The nature of the 'new' EdD research

What is the nature of the research that is implied in the 'new EdD at UNE' focus of improvement in the professional workplace?

Maxwell (2003:285) identifies that the new EdD at UNE comprises a hybrid curriculum spanning the university (U), profession (P) and workplace (W). In this context, the knowledge pursued in an new style EdD is more likely to what Gibbons (1994) terms Mode 2 type knowledge - knowledge that results from practitioner agency and/or reflection on practice (see Lee, Green and Brennan (2000).

The nature of research (which includes the evolution of knowledge) within a new style EdD at UNE is likely to be dramatically different to traditional research.

I quite like a populist (wikipedia) definition of research as "an active, diligent, and systematic process of inquiry aimed at discovering, interpreting, and revising facts. This intellectual investigation produces a greater knowledge of events, behaviors, theories, and laws and makes practical applications possible."

Crotty (1998:2) identifies four questions researchers need to address. These relate to methods, methodology, theoretical perspectives and epistemology. Guba and Lincoln (2005) consider three basic beliefs of alternate inquiry paradigms: ontology, epistemology and methodology.

Looking at Guba and Lincoln's Table 8.3 I anticipate that that most new style EdD research will be located counter to traditional objective/deterministic approaches. Rather the research will be dealing in a subjective/objective reality (often termed a participative reality) progressing via the collaborative critical subjectivity.

Rather than the development of theory for theory sake, I anticipate more the utilisation of theories for practical outcomes with a focus on action (negotiated change) in the workplace.

Traditional doctoral research is linear. In comparison, new research is cyclical. Traditional research is researcher-centric, new research should be (IMHO) researcher neutral. Traditional research is typically either experimental/manipulative, dialectical or hermeneutical. New research is political, practical and experiential.


Traditional PhD and older style EdD research, in comparison, is familiar and relatively easy. New style research is complex, risky but ultimately rewarding and perhaps more meaningful?