research ethics by reviewing the methods proposed for research to ensure that they are ethical” (University of Kentucky, 2021). The exploratory pilot study received IRB approval (see Appendix P) and was conducted during the summer months of June, July and August 2019.
The researcher undertook two methods of data collection to provide information in regards to conflict between faculty and administrators for the exploratory pilot study:

1. 
   the researcher reviewed Morehead State University’s institutional policies and procedures on conflict and conflict management and (2) the researcher selected individuals to participate in an open-ended survey interview session. Both steps
   

provided the researcher with quantitative and qualitative data to formulate the research questions needed to guide the intervention.

Human Resources. The Office of Human Resources serves as an entity that handles conflict on campus both formally and informally. The researcher collected and analyzed quantitative and qualitative data from the Office of Human Resources to find evidence of any conflict management policies or procedures to assist faculty and administrators in managing conflict. The researcher thoroughly reviewed MSU’s faculty handbook, operational and personnel policies, collected and reviewed documentation of past conflict management workshops for administrators only, and discussed the matter with a Human Resources officer.