Introduction

Core Java is a computer programming language that serves general purpose computer programming. The programming language is specifically object-oriented, class-based, and concurrent among other attributes. Its design is specifically aimed at having few implementation dependencies. Its primary intention is to let the application developers write the program once and test it anywhere without limitations. This means that compiled core Java code can run on almost all the platforms that support Java without requiring recompiling. Java-created applications are compiled to byte code that has the capabilities to run on various Java virtual machines (JVM) without the need to worry about the architecture of the computer. Since its introduction, core Java, has been growing in popularity as one of the most used programming languages. It is mostly used for client-server web applications. More than ten million developers have developed applications using core Java as of 2015. Core Java borrows most of its syntax from C and C++. However, its level facilities are lower than both C and C++ (Flanagan, 1999).

Sun Microsystems are the original developers of Core Java through James Gosling. The company released the programming language in 1995 as a primary component of its Java platform. The company also released the initial and reference implementation virtual machines, class libraries, and the compilers under the application proprietary licenses. Core Java has continued to evolve since its first introduction and implementation. Its latest version is Java 8 which has a free support from the Oracle. However, other versions have either Oracle or other companies support or both on a commercial basis. This is not the end because there are every signs and possibility that core Java will evolve further.

Core Java works on principles thereby cementing its supremacy and authenticity. Every developer should, therefore, stick by them for successful core Java programming. The principles are also the goals of the programming language that became the pillars of its creation. The five goals are (Groce & Visser, 2008):

• The language should be familiar, simple, and object-oriented

• It must have security and robustness

• Its execution should be high performance

• It must be easily interpretable, massively dynamic, and threaded

• The language should be easily portable and neutral to architectures

There have been nine major releases of core Java by the time core Java 8 was being released. Surprisingly, core Java 8 is the only version that is supported publicly. Some of the major releases are JDK 1.0, JDK 1.1, J2SE 1.2, J2SE 1.3, J2SE 1.4, J2SE 5.0, Java SE6, and Java SE7. One of the commendable features of the above core Java versions is portability. It means that all the programs developed purposely for Java platform run similarly on any set of hardware and operating system with enough support of runtime.

I will be attached to a software development company as an intern in software development using core Java. My primary aim as an intern is ensuring there is a significant improvement in the overall process of software development life cycle (SDLC). I will conduct my software development duties vigorously and diligently to reduce the time it takes to develop computer applications and software. The changes are important to the stakeholders in the development of software and applications using core Java. Most quality assurance teams fail to implement such changes. Additionally, active participation of all the various stakeholders will authenticate the development process and energize it for positive effects and efficiency. Therefore, I will also be tasked with mobilizing every member of the development team to make it a possibility (Williams, 2006).

Methodology

Action research is a research methodology in practicing and conditioning of research activities in the research field and in the places where researchers are conducting the research. It largely and mainly involves the collaboration of researchers and various stakeholders in an attempt to ensure that there are strong objectives and suitable ways through which those particular objectives will be accomplished. The improvement in the researcher’s practices leads to simultaneous improvement of the environments in which the action research is taking place as well as the society that is the part of the environment (Feldman, 2007).

Through communication between the researchers and between them and the society and close observations, they can make comprehensive and informed decisions about the topic of research in hand. This helps them in coming up with the most suitable research methodology and tools to use in improving the societal or organizational problem at hand. This improvement also helps them to make significant improvements in their research practices. Studies have shown that action research does not embrace neutrality. Therefore, it means that each of the participants in the process of research should participate actively. This leads to enhancement of comprehensive understanding of the problem and the topic of research as well as the approach that will be employed in solving the problem.

Action research is a brainchild of Kurt Lewin. The German psychologist developed action research in 1946 during one of his several research works in the community and concern with social problems in his community at that time. His main focus was on the participative groups that would enable him to address the crises better, positive changes, and conflicts either within the society or the organizations. The term action research first appeared in one of his works titled "Action Research and Minority Problems" in 1946. He thought action research as a comparative study of effects and conditions on different types of research and social actions that would later lead to social action. Kurt Lewin’s imagination of action research had spirals with each having repeating steps where each step was made up of planning, action, observation, and reflection. He defined reflection as fact-finding about the outcomes of the action. Action research continued to develop in each generation of researchers (Lewin, 1946).

Eric Trist used action research in later years for the purpose of improving it where possible. Both Kurt Lewin and Eric Trist emphasized on active and professional collaboration between the researcher and the client. Additionally, they advocated for embracing of roles in group relations as the cornerstone of problem solving. Action research took a serious and positive growth in the 1970s. Many researchers started applying it in their works thereby improving it and have since developed to what is being used today.

According to Kurt Lewin in the above discussions, action research is a four-step process. The four steps are planning, action, observation, and reflection. The four steps follow one another in that order. They are also conducted iteratively until the researchers meet the goals of the research and come up with a suitable solution to the organizational or societal problem at hand. The researcher engages in data collection in the planning stage. He analyzes the data and moves on to the next stage of action. He conducts the planned action while borrowing much of the action from the planning stage. The researcher then proceeds to the next stage of observation. He notes down his observations in the planning and action stage. The researcher may now proceed to the fourth and final stage of reflection. The researcher reflects on several things such as what went well and according to the plan and what might not have gone well and the improvements required in the next iteration (Kidd & Krai, 2005).

I will use action research in my position as an intern to conduct research process in software development using core Java. Using action research is a sure way through which I will gain software development experience and skills. The skills will not only be beneficial to me but also to the company where I will be attached. Action research will ensure active and motivated participation of the researcher and other members of the team in the process of software development. Application of action research will also give me freedom and opportunity to engage fully in the development of other software in the company in the future or as soon as the company will need my services. This full participation and engagement in software development will have positive and significant effect in my practice as a software developer. I will also improve my human relation skills and appreciate what software development career offers (Lather, 1986).

References

Feldman, A. (2007). Validity and quality in action research. Educational action research, 15 (1), 21-32.

Flanagan, D. (1999). Java enterprise in a nutshell: A desktop quick reference. Beijing: O'Reilly.

Groce, A., & Visser, W. (2008). Heuristics for Model checking Java programs. International Journal on Software Tools for Technology Transfer, 6 (4), 260-276.

Kidd, S. A., & Krai, M. J. (2005). Practicing participatory action research. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52 (2), 187-195.

Lather, P. (1986). Research as praxis. Harvard Education Review, 56 (3), 257-277.

Lewin, K. (1946). Action research and minority problems. Journal of Social Issues, 2 (1), 45-56.

Williams, R. (2006). Real-time systems development. Burlington, MA: Elsevier Butterworth- Heinemann.