1. How will ICAR 2022 be conducted?
ICAR 2022 will be conducted in a fully virtual mode. We will be using an integrated conference platform, Oxford Abstract, and a video conferencing tool, Zoom, to facilitate the conference proceedings.
2. What will be the time zone of the virtual conference?
The time zone for the conference is GMT+8 Kuala Lumpur.
3. Does the conference cover all subject areas?
This conference is multidisciplinary in nature. We accept contributions from any academic discipline, as long as the study is conducted using action research or a practitioner study methodology.
4. Do I need to have Zoom software installed to participate in the conference?
Yes. All presenters and participants will be required to have Zoom software installed on their computers. You will also need to have a Zoom account in advance. If you have installed Zoom on your computer, please make sure that you have updated to the latest version. For more information, visit https://zoom.us/download.
5. Can I use my phone to participate in the conference?
For the best viewing experience, we recommend that you use a laptop or computer. Make sure you have strong internet connectivity for the duration of the conference. We will not be responsible if you cannot access any sessions because of internet connectivity issues and technical glitches on your side.
6. Will I have access to the recordings and materials?
Yes. You will have access to the conference recordings and materials on the conference platform throughout the conference week and up until one month after the conference has ended.
7. Will I receive a certificate as a result of participation in this conference?
An internationally certified and digital certificate will be issued to all presenters and participants through a registered email address within two months of the conference’s completion. The certificates will be stamped and sealed by the Malaysian Action Research Network (MARNet) and the Centre for Research in International and Comparative Education, Faculty of Education, Universiti Malaya.
8. Should I register for every slot so that I will get a certificate as a participant?
No. You only need to register once, either as a presenter or participant. You will be able to join all the sessions of the conference once your registration is approved. Only one type of certificate will be issued, either as a presenter or participant.
9. Will any awards be offered to the presenters?
No. ICAR 2022 is not a competitive event, and therefore there will not be any awards offered to presenters or participants. The conference is a dissemination platform for all action researchers and practitioners in Malaysia and beyond to share their transformative practice journey.
10. Is there any support group via messenger apps such as Telegram or WhatsApp for ICAR 2022?
All communication will be done using a registered email address. However, we will also communicate with participants through MARNet Telegram. You can join the Telegram group here: https://t.me/+Wlh91DyfCMk2NDZl.
11. How can I contact the organisers if I have any questions or issues with abstract submission, conference registration, etc.?
You may reach the conference secretariat at icar@marnet.my. We will be monitoring our communication with presenters and participants via email at all times. We prefer not to be contacted via our personal phones, and all correct information can only be responded to via email.
1. How do I pay for registration?
Presenters and participants can make registration payments on our conference platform, Oxford Abstract. The registration fee should be paid via bank transfer. Presenters and participants can also generate payment invoices in the conference system.
2. How much is the fee for ICAR 2022?
You may join ICAR 2022 either as presenters or participants. For presenters, the fees for the research and practice tracks are different. Please refer to the registration fee table here.
3. How much is the group registration fee?
There is no group registration fee. All authors who want to participate will need to register. It is compulsory for the first author to be the presenter. A co-author may not participate in the conference. Only registered presenters or participants will be issued certificates.
4. If I am not a MARNet member, can I participate in ICAR 2022?
Yes. You may participate in ICAR 2022, even though you are not a MARNet member. However, there will be differences in registration fees for MARNet members and non-members.
5. Why do I need to participate in the conference as a MARNet member?
We would like to welcome everyone to be part of MARNet. As a MARNet member, you will be able to participate in ICAR 2022 at a reduced fee. You will also be given a chance to participate in future MARNet programmes and activities.
6. In the case of cancellation, can I get a refund?
No. The payment for the conference registration is final. You will not get a refund if you change your mind after you have registered.
1. What types of presentations will be given at this conference?
There are two types of presentations: research track and practice track. The research track accepts scholarly work that reports on high-quality action research studies using a variety of paradigms, philosophies and methodologies. You may choose to submit a full manuscript to be published in an indexed and peer-reviewed journal. However, the practice track presenters are not required to submit a full manuscript for this stream, as we accept any kind of action research study, including practical action research and classroom-based action research.
2. What are the differences between oral and poster presentations?
For an oral presentation, you will be allocated a specific delivery time and we will provide a panel that can provide you with constructive feedback as a critical friend. For a poster presentation, your poster will be published on the conference platform for the duration of the conference. For both types of presentations, you will need to upload a video link.
3. How will the presentations be conducted? Will they be delivered in a synchronous session or be submitted in recorded form?
We understand that there will be some technical issues during the virtual sessions, and therefore we would require all presenters to send their recordings in advance for both oral and poster presentations. For oral presentations, the video will be played during parallel sessions.
4. Am I allowed to submit an abstract and present a conventional study such as experimental research?
No. Unfortunately, we will not be accepting any other kinds of abstracts, except action research. ICAR 2022 is exclusively for action research practitioners. However, you may present many types of action research, including classroom action research, collaborative action research or participatory action research.
5. Are group presentations allowed?
Yes. Presentations can also be done in groups, with a maximum of three presenters per group for research track and two presenters per group for practice track. You may present alone for your group.
6. How many abstracts can I submit?
There is no limit to the number of abstracts you can submit. However, an author may present no more than one abstract for each track. Only one registration (research track presenter) is needed for both types of presentations.
7. Can I present ongoing action research or a proposed study?
Yes. We will accept presentations related to any stage of an action research study. The presentation could be an idea or proposal you have, which you are seeking to improve. We also welcome ongoing action research, and we will provide a panel that can provide you with constructive feedback as a critical friend.
8. Can I present a study that I have previously presented at another conference?
Yes. ICAR 2022 is a dissemination platform that seeks to encourage
practitioners to transform the practices that shape them. Although you might have presented the same topic at other conferences, we solely focus on action research studies with an audience of action researchers and scholars at this conference.
9. I noticed that the presentations are in Pecha Kucha and Photovoice format in the practice track. Is this conference academic in nature?
Yes. We understand that the Pecha Kucha and Photovoice formats in the Practice track are new to most people. We want presenters to tell their story in a narrative form using first-person language and featuring personal reflections. Many studies have proven that Pecha Kucha is one of the most useful presentation formats to better present your ideas and thoughts. Meanwhile, Photovoice is an action research methodology that is firmly rooted in the experiences of people whose voices are seldom heard. Thus, these presentation formats were chosen so that presenters can better engage with audiences in a virtual context.
10. Who deals with copyright and consent issues concerning the photographs that will be shown during the presentations?
Copyright and consent issues are the responsibility of the presenters. We anticipate that all presenters will have copyright for the photos they will use, prior to submitting their proposals. It is assumed that presenters will have obtained consent from the individuals in the images. We accept no responsibility for any proceedings related to photographs for which no copyright permission has been obtained.
11. Can I nominate another presenter to take my place after registration?
Yes. If you cannot attend the conference for any reason, you may nominate another presenter using your own credentials (your registered email address).
12. If I do not attend the parallel session, will I still get a certificate as a presenter?
No. You need to be present during the parallel session. If you do not attend the parallel session as a presenter, we will not issue a presenter’s certificate to you.
13. How do I submit my abstract?
We will be using an integrated conference platform, Oxford Abstract, for ICAR 2022. You will need to submit your abstract using our conference platform. We will not process your abstract if you submit your abstract by any other means, e.g. via email or through messenger apps.
14. Do I need to sign up to submit my abstract?
Yes, you will need to sign up to Oxford Abstract first to submit your abstract. There will be a simple registration process involved, mainly to verify your email address.
1. How do I present in the research track?
Presenters may choose to deliver either an oral or a poster presentation. For oral presentations, a maximum of 20 minutes will be allocated for each presenter, including 5 minutes of Q&A.
2. How long should the extended abstract for the research track be?
In the first instance, an extended abstract of up to 750 words, with an additional 250 words for references is required, to be submitted via our online conference system by the submission deadline. The submitted abstract will undergo a peer-review process, and if accepted, the presenters can present the paper at the conference.
3. Do I need to send an entire article after my abstract is accepted?
No. We don’t require presenters to send an entire article to present at this conference. However, for the research track, presenters may choose to submit a full manuscript to be published in an indexed and peer-reviewed journal, or be supported to submit the manuscript to Scopus or WOS journals. There will be an additional cost if presenters wish to submit their manuscripts to Scopus or WOS journals, excluding copy editing charges, and the relevant presenters will be contacted on a case-by-case basis.
4. How should my extended abstract content be formatted?
There are no specific formatting requirements for the extended abstract content. However, we suggest you follow the cyclical action research process, including reflect, plan, act, observe, and reflect. In addition, you need to include a methodological discussion in your extended abstract. The extended abstract content that follows the “IMRaD” format (introduction, methods, results, and discussion) may also be accepted.
5. How will the research track extended abstract be reviewed?
The following review criteria will be applied to research track submissions:
*Clarity of research focus
*Suitability of format
*Rigour of the research
*Significance of the proposal for practice
6. Is there any Q&A session after the practice track presentations?
There will be a Q&A session involving the panel and participants. An action research expert will be present in each breakout room and will provide feedback on your presentation. The panel will also welcome any questions from the participants, which will be answered by the presenters. We encourage constructive discussions surrounding all presentations.
7. I already registered as a research track presenter? Can I change to practice track and do I get a refund for the differences in the registration fee?
Yes. You may change your registration from the research track to the practice track. However, you will not get a refund for your paid registration fees.
1. How do I present in the practice track?
If a paper is accepted, presenters may choose to present it in oral or poster format. For the oral presentations in the practice stream, presenters may decide to present their paper using any presentation format, including Pecha Kucha or Photovoice. A maximum of 15 minutes will be given to each presenter, including 5 minutes Q&A.
2. How long should the abstract for the practice track be?
An abstract of up to 250 words is required for this submission type, to be submitted via the online system by the submission deadline.
3. How should I write an abstract for the practice track?
Presenters are encouraged to write the abstract in layperson language and to avoid methodological discussions. They are not required to submit a full manuscript for this stream. However, all submitted abstracts will undergo a peer-review process. The abstract will be evaluated based on a scoring system, and the conference can only accept a limited number of presentations.
4. What is the structure of the practice track presentation?
We do not provide a specific structure for the practice track presentation. We encourage presenters to use easy and accessible language. You may want to avoid detailed explanations about methodology. Please emphasise the narrative story and reflect on what you have learned from the intervention you have conducted.
5. Is there any Q&A session after the practice track presentations?
There will be a Q&A session involving the panel and audiences. An action research expert will be present in each breakout room who will provide feedback on your presentation. The panel will also welcome any questions from the audience, which will be answered by the presenters. We encourage discussions surrounding all presentations.
6. I already registered as a practice track presenter? Can I change to a research track presenter?
No. You cannot change your registration from practice track to research track.