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

Conducting Action Research. This action research study was enlightening on many levels for the researcher. It provided an opportunity to conduct the study from a

researcher’s perspective and apply a mixed methods approach used by researchers in various fields. In this educational research, the use of a mixed methods approach allowed an expansion of knowledge and understanding the researcher may not have gained by solely using qualitative or quantitative research to conduct the study. This action research study, while challenging, provided an opportunity to learn new aspects of the context studied and a discovery of myself as a researcher. While this study has concluded by meeting the requirements of the researcher’s dissertation, there is an opportunity for the researcher to continue her efforts in developing a conflict management strategies program to support other faculty and administrators in their efforts to find approaches to managing and resolving conflict.

Conclusion. In conclusion, the researcher learned there are vast opportunities to assist faculty and administrators with managing and resolving conflict. The field of conflict management is ever evolving as institutions of higher education are acknowledging conflict as an issue and finding various ways to address the issue. The researcher’s hope is that faculty and administrators in all higher educational institutions can become more confident and better equipped to manage conflict and that colleges and universities can become more efficient in managing conflict in order to avoid the costs conflict can cause an organization.
Conflict management should instill in all members of the academic community a greater sense of self-fulfillment and a stronger commitment to the college. Conflict which generates better approaches through study can produce a healthy organizational climate and a more effective teaching-learning environment (Feltner & Goodsell, 1972).

APPENDIX A