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

Research Setting

Located in the rural setting of Morehead, Kentucky, this mixed methods action research study was conducted on the campus of Morehead State University. According

to U.S. World News and Record (2021) the university is recognized as one of the best public regional universities in the south ranking at number forty. The university has additionally received national recognition for several of its academic programs.

Intelligent.com (2021), a resource for online degree rankings and higher education planning, ranked eight of MSU’s academic programs in its multiple national top degree programs lists. Five of those programs earned top five honors and two ranked at No. 1 overall in their respective lists.

Study Collaborators in Research Setting

Role of the Researcher. Due to the researcher’s role as a faculty member and administrator where the study took place, the researcher had the opportunity to participate as both leader and researcher, collaborated with a co-facilitator, and investigated the issue of conflict as an insider to the context studied. To be credible and accurate, the investigation needs to be conducted by a professional who understands the analysis of communication and general processes of consultation (Downs & Adrian, 2004).
Co-facilitator. A fellow colleague and faculty member at Morehead State University served as a co-facilitator in this study. The co-facilitator assisted the researcher with participant selection for the implemented study, conducted one of the break-out group activities, moderated the discussion in the small and large group sessions, and monitored and observed one of the large group activities in the second workshop. Collaboration with a co-facilitator proved beneficial in administering the workshops, which allowed the researcher to take on the observer role to, “look and listen in a systematic and meaningful way” (McKechnie, 2008). This type of participant

observation allowed the researcher to overtly become a part of the context being observed. Additionally, the co-facilitator acted as a secondary data collector for the conflict management workshops who maintained and provided the researcher with their observational notes from the group activities and workshop overall. The co-facilitator and researcher engaged in preparation sessions before each workshop and debriefings after each workshop.