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

Step Four. The researcher developed an outline of the research procedure (appendix M) to organize the workflow of the implemented study. This included the stages of the workshops, interviews and data collection and analysis processes. The outline additionally included times that needed to be devoted to each section of the workshops, questionnaires and assessment, and interviews. An agenda and a PowerPoint presentation (see Appendix E) for the workshops were created and a scripted interview protocol guideline (see Appendix M) was constructed.
Step Five. The researcher’s collaboration with the co-facilitator was an instrumental step in the carrying out the implemented study. The researcher met with the co-facilitator on numerous occasions throughout the process to discuss the implemented study which included workshop objectives, dates and times of the implemented study, selected conflict resolution activities, workshop agendas, their role as a co-facilitator and data collector. The co-facilitator additionally assisted in the selection of the participant pool in which to invite potential participants to engage in the

implemented study. As previously discussed, the potential participant pool was selected via purposeful sampling where forty faculty and administrators were identified based on the purposeful sampling criteria and invited to participate in the implemented study; ten officially agreed to participate.

Step Six. The researcher created a Zoom account in which to hold the workshops and in order to familiarize herself with the inner workings of Zoom, she spent a significant amount of time learning to navigate the online platform. Meetings with the co-facilitator via Zoom assisted in increasing the researcher’s knowledge and skill with the communications program. Additionally, the researcher familiarized herself with all software used in the implemented study; Qualtrics, DeDoose, and Sonix.
Step Seven. With all the factors in place, including IRB approval, the researcher proceeded to implement the study. With the ten voluntary participants, a Zoom invitation was sent out to the participants the weeks of the first and second scheduled workshops. Informed consent forms were attached to all the Qualtrics links for the pre- questionnaire/post-questionnaire, workshops, and workshop assessment. (see Appendices B, D, G, I & J).