Lecture 1: Action Research

Concept & Definition
- Reflective process where it allows inquiry and discussion as components of the research
- A collaborative activity among colleagues searching for solutions to everyday real problem experienced in schools or looking for ways to improve instruction and increase student achievement.
- The process assists educators in assessing needs --> documenting steps of inquiry --> analyzing data --> making informed decisions --> desired outcomes
- A quest of knowledge on how to improve skills, techniques and strategies

Pose Questions --> Gather Data --> Reflection --> Decide course of Action

Types of Action Research

1. Individual
- Focus on single issues in classroom
- Seek solutions to problem in classroom management, instructional strategies,
use materials and students learning
2. Collaborative
- Involve tow to a group of teachers addressing classroom or departmental issues
- Teachers may be supported by individual outside schools such as university or
community partners
3. School wide
- Focus on common issues to all
- Looking for ways to reach parents to increase their involvement in
school activities
4. District wide
- Far more complex and utilizes more resources
- Issues involved organizational, community-based, performance based or process
for decision-making


Steps in action research

1. Identification of problem area
- Limit question to one that is meaningful and doable in confines of daily work
- Careful planning will limit false starts and frustrations
- Questions should be:
- high order question – not a yes or no
- state in common language, avoid jargon
2. Gather data
- Important in deciding what action need to be taken
- Multiple sources of data are used to understand scope of happenings in
classroom or school
e.g. interviews, surveys, questionnaires, case studies etc.
- Organize and arrange data to identify trends and themes
3. Interpret data
- Analyzed and identify major themes
- Some data are quantifiable that can be analyzed without the use of statistics
or technical assistance
- Other data such as opinions, attitudes or checklists may be summarized in table
form
4. Act on evidence
- Using the information from the data collection and review of current literature
- Design a plan of action that will allow you to study and make a change
5. Evaluate result
- Assess the effects of the intervention to determine if improvement has occurred
- If there is improvement, do the data clearly provide the supporting evidence?
- If no, what changes can be made to the actions to elicit better results?
6. Next step
- As a result of the action research project, identify additional questions raised
by the data and plan for additional improvements, revisions, and next steps.

Example:
Canning for punishment in school is considered as a very violent act that is not acceptable by parent and most of the society nowadays. Alternatively, teachers can opt for class detention or give assignments to make the student know that if they make mistake they would have to do extra work for punishment wise.