Paul van der Lem & Prayoot

Wongpang

Research involving user Research involving user participationparticipation

various techniques are available but various techniques are available but most are derived from so-called most are derived from so-called action action researchresearch concepts concepts

they are very popular and used for they are very popular and used for small scale to large scale research to small scale to large scale research to discover and include an input from all discover and include an input from all parties involvedparties involved in particular research in particular research resultsresults

User participation groupsUser participation groups

the funding agenciesthe funding agencies the people who use the research resultsthe people who use the research results people who have to live with the people who have to live with the

consequences of research consequences of research implementationimplementation

it is a research technique which social it is a research technique which social sciences generated based on moral and sciences generated based on moral and political agendaspolitical agendas

Finding examples of this type of Finding examples of this type of researchresearch

type in any search engine like Google type in any search engine like Google or Lycos the terms:or Lycos the terms:

Action Research Action Research Participatory Action ResearchParticipatory Action Research

the result is ten thousand projects the result is ten thousand projects around the world done by all kinds of around the world done by all kinds of people with all kinds of backgroundspeople with all kinds of backgrounds

AR and Art and DesignAR and Art and Design

industrial designers are regular users industrial designers are regular users of action researchof action research

architectural designers do the samearchitectural designers do the same environmental artistsenvironmental artists designers who base their design designers who base their design

concept on marketingconcept on marketing anyone involved in product designanyone involved in product design

Reasons for considering AR Reasons for considering AR or PARor PAR

it is a very helpful research techniqueit is a very helpful research technique

it looks easy and anyone with a it looks easy and anyone with a minimal level of knowledge of the minimal level of knowledge of the technique can give it a trytechnique can give it a try

these answers indicate how much can these answers indicate how much can go wronggo wrong

What can go wrong with this helpful What can go wrong with this helpful and popular research technique?and popular research technique?

it is easy to bias the research results it is easy to bias the research results to any pre-conceived agendato any pre-conceived agenda

it is a technique which easily loses its it is a technique which easily loses its purpose by input of sub-groups of purpose by input of sub-groups of users for purposes outside the users for purposes outside the researcher’s interestresearcher’s interest

Advantages and dangers of an Advantages and dangers of an easily understood and powerful easily understood and powerful

research methodresearch method

anyone with a minimal understanding of anyone with a minimal understanding of people and issues can use AR and PARpeople and issues can use AR and PAR

hundreds of thousands or more AR hundreds of thousands or more AR projects have been started over the last projects have been started over the last fifty years all over the worldfifty years all over the world

many AR projects have been lost or have many AR projects have been lost or have become trivial for the original researcherbecome trivial for the original researcher

The underpinning idea for AR and The underpinning idea for AR and PAR is to ask relevant questionsPAR is to ask relevant questions

the problem is getting answers that the problem is getting answers that are reliable and usefulare reliable and useful

what is more, these answers have to what is more, these answers have to be transformed into some action, the be transformed into some action, the design of a solution which satisfies all design of a solution which satisfies all or most people concerned with the or most people concerned with the projectproject

Getting the right questionsGetting the right questions

always create first a simple model of always create first a simple model of potential benefit of the issue of an AR potential benefit of the issue of an AR or PAR research projector PAR research project

benefit for the researcherbenefit for the researcher benefit for the user of the researchbenefit for the user of the research benefit for the user of the design benefit for the user of the design

resulting from the researchresulting from the research benefit for the people who paybenefit for the people who pay

Known experience with questionsKnown experience with questions

marketing people get at best a 2% marketing people get at best a 2% response on response on “cold call”“cold call” questions questions

quantitative research uses large scale quantitative research uses large scale surveys to generate semi-reliable surveys to generate semi-reliable answersanswers

qualitative research uses small scale qualitative research uses small scale focus groups to come to useful resultsfocus groups to come to useful results

With no clear perceived issue With no clear perceived issue among users research for opinions among users research for opinions

is difficultis difficult action research seeks to bypass this action research seeks to bypass this

problem by focussing on clear local problem by focussing on clear local or national problemsor national problems

linking research with such issues is linking research with such issues is the realm for AR and PARthe realm for AR and PAR

if that is not possible the AR and PAR if that is not possible the AR and PAR techniques are not appropriatetechniques are not appropriate

Matching ambitions is the hidden Matching ambitions is the hidden skill for action researchersskill for action researchers

first of all it means matching the first of all it means matching the ambition of the researcher with that of ambition of the researcher with that of the user of the research results and the user of the research results and user of the reality resulting from the user of the reality resulting from the resultsresults

the practical aspect of matching is in the practical aspect of matching is in the managements of all user groupsthe managements of all user groups

Paul van der Lem & Prayoot

Wongpang

PhD project example of a PhD project example of a large scale participative large scale participative action research projectaction research project

creating a single university creating a single university system for practice based system for practice based

study in study in

Art, Media and Design in Art, Media and Design in ThailandThailand

PhD timetables are in 3 sectionsPhD timetables are in 3 sections

first: find out what to research -first: find out what to research -

that means articulation of the focus that means articulation of the focus and the settingand the setting

second: do the projectsecond: do the project third: convince others that you have third: convince others that you have

done something worthwhile – done something worthwhile –

writing, making, talking and writing, making, talking and networkingnetworking

The issueThe issue

Thailand developed a dual system for Thailand developed a dual system for degree educationdegree education

first in universities and later in first in universities and later in vocational institutions vocational institutions

the vocational sector allowed more the vocational sector allowed more central control in fine tuning national central control in fine tuning national manpower planning by accessing manpower planning by accessing social groups which traditionally social groups which traditionally would not consider university would not consider university educationeducation

Advantages of dual degree routesAdvantages of dual degree routes

many countries as well as Thailand many countries as well as Thailand used dual or multi stream systems used dual or multi stream systems for higher education to allow forfor higher education to allow for

cost and social controlscost and social controls separating traditional high and low separating traditional high and low

status education allowed the creation status education allowed the creation of new forms of relevant education of new forms of relevant education without historical precedentwithout historical precedent

Disadvantages which emerged Disadvantages which emerged in time as a result of different in time as a result of different

degree systemsdegree systems large central control systems to large central control systems to

manage growth and changes of manage growth and changes of educational systems are not sensitive educational systems are not sensitive to innovationto innovation

when two national systems for degree when two national systems for degree education grow, pressures for education grow, pressures for equivalency in academic and financial equivalency in academic and financial treatment grow at the same timetreatment grow at the same time

Integrating degree standards to Integrating degree standards to gain social justice and increase gain social justice and increase

opportunitiesopportunities

was accepted in Thai law in 1992 with a was accepted in Thai law in 1992 with a necessary lead time of more than 10 necessary lead time of more than 10 yearsyears

based on principles to keep harmony based on principles to keep harmony and allow more people to gain and allow more people to gain knowledge and skills useful for society knowledge and skills useful for society and its economic wellbeing in the worldand its economic wellbeing in the world

Government set pointers and Government set pointers and designated the duties of detailed designated the duties of detailed implementation to teaching staff implementation to teaching staff

staff from all disciplines had to staff from all disciplines had to articulate ideas for integration of articulate ideas for integration of different national degree systems and different national degree systems and create consensus for a single new create consensus for a single new system to become fully operational end system to become fully operational end 20032003

Art and design staff started this process Art and design staff started this process for their discipline in an upheaval of for their discipline in an upheaval of student demand and new technologystudent demand and new technology

Problems for Art and DesignProblems for Art and Design growth in student demand in Thailand growth in student demand in Thailand

for the whole degree system had for the whole degree system had increasedincreased

but for Art and Design the growth in but for Art and Design the growth in 1997 alone was 109.44%, well above 1997 alone was 109.44%, well above the capacity of the existing the capacity of the existing infrastructure at the timeinfrastructure at the time

there was also a technological revolution there was also a technological revolution in visual production processes at costs in visual production processes at costs previously thought to be impossiblepreviously thought to be impossible

Time scaleTime scale governmental planning started early governmental planning started early

in the 1990sin the 1990s in 1997 it anticipated that all subject in 1997 it anticipated that all subject

teachers would become involved in teachers would become involved in proposing changes to implement proposing changes to implement legislationlegislation

mid 2002 the new educational law mid 2002 the new educational law had to become operationalhad to become operational

and detailed implementation took and detailed implementation took place until late 2003 place until late 2003

Information design problem in 1997Information design problem in 1997

find out how to solve these issues for find out how to solve these issues for Art, Media and Design lecturersArt, Media and Design lecturers

get agreement from the authorities to get agreement from the authorities to implement information design implement information design solutionssolutions

generate enough interest for teachers generate enough interest for teachers to become interested in this projectto become interested in this project

design an adjustable information design an adjustable information system in which art and design system in which art and design teachers willingly participateteachers willingly participate

Demand for Art and Design staffDemand for Art and Design staff

earning capacity for designers with the earning capacity for designers with the right skills rose dramatically outside right skills rose dramatically outside higher education with the growth of higher education with the growth of mediamedia

but salaries in teaching remained but salaries in teaching remained broadly the samebroadly the same

management feared that useful and management feared that useful and experienced staff would leave teaching experienced staff would leave teaching at that time to avoid the increasing at that time to avoid the increasing problems in higher educationproblems in higher education

Critical issues for this PhD proposalCritical issues for this PhD proposal

too large to handle for an inexperienced too large to handle for an inexperienced researcherresearcher

it contains too many hidden agendasit contains too many hidden agendas it requires a timetable which takes longer it requires a timetable which takes longer

than the 3 years set aside to do a PhDthan the 3 years set aside to do a PhD there are questions about the competence there are questions about the competence

available for supervision and project available for supervision and project managementmanagement

fieldwork is too far away from the fieldwork is too far away from the supervisory basissupervisory basis

4 measuring points of the project 4 measuring points of the project

154 154 participants in June 1998participants in June 1998 234 234 participants in August 1999participants in August 1999 349 349 participants in November 2000participants in November 2000 451 451 participants in November 2001participants in November 2001

end 2003 the research project ended end 2003 the research project ended and the HE took control over the and the HE took control over the ensuing process at local level ensuing process at local level throughout the countrythroughout the country

Seeking for system adjustmentSeeking for system adjustment Britain had merged its University sector Britain had merged its University sector

with higher education a decade earlierwith higher education a decade earlier the department of Art and Design in the department of Art and Design in

Chiangmai signed in 1997 a Chiangmai signed in 1997 a cooperation agreement with the cooperation agreement with the Faculty of Art, Media and Design in Faculty of Art, Media and Design in Bristol to instigate a research study to Bristol to instigate a research study to develop similar concepts applicable to develop similar concepts applicable to Thai degree education in Art and Thai degree education in Art and DesignDesign

Signing of the cooperation Signing of the cooperation agreement in Chiangmaiagreement in Chiangmai

How do you get this far?How do you get this far?

articulation based on understanding articulation based on understanding what people wantwhat people want

Matching ambitions is the hidden Matching ambitions is the hidden skill for action researchersskill for action researchers

first of all it means matching the first of all it means matching the ambition of the researcher with that of ambition of the researcher with that of the user of the research results and the user of the research results and user of the reality resulting from the user of the reality resulting from the resultsresults

the practical aspect of matching is in the practical aspect of matching is in the management of all user groupsthe management of all user groups

Research methodologyResearch methodology the research became based on the research became based on

participatory design concepts to participatory design concepts to facilitate right from the beginning facilitate right from the beginning involvement with the teachers and involvement with the teachers and industries involved with developing industries involved with developing changechange

a main tool to start this process is a a main tool to start this process is a so-called so-called search conferencesearch conference

this technique was initially rejected by this technique was initially rejected by management as inappropriatemanagement as inappropriate

The influence of traditional The influence of traditional philosophiesphilosophies

management of vocational institutions management of vocational institutions were used to top-down methods whereby were used to top-down methods whereby the centre tells all what to dothe centre tells all what to do

modern universities have however a modern universities have however a research responsibility whereby new research responsibility whereby new ideas are generated in academic ideas are generated in academic communities: often called a communities: often called a bottom-up bottom-up approachapproach

the project therefore sought to combine the project therefore sought to combine both ideas to facilitate a move of both ideas to facilitate a move of positionspositions

Top down and bottom upTop down and bottom up the search was for ideas to bring enough the search was for ideas to bring enough

critical mass of staff together at a time critical mass of staff together at a time when they were drowning in work and when they were drowning in work and uncertainties about their futureuncertainties about their future

a test-case conference in Chiangmai a test-case conference in Chiangmai offered ideas how the most urgent of offered ideas how the most urgent of current staff problems were tackled by current staff problems were tackled by othersothers

the event ended with guided discussions the event ended with guided discussions of how to adapt ideas for local usageof how to adapt ideas for local usage

Developing research to create Developing research to create usable results for Art, Media usable results for Art, Media

and Design teaching in Thailandand Design teaching in Thailand

seeking for ideas which alleviate some seeking for ideas which alleviate some immediate concerns, as well as offering immediate concerns, as well as offering visions with a more distant horizon, is fairly visions with a more distant horizon, is fairly typical in researchtypical in research

staff were not interested at first about staff were not interested at first about research but only wanted to hear about research but only wanted to hear about possible solutionspossible solutions

Participatory Design Participatory Design the principle is first to find the emotive the principle is first to find the emotive

issues, represented in the factual issues, represented in the factual perceptions of those concernedperceptions of those concerned

then articulate possible routes to solve then articulate possible routes to solve the urgent issues for those involvedthe urgent issues for those involved

toss these ideas around in small toss these ideas around in small working groupsworking groups

let each group present their ideas in a let each group present their ideas in a main forum and agree on further actionmain forum and agree on further action

small group discussionssmall group discussions

Action based research is part Action based research is part experimental and part reflectiveexperimental and part reflective

well managed it can cope with complex well managed it can cope with complex meshes of technological, psychological, meshes of technological, psychological, social, economic and legal change, social, economic and legal change, because all such issues are alive as factual because all such issues are alive as factual perceptions within the chosen target groupperceptions within the chosen target group

what is needed is a flexible and adjustable what is needed is a flexible and adjustable prioritisation based on the willingness of prioritisation based on the willingness of staff to implement available ideasstaff to implement available ideas

The sequence of incremental The sequence of incremental improvement at a speed acceptable improvement at a speed acceptable

to the majority of teaching staffto the majority of teaching staff

The first cycle of handling new The first cycle of handling new challengeschallenges

At the Chiangmai event a sorting took At the Chiangmai event a sorting took place of what was seen as urgent at the place of what was seen as urgent at the time, before people were able to time, before people were able to respond to the then longer horizon of respond to the then longer horizon of integrating two educational systems in integrating two educational systems in five years from the then current five years from the then current situation in 1998situation in 1998

The research methodology would allow The research methodology would allow an annual repeating adjustment to an annual repeating adjustment to progress, covering all issues deemed progress, covering all issues deemed necessary for 2003necessary for 2003

Relief at making a start in solving Relief at making a start in solving problemsproblems

The first four issuesThe first four issues

the existing curriculum content for the existing curriculum content for Art, Media and DesignArt, Media and Design

considering the usefulness of existing considering the usefulness of existing teaching and learning methodologiesteaching and learning methodologies

problems with educational policies problems with educational policies and local managementand local management

and, most important, the need for and, most important, the need for staff developmentstaff development

Creating a national networkCreating a national network the research created a network of the research created a network of

local action groups which took up local action groups which took up perceived possible solutions based on perceived possible solutions based on the issues discussed at Chiangmaithe issues discussed at Chiangmai

each year a new national conference each year a new national conference would be called to deal with remaining would be called to deal with remaining issues for the next cycle of issues for the next cycle of developments at local leveldevelopments at local level

all this required funding agreements all this required funding agreements which were part of the research which were part of the research project organisationproject organisation

Maturing of ideas in the field over a Maturing of ideas in the field over a four year action based research four year action based research

projectproject

the four topics remained the focus of the four topics remained the focus of staff in the field when this research staff in the field when this research project finished in 2003project finished in 2003

but the research methodology but the research methodology facilitated each year increasing facilitated each year increasing sophistication and change in the sophistication and change in the actual content of discourse and actionactual content of discourse and action

An annual approval meeting at the Thai An annual approval meeting at the Thai Ministry of Education for project continuation Ministry of Education for project continuation

and funding of the next cycleand funding of the next cycle

Developing ideological insight is the Developing ideological insight is the key for change processeskey for change processes

real-time action research deals with real-time action research deals with the fluidity of interaction in lifethe fluidity of interaction in life

the relationship between action and the relationship between action and words is the concept an action words is the concept an action researcher has to handleresearcher has to handle

this requires understanding of the this requires understanding of the driving thought processes which driving thought processes which underpin words and actionunderpin words and action

Tuning ideological aspirations can Tuning ideological aspirations can be dangerousbe dangerous

action research which follows only action research which follows only rational pathways can run itself onto the rational pathways can run itself onto the rocksrocks

creating awareness of what should or creating awareness of what should or could be done does not include could be done does not include generating the resources to achieve such generating the resources to achieve such aspirationsaspirations

aspirational processes can also be aspirational processes can also be hijacked by others with different hijacked by others with different aspirations from the main target groupaspirations from the main target group

Reality and changeReality and change

Art , Media and Design like the whole of Art , Media and Design like the whole of Thai education was offered more money Thai education was offered more money and other resources but in return had to and other resources but in return had to deliver far more than in earlier yearsdeliver far more than in earlier years

so total sums for education went up but so total sums for education went up but proportionally less money became proportionally less money became available for each student in the systemavailable for each student in the system

change is not the same as improvementchange is not the same as improvement

Pitfalls for real life researchPitfalls for real life research

…….research cannot only be about .research cannot only be about objective description of the world out objective description of the world out there: instead it reflects the social there: instead it reflects the social system within which research is system within which research is conducted……conducted……

……....values enter research in a multitude values enter research in a multitude of ways, starting from framing the of ways, starting from framing the research problem, all the way to research problem, all the way to decisions of criteria for successful decisions of criteria for successful results…results…

IlkkaTuomi 1999IlkkaTuomi 1999

Understand the value shifts!Understand the value shifts!

intended research values seek to intended research values seek to justify ideological positionsjustify ideological positions

that is only possible though paying that is only possible though paying attention to clear descriptionsattention to clear descriptions

the key to a working consensus is the key to a working consensus is through articulationthrough articulation

the route to fudging issues is to refer the route to fudging issues is to refer to values which are too far removed to values which are too far removed from the people involved with the from the people involved with the project in handproject in hand

Navigating through ideological Navigating through ideological positionspositions

Thai law dictated the integration of Thai law dictated the integration of vocational and academic degree vocational and academic degree educationeducation

but the interpretation of the values but the interpretation of the values associated with both systems is associated with both systems is managed by the people operating in managed by the people operating in local social and organisational local social and organisational structuresstructures

Emphasis of research resultsEmphasis of research results the first cycle emphasised the first cycle emphasised

technological and social issues which technological and social issues which needed to be addressedneeded to be addressed

the second cycle concentrated on the second cycle concentrated on teaching innovationsteaching innovations

the third emphasised research as a the third emphasised research as a key activity for the new systemkey activity for the new system

in the fourth year people saw system in the fourth year people saw system integration with specialised grouping integration with specialised grouping as their futureas their future

Running staff development Running staff development programmesprogrammes

the calls for staff development related the calls for staff development related to technology generated local course to technology generated local course initiatives after sufficient resources initiatives after sufficient resources became available following the became available following the second conferencesecond conference

each year thereafter the regional each year thereafter the regional course programmes for staff became course programmes for staff became more complex based on staff demand more complex based on staff demand

Teaching innovationsTeaching innovations

in a way this was not new but an in a way this was not new but an acceleration of what was normal in acceleration of what was normal in higher education both in the university higher education both in the university sector and vocational higher educationsector and vocational higher education

what was new was a growing emphasis what was new was a growing emphasis away from supply logic based on away from supply logic based on teaching towards demand logic based teaching towards demand logic based on learning methodologieson learning methodologies

ResearchResearch

most research ideology was initially most research ideology was initially seen as a selfstanding activity seen as a selfstanding activity protected by a few gatekeepers who protected by a few gatekeepers who controlled access to time and moneycontrolled access to time and money

the growing realisation that most the growing realisation that most degree level teachers should become degree level teachers should become responsible for generating their own responsible for generating their own research created demand for more research created demand for more access to research principles and access to research principles and case historiescase histories

Integrating teaching, learning and Integrating teaching, learning and researchresearch

realisation that successful teaching realisation that successful teaching should be measured against should be measured against useful useful learning outcomes created a growing learning outcomes created a growing awareness about measuring the awareness about measuring the relevance of course content in relevance of course content in concrete valuesconcrete values

such values were seen in regional such values were seen in regional emphases but also as incorporating emphases but also as incorporating more international values,more international values, a major a major problem for single language speakersproblem for single language speakers

In 2003 the higher vocational and university In 2003 the higher vocational and university sectors in Thailand merged in a single new sectors in Thailand merged in a single new university system, which seeks to maintain university system, which seeks to maintain

the best of both previous systems and the best of both previous systems and address the issues of getting more students address the issues of getting more students

into the new systeminto the new system

In 2004 the first cohort of students enrolled In 2004 the first cohort of students enrolled under the new rulesunder the new rules

Paul van der Lem & Prayoot WongpangPaul van der Lem & Prayoot Wongpang