Buy in

Passed out all the letters of consent today. Everyone signed them! Actually - that wasn't all that surprising - as I've really worked to keep everyone comfortable with the idea that I would be asking for their help with my research for school. But - there is often the attitude that if it isn't work related and it isn't fun then they don't want to be "bothered" with it. I've seen this attitude with other projects... I really hoped that they wouldn't view this as just "helping me with my school work"... that instead they would see that I am hoping to improve my practice at work and improve the way I work with them... but I couldn't really know for sure that they would view it that way.

So - I passed out the letters in person today and prefaced it w/ a verbal description of what Action Research is and how my goal is to improve my practice and my work with them through this research project. As I said... everyone signed them... but what was really nice was that several people asked further questions about the nature of the research AND they showed some real support for the project (enthusiasm one might even say). Perhaps the changes I'm already making in the way I collaborate really have had an impact. Or... maybe everyone was just being nice.... only time will tell. :) I do think the letter was a very good choice - as everyone seemed to really appreciate the fact that I was officially asking their permission to include them in the research... rather than just assuming that they would participate.

One very interesting thing - the more I explain AR and the more I have to describe to others what I'm researching... the more I come to understand it myself. Each time I explain it, I become a little clearer on what I'm doing.