Using Action Research in Joint Self-Study To Locate Two Researchers' Experiences with the Autobiographies of Their Learning

This paper discusses the role of self-study and collaboration in action research, focusing on one researcher's doctoral research on the process of studying for a Ph.D. degree in education. The goal of this research is to build case-studies of 19 individuals in England conducting doctoral research. The paper discusses possible techniques for examining the process of studying for a doctoral degree, as well as the development of a model of research as personal development which locates researchers' experiences of doing research in their autobiographies of their learning. It describes the conduct of this research on the Ph.D. process, comparing two researchers' motivations and actions relative to deciding to pursue a Ph.D. Three appendixes provide a timeline, conversation transcript, and inventory of archived data on the relationship between the two researchers and their joint self-study of the Ph.D. process. (Contains 31 references.) (MDM)