This document provides an autobiographical sketch of Paul Gruhn, a researcher seeking a theoretical stance to inform his research design. It outlines his background and experiences that have shaped him into a pragmatist. It describes his worldview as a pragmatist that sees multiple realities and values both quantitative and qualitative data. It proposes a mixed methods sequential explanatory design using surveys, focus groups, interviews, and narratives. The goal is to improve professional development for online educators by understanding perspectives from both insiders and outsiders.

1. “An Autobiographical Sketch of a Young Researcher in Search of a Theoretical Stance”
By Paul Gruhn
February 2017
THE MAKING OF A PRAGMATIST

2. paul edward boyd gruhn
born: 1956 “baby-boomer”
parents divorced: 1966 “broken home”
7 homes, 6 towns, and 9 schools in 18 years
three different high schools “class of 1974”
camera around my neck throughout high school
mass college of art – photography major
azusa university – bachelors in religion
anderson university – masters of divinity
asnuntuck – associates in computer science
married to donna (2002) - keara

3. privileged
middle class
educated
white
anglo
saxon
liberal protestant
democrat

4. profession
salesperson, hustler, odd jobs
grocery store, machine shop
professional wedding & portrait photographer
minister
deejay
senior application developer
adjunct professor

5. power
male
educated
oldest child - 5 younger sisters
teacher
minister
senior application developer (20 years)
out-going strong personality (overbearing at times)

6. prejudice
american exceptionalist
materialist
sexist
racist

7. project oriented, problem solver, diy
goal, task, to-do list oriented
work on cars – raced stock cars
photography – watching the image appear
black walnut tree  dining room table
built 2 stall horse barn
remodel house – hardwood floors, tile, electric, etc.
computer programmer
transfers to my relationships – help/fix people

8. people
i hate crime
i want a better society
i want others to succeed
i want to help others where i can
i will be there for you
i want to know as many people as i can
“As iron sharpens iron, so to a person another.” Proverbs 27:17

9. process
life long learner,
i’m not finished growing up yet.

10. WHO I AM, INFORMS MY RESEARCH DESIGN

11. MY WORLDVIEW PARADIGM
worldview topic the pragmatist my interpretation
ontology
Reality (what “exists”) is that which can be
represented. (Creswell, 2007)
Multiple forms of reality. Follow a
Deweyan “`What works” action oriented
view of reality.
There are times I base my actions on the numbers.
Statistics provide a repeatable measure to know which
direction to head. However, there are times I ‘go with my
gut’ the situation may be more than just the visible
number, sometimes actions/change happens because of
non-quantitative reality.
epistemology
Theory of Knowledge; Knowledge constructed
using various sources of data. Analysis depends
on research question, data source and purpose of
the study (Crotty, 1998)
Etic & Emic perceptions can co-exist in a
single study. Each strand forms
knowledge that can be compared and
combined increasing the credibility of the
studies findings.
Because of my ontology, I can not imagine a world
without both. For me it doesn’t exist. Both numbers and
words (quan and qual) are here to work together to
inform and shape each other.
axiology
Values in research; How the role of values
influence the way research is conducted (Creswell,
2007)
Multiple stances: Values brought to the
forefront and recognized as influencing
the research process.
Who I am, and more important, who the community is to
which my research is conducted will clearly shape the
direction of my study.
method
Process of how to collect, analyze, and interpret
data. (Creswell 2007)
Mixed Approach: Various forms of
qualitative and quantitative data are blend
to create a representative model.
For me numbers (quan) set the stage and open the door
for questions. The meaning an the answers are found in
the narrative/story (qual) where the numbers originated.
Creswell J. (2007). Philosophical, paradigm, and interpretive frameworks. Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (2nd ed., pp. 15-35).
Thousands Oaks, CA: Sage Publishing.
Crotty, M. (1998). Introduction to research. The Foundations of social research: Meaning and perspective in the research process (pp. 1-17) Thousands Oaks, CA: Sage
Publishing.

12. MY THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
to be determined, considering …
online collaborative learning theory (harasim)
equivalency theory: an american theory of distance education (keegan)
andragogy (knowles)
theory of transactional distance (moore)
there are many others to research as well

13. MY RESEARCH METHOD
mixed methods
sequential explanatory
quan  informs  qual
surveys
focus group: session one
intervention
semi-structured interviews
focus group: session two
auto-biographical narrative

14. ROLE OF THE RESEARCHER
participatory, quasi-experimental study…
quan
surveys to be designed
i will take an etic or outsider perspective
qual
the story of the community research has value
my online education experience/story is relevant
i will take an emic or insider perspective
sequence
quan  informs  qual

15. MY RESEARCH CONCEPT MAP
purpose
improve professional
development for online educators
method
mixed methods
quan informs qual
survey
focus groups
semi-structured interviews
auto-biographical narrative
conceptual framework
pragmatist worldview
foundational theory (tbd)
validity & credibility
triangulation of participants
& data sources
& methods
research question
How do we best train online educators?

16. THANK YOU