Principle 8. TheVdiagram mediates conceptual and methodological research design and practice.

Researching educating begins in midstream. Some things are already known and some things raise questions. Think about the mess before you choose a method to clean it up. It may be that our ignorance is not what is so confounding as much as what we already know that isn't so. Beginning in midstream is beginning with events that are happening – events that in some sense you believe are events of educating.

Planning a study begins with making a V. It requires the selection of a conception and a research method or procedure that best constructs the answers to the question posed. Research is a systematic process of thinking and doing, collecting and analyzing information for some stated purpose. Various research conceptions and methods are used when conducting research: historical, causal-comparative, descriptive, experimental, correlational, qualitative, mixed qualitative and quantitative, and action research. Action research is a process that may encumber a research method with the latitude to modify the events and record making for finer discrimination of the knowledge-making taking place.

Action research is a paradigm that is grounded in the reality of classroom culture and under the control of teachers. Findings emanating from this type of research investigation inform teachers and guide their practice when formulating lessons and conducting future classroom research projects. They also enable students to become actively engaged in the research process.