Research Methods in Education

This assignment delves into the world of educational research methods. It examines diverse approaches such as qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods, outlining their principles, applications, and strengths. Key concepts like single-subject research design and phenomenology are discussed, along with the importance of ethical considerations in research. The provided readings offer insights from prominent researchers and scholars in the field, guiding students to understand the complexities and nuances of conducting impactful educational research.

Running Head: DESIGN IT
Design It

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Executive summary
The main aim of this report is to critically present the self-analysis of design thinking and
entrepreneurship. Additionally, personal development part identifies activities that will
support to improve understanding regarding the specified area, improve skills, develop
human capital for employability, and improve the standard of life systematically. Further, the
knowledge development section supports to improve the understanding about research area in
an appropriate way. Moreover, the SWOT analysis determines the personal strength as well
as personal weaknesses. Besides this, the action plan is helpful to improve the weakness
successfully.

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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................4
Critically self-analysis of design thinking and entrepreneurship activity..................................4
Personal Development...............................................................................................................6
Knowledge management............................................................................................................7
SWOT (Personal strength and weakness)................................................................................10
Conclusion................................................................................................................................10
Action Plan for improving my skills........................................................................................11
Action plan to improve lack of Patience..............................................................................11
Action plan to improve confidence level..............................................................................12
References................................................................................................................................13

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Introduction
This report presents the critical self-analysis of design thinking and entrepreneurship activity.
It also presents the way of personal development in a systematic way. Additionally, it also
shows the critical analysis of knowledge development. It presents the SWOT analysis to
identify personal strength and weakness. Further, an action plan to overcome a weakness also
discusses in this report.
Critically self-analysis of design thinking and entrepreneurship activity
In a first and second week, I gained my understating about tutors as well as my unit that is
“Design it”. Additionally, I also improved my knowledge towards the introduction, key
theories, and concepts of innovation, entrepreneurship, and design thinking process. In
addition, I also enhanced my knowledge regarding the small and medium-sized enterprises
(see blog #1, July 12, 2017). I was from an engineering background so it was totally different
from my qualification. Along with this, my tutor was very supportive and she explained each
topic in an appropriate manner that is helpful for all students who presented in the class
(Tarone, et al., 2013).
In addition, I developed my understanding about the significance as well as process of
innovation in blog. There are four steps such as search, select, implement, and capture are
considered in the process of innovation. I also learned about the aspects of innovation named
incremental innovation versus radical innovation, architecture innovation, Discontinuous
innovation, and Platform innovation. I also increased my knowledge regarding the
dimensions of innovation space named product, process, position, and paradigm. In addition
to this, I improved my knowledge regarding the innovation flow that was also a significant
factor for blog. My tutors explained about the role of entrepreneurship in current period as
well as provide depth information about the design thinking process (Best, 2016).

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The depth understanding about such topics can support to improve my knowledge as well as
improving my confidence level in an appropriate manner. In addition to this, my tutors also
offer relevant information in the class with an innovative way that supports to make an
interactive class. She engaged all the students who present in classroom by using the different
activity. It supported to eliminate boring environment from the classroom and make an
interactive class (see blog #2, July 20, 2017).
Moreover, I gained my knowledge regarding the design thinking process which played a
crucial role in blog writing in an appropriate manner. In the design thinking, I gained my
knowledge regarding implementation of managerial decision making, tools and process, and
uses of many factors. There are some significant important factors that play an imperative
role in blog writing. These are a business plan, optimum use of resources, and
communicating the plan. In addition, I realized planning of anything can be supportive to
obtain a favorable outcome in less time and cost. Along with this, I also gained my
understating about role of customer innovation (Bonielm, et al., 2013).
Beside this, I learned that not only proper time can be significant for blog writing but also
innovative ideas are necessary to accomplish the task in a systematic way. At the same time, I
learned that entrepreneurship can also important in every sector. I developed my
understanding about the role of entrepreneurship as well as the participants of
entrepreneurships. Additionally, I also learned about the ways of starting entrepreneurship,
significance, and challenges of entrepreneurships. Moreover, I increased my knowledge
regarding these factors that can be supportive to improve my personal as well as professional
life in upcoming time. At the same time, in last day of this section, I realized about my
learning along with my understanding level about topic. It facilitated me to perform better in
this field (Chen, et al., 2015).

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Personal Development
In week third, I increased my knowledge regarding the design think theories in a systematic
manner. This week is more important than the last section because in this class, tutor
delivered the product’s information that will be supportive in blog writing. At the same time,
I learned about many theories related to designing thinking such as divergent and convergent
thinking, action research, learning theory, the logic of reasoning, and co-creation (see blog#3,
26 July, 2017). These theories help to write relevant and unique write of the blog. I gained
my awareness about the basic reasoning pattern that was supportive to solve the problem in
an appropriate manner (Creswell, 2013).
I developed my consciousness about the Inductive reasoning, abductive reasoning, and
deductive reasoning. The inductive reasoning is used to address and develop a possible
hypothesis regarding the task. It can support to eliminate the task issue in an appropriate
manner. The abductive reasoning is used to identify a way of desired value will be achieved.
Along with that, deductive reasoning supported to verify the hypothesis in an appropriate
manner. At the same time, such kinds of knowledge improved my professional skills and
personal life in long-term (Ioannidis, et al., 2014).
In this week, I also presented my blog on the front of the class that was a very embracing
experience for me because I was very nervous at the time of presenting my blog. But, when I
completed my presentation then my tutor gave a positive feedback that was unexpected for
me because as an engineering background I choose a totally different area (see blog#4,
August 3, 2017). At the same time, from the discussion with classmates, I understood some
special features about my personality named quickly learn anything and deeply understand
any topic (Khan, 2014).
In this week, I gained my familiarity regarding design problems as well as design tools to
eliminate the problem of design in an appropriate manner. Additionally, there are certain

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tools that are tools of design thinking such as brainstorming, spotting the obvious, and
visualization. These tools play a significant role in the problem finding systematically. I also
learned about design thinking process to solve the issues in an appropriate manner. The
knowledge regarding the tools supports me to create a depth understanding about the
problem-solving. I also learned about visualization activities that support to attract blog
writing (Ko, 2013).
Knowledge management
In week fifth, I created my understanding about the Journey mapping, value chain and value
network, and mind mapping to design the research in an appropriate manner. In journey
mapping, I developed my knowledge regarding graphics presentation which was beneficial to
me for expressing the experience of consumers towards goods and services. Three major
components are considered such as the establishment of existing experience, visualize
possible experience, and visualize prototype of new ideas (see blog #5, August 11, 2017). In
Journey mapping, some steps are considered such as choosing the consumer, graphically
represent the view regarding the expectations of customers for any particular product and
services, and then determine the small number of consumers, conducting an interview, and
determine themes. At the same time, I also gained my understanding about adding value
which would be effective for me to deliver added value in a business process (from raw
material to finished goods) (Kratochwill, et al., 2013).
I also increased my understanding about generic value chain where two activities are
significant such as primary and support activities. Primary activity includes inbound logistics,
operation, outbound logistics, outbound, marketing and sales, and services. Beside this,
support activities include firm infrastructure, human resources management, technology
development, and procurement. I also learned about the way of creating the Mindmap. These

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kinds of information are supportive for me to improve my personality due to enhancing my
knowledge in various sectors (Kratochwill, et al., 2013).
In week sixth, I gained my understanding of various important tools of research such as
research approaches, data types, data sources, and ethics that can be effective to groom my
personal as well as professional life in an appropriate manner. In addition, each tool was
effective in designing due to performing the task in an appropriate manner (see blog#6,
August 24, 2017). The depth understanding about research design can support to collect the
data in an appropriate manner. The whole process is used for designing interview structure
and assesses ethical issues (Lewis, 2015).
In week seventh, I learned about the concept development, assumption testing, and rapid
prototyping. It will be helpful in effective blog writing in long term. The first activity is based
on the concept development where I gained my awareness about the development of the
concept in an appropriate manner. I addition to this, second activity is relied on the
assumption testing wherein tutors deliver the information regarding hypothesis. In this way,
the researcher can accept or reject the assumption on the basis of gathered information to
obtain the accurate outcome. Last activity is based on the rapid prototyping that was also
supportive in design thinking process (see blog #7, August 30, 2017). In the rapid
prototyping, I learned how to build prototype promptly in an appropriate manner. Therefore, I
realized that knowledge of such activities can support to make an effective decision-making
process (McGivern, 2013).
In week eight, I learned about some different kinds of approaches that can be essential in
launching innovation. I also developed my understanding about the launch readiness wherein
two factors are important such as planning purpose and content of launch readiness. In this
week, I also collected feedback on prototype and storyboard. The feedback was supportive to
decline the issues in an appropriate manner. At the same time, I also learned that launch

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planning can consider some factors such as the goal of goods and service, the hypothesis that
will be tested in future, tools and techniques, financial requirement, and remember the whole
cycle process of design (see blog#8, September 8, 2017). In addition to this, it can also be
said that this week was more important than other because here I collected many feedbacks
on my prototype and storyboard from group members that can support to refine my skills and
work in future (Neuman, 2016).
In week ninth, I increased my awareness about some components named marketing, target
market, competitor analysis, 4Ps of marketing, entrepreneurial marketing campaign, and
design as communication. These factors are significant in designing of an entrepreneurial
marketing campaign. In the competitor’s analysis, I learned that competitors can be different
named direct, indirect, and future competitors. In the direct competition, business offers
similar product and services while in case of indirect business competition, business offers
the substitute product to the customers. The future competitors are neither direct nor indirect
completion but it can occur anytime (Vurdien, 2013). I also learned about the different kinds
of communication channels such as digital, direct, social media, word of mouth, traditional
media, and partners. It will be supportive to directly communicate with consumers as well as
support to make a favorable relationship with customers in long-term (see blog #9, September
13, 2017). It can improve my communication skills that build my personality in an upcoming
period (Nuttin, 2014).
In the tenth week, I increased my understanding of design entrepreneurial fundraising
campaigns. I learned about some different elements such as fundraising and sources of
finance for entrepreneurial endeavors and innovations. Other factors are fundraising
campaigns, and role of finance, and resource requirements, long-term plan, recommendations
and time frame. I learned that organization can use two kinds of financial sources such as
Internal and external (see blog #10, September 22, 2017).

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I also learned about the advantages as well as disadvantages of fundraising sources. I also
learned about the crowdfunding that was supportive to collect the money or fund from the
public in an appropriate manner (Qi-yuan, 2013).
In week eleventh, I presented my whole information which I have learned during first to the
tenth week. In this week, designers groom their personality and skills due to providing an
attractive and relevant presentation regarding the blog in an appropriate manner (see blog
#11, September 30, 2017). At the same time, it can also be said that each designer provided
the presentation on their topic that was quite complex for each one but that was good because
of availability of relevant information (Rahim, 2014).
This is the last week of activity, where I gained my understanding regarding the future scope
of design. The wider applicability of design thinking, design thinking in established
organizations, re-design an industry, growth and strategy, design for growth, and continuous
design (see blog #12, October 4, 2017). These factors show the future growth of design
(Reybold, et al., 2013).
SWOT (Personal strength and weakness)
There are different kinds of features about my personality that are analyzed by the analysis of
SWOT. In the SWOT analysis, four factors are considered such as strengths, weakness,
opportunity, and threat. It is an appropriate technique to appropriately analysis your positive
as well as negative qualities. The strengths and weaknesses are considered in the internal
factors while opportunities and threats are considered in external factors (Schwartz-Shea, et
al., 2013). The following table shows the SWOT:
Strengths
 Active Listener
 Easily learn New
Things
Weaknesses
 Lack of patience
 Lack of confidence

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Opportunities
 Easily learning ability
provides a beneficial
position among the
competitors.
Threats
 Lack of patience can
create a problem for
solving the issues and
completing the task in
an appropriate manner.
Conclusion
From the above analysis, it can be concluded that the innovation and entrepreneurship plays
an important role in design due to simply complete the task in an appropriate manner. In
addition, it can also summarize that the personal development and knowledge management
can support to improve professional life systematically. Finally, it can be illustrated that
SWOT is the best way of analyzing personal strength and weakness successfully.
Action Plan for improving my skills
The effective action plan can be important to improve my confidence level as well as
patience level in the specified time. I determined a time structure of six months to improve
my weaknesses successfully (Smith, 2015). The following table indicates the action plan
which will be used by me to improve my patience level and confidence level.
Action plan to improve lack of Patience
Serial .
No.
Concepts and Models for
improving the patience level
issue
Time structure
(in weeks)
Evaluate: Way of improving
the patience level issue
1. Combined Model: Self-
awareness
1-2 I will be capable to identify my
feelings in depth.
2. Ability Model: Knowledge 2-4 I will be able to build a depth
knowledge regarding my

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emotions and behavior
changes.
3. Trait Model: Self-discipline 4-8 I will be capable to control on
myself and positively react at
the time of failure as well as
success. It will also support to
solve the problem in an
appropriate manner.
4. Combined Model: Fellow
feeling
8-12 From using this model, I will
be capable to make a favorable
relationship with customers as
well as colleagues and family
members that support to
improve my personal and
professional skills.
5. Combined Model: Group
Skills
12-14 It will support me to make a
robust relationship with group
manners in an appropriate
manner. In addition, the group
communication skills will
support to improve
professional skills in an
appropriate manner.

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Action plan to improve confidence level
Serial.
No.
Concepts and Models to
improve confidence level
Time Structure Evaluate: Way of improving
the confidence level
1. Voice-identification Week 14 It will support me to evaluate
where I sound low or high.
2. Language Week 15-18 It will help to enhance my
language and pronunciation in
an appropriate manner.
3. Self-assurance Week 19-21 It will support to deeply
understand about my
personality, which can help to
improve my confidence level.
4. Determine Problem Week 22 It will support to determine the
problem in a significant
manner regarding the
confidence level. It will help to
attract more audience because
of appropriately identification
of issues.
5. Thought Process Week 22-24 It will help me to deeply
understand the condition
before reacting on any act.

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References
Best, J. W., & Kahn, J. V. (2016). Research in education. USA: Pearson Education India.
Boniel-Nissim, M., & Barak, A. (2013). The therapeutic value of adolescents’ blogging about
social-emotional difficulties. Psychological Services, 10(3), 333.
Chen, W. C., Shih, Y. C. D., & Liu, G. Z. (2015). Task design and its induced learning
effects in a cross-institutional blog-mediated telecollaboration. Computer Assisted
Language Learning, 28(4), 285-305.
Creswell, J. W. (2013). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods
approach. USA: Sage Publications.
Ioannidis, J. P., Greenland, S., Hlatky, M. A., Khoury, M. J., Macleod, M. R., Moher, D., ...
& Tibshirani, R. (2014). Increasing value and reducing waste in research design,
conduct, and analysis. The Lancet, 383(9912), 166-175.
Khan, S. N. (2014). Qualitative research method-phenomenology. Asian Social
Science, 10(21), 298.
Ko, H. C. (2013). The determinants of continuous use of social networking sites: An
empirical study on Taiwanese journal-type bloggers’ continuous self-disclosure
behavior. Electronic Commerce Research and Applications, 12(2), 103-111.
Kratochwill, T. R. (Ed.). (2013). Single subject research: Strategies for evaluating change.
USA: Academic Press.
Kratochwill, T. R., Hitchcock, J. H., Horner, R. H., Levin, J. R., Odom, S. L., Rindskopf, D.
M., & Shadish, W. R. (2013). Single-case intervention research design
standards. Remedial and Special Education, 34(1), 26-38.
Lewis, S. (2015). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five
approaches. Health promotion practice, 16(4), 473-475.

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McGivern, Y. (2013). The practice of market research: an introduction. USA: Pearson
Higher Ed.
Neuman, W. L. (2016). Understanding research. USA: Pearson.
Nuttin, J. (2014). Future time perspective and motivation: Theory and research method.
USA: Psychology Press.
Qi-yuan, S. H. E. N. (2013). Use of Blog to Improve English Writing in the Chinese Tertiary
EFL Classrooms. English Language Teaching, 6(10), 51.
Rahim, N. A. (2014). Learning through Blog Writing: Embracing the Technology. USA:
Penerbit UMT.
Reybold, L. E., Lammert, J. D., & Stribling, S. M. (2013). Participant selection as a
conscious research method: Thinking forward and the deliberation of
‘emergent’findings. Qualitative Research, 13(6), 699-716.
Schwartz-Shea, P., & Yanow, D. (2013). Interpretive research design: Concepts and
processes. UK: Routledge.
Smith, J. A. (Ed.). (2015). Qualitative psychology: A practical guide to research methods.
USA: Sage.
Tarone, E. E., Gass, S. M. and Cohen, A. D. (2013) Research methodology in second-
language acquisition. UK: Routledge.
Vurdien, R. (2013). Enhancing writing skills through blogging in an advanced English as a
Foreign Language class in Spain. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 26(2), 126-
143.