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

Overall MMAR Design

This study is an action research study; a cyclical process which focuses on data gathering and preliminary diagnosis prior to action planning and implementation followed by a careful evaluation of the results (Huse, 1980). The researcher applied Ivankova’s mixed methods action research (MMAR) framework to help conceptualize, design and conduct a mixed methods action research study (Ivankova, 2015, p. 89). A general mixed methods action research study design is demonstrated in Figure 1.2.

Figure 1.2 General Mixed Methods Action Research (MMAR) Study Design

Diagnosis Phase

The methodological framework for a mixed methods action research study (MMAR) involves procedural and conceptual aspects that can be applied at each phase within an action research cycle. The framework includes six phases: (1) diagnosing phase, identification of the problem (2) reconnaissance phase, a preliminary assessment of the identified problem is conducted in order to develop a plan of action/intervention,

(3) planning phase, an intervention is planned and developed, (4) acting phase, the intervention is implemented, (5) evaluation phase, qualitative and quantitative data is collected and analyzed to provide results from the intervention, (6) monitoring phase, informs any revisions or further testing that might be needed of the intervention (Ivankova, 2015).
During the diagnosis phase, when practitioner-researchers identify the problem or issue in the workplace that requires a solution, mixed methods can help conceptualize the problem and identify the rationale for investigating by using both quantitative and qualitative methods (Ivankova, 2015). Identification or diagnosis of the problems of conflict in an organization must precede any intervention designed to manage the conflict. The results of a diagnosis should indicate whether there is a need for intervention and the type of intervention necessary to managing conflict (Rahim, 2011).
Due to her own experience of being involved in a situation of conflict, in the diagnosis phase, the researcher identified conflict as an issue between faculty and administrators. However, the researcher needed to validate her theory that conflict existed on campus between faculty and administrators and confirm it was an issue which needed to be addressed by the institution. Therefore, additional information needed to be

gathered. The researcher conducted an exploratory pilot study, as a preliminary assessment, to investigate the researcher’s hypothesis. The exploratory pilot study was conducted in the reconnaissance phase of the study and an MMAR framework and a concurrent Quan + Qual design was applied to collect, analyze and interpret the problem of conflict between faculty and administrators on the campus of Morehead State University.