The Institutional Research Project Cycle
Similar to other problem-solving and design processes, the Institutional Research Project Cycle is iterative. Like a magnet turning inside of a generator, cycling through this process over and over generates a current of healthy data culture in an institution that powers and energizes further research. Individual projects cycle through a series of phases that each draw on different Institutional Research Core Competencies.
The institutional research project cycle is iterative and the conclusion of one project cycle often sparks another more specific or sophisticated project. Early iterations of institutional research projects might aim to simply describe some aspect of the school community. These results often lead to iterations seeking to explain why the patterns discovered in the initial research exist. Additional iterations often focus on building permanent institutional systems to monitor specific outcomes, which school leaders use to shape policy decisions.