Collaborative Learning for Professional Development: A Review of Research Methods and Instruments

Abstract

This paper analyzes teacher collaboration research studies based on the research methods and tools used in these studies. As a researchmethodology, 36 studies were systematically collected from research databases such as EBSCO, ERIC, and search engines such as GoogleScholar, based on the selection criteria and themes. Across the studies, they were analyzed using thematic data analysis. According to thefindings, collaborative dimensions and activities, teachers’ beliefs and perceptions on their collaboration, teachers’ room to communicate,teacher-to-teacher dialogue, the way teachers work together, and collaborative attitudes are factors in developing research methods andtools used in previous studies of teacher collaboration in schools. Furthermore, previous studies have included various participants such asadministrators, teachers, staff members in schools, parents, families, community members and school board members. Informal collaboration,professional learning experience and peer collaboration, school culture, social networks, leadership and school management teams,sustainability in financial and physical conditions of schools and well-planned in-service teacher education programs based on collaborativeknowledge creation are factors that influence teacher collaboration. Different conceptual frameworks and instruments have been usedto describe teacher collaboration, such as the Teacher Collaboration Improvement Framework (TCIF), the Community of Practice (CoP), theTeacher Collaboration Assessment Survey (TCAS) and the Professional Learning Community-Revised (PLCR) instrument. According to thefindings, more research on the term “interprofessional collaboration” in the field of teacher education is required because collaborationbetween representatives of different professions is now essential for school improvement. The findings of this study have the potential tocontribute to future research in teacher collaboration and interprofessional collaboration in education.