Action Research

Background

Action research is a type of professional development. Specifically, it is a process where participants examine their own practices, systematically and carefully, using the techniques of research. There are three types of action research: individual, collaborative, and schoolwide. Individual action research is when one person--be it an administrator or teacher--works alone to refine his or her skills. Collaborative action research takes place when a small group of people work together to identify challenges and analyze the data they have gathered. Schoolwide action research, however, includes majority of the school staff. Principals, teachers, and the district engage in action research together to help improve the school.

When engaging in any of these three types of action research, participants follow a cyclical pattern involving five steps: (1) Identify the problem. (2) Collect and organize data. (3) Interpret the data. (4) Take action based on the data. (5) Reflect. By engaging in action research, participants identify problems they personally are concerned about and gain experience on-the-job by refining their skills.

Benefits

Action research is of benefit to its participants for several reasons. First, action research allows individuals to identify problems they consider important rather than addressing issues others outside the system deem as important. Therefore, because of its nature, several different types of action research can occur in a school simultaneously.

Action research is a process that allows educators to experience problem solving and model it to their students and colleagues. Moreover, action research can revitalize the entire learning and professional community. Very practical and ongoing, action research can be used in an educator’s everyday experiences while on-the-job.

Examples

One model of collaborative action research has been outlined by The South Florida Center for Educational Leaders. This center recommends that at least two or more people--principals, superintendents, teachers, university professors, business partners, or other interested parties--commit to meet and study together on a regular basis. They may meet as often as two hours every two weeks or two to three hours once a month. The group focuses on an area of interest and then collects, organizes, analyzes, puts into action, and reflects upon the data gathered. A coach may be present to facilitate group meetings, and researchers should share their findings with one another. These sessions should be ongoing.

The practicality of action research makes it an intriguing professional development tool that will benefit those that implement its use in their schools.

Related Links

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What Is It?

Action Research

This article answers the question "what is action research," describes its benefits, and discusses how to begin. (From Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development)

Action Research: Three Approaches

This article discusses the benefits of action research and discusses three different kinds in-depth: individual teacher research, collaborative action research, and school wide action research. Differing in purpose, emphasis, and results, these three types of action research allow educators to investigate areas of concern and meet the challenges within their classrooms and schools. (From Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development)

Guidelines for Effectiveness

In a nice and concise, but informative summary, this web-page lists 13 key points of action research. (From Appalachia Educational Laboratory)

Guiding School Improvement with Action Research

This book gives a thorough description of Action Research, including chapters on what action research is, the rational for engaging in it, the steps to take when utilizing action research, and how to use it to build a learning community. (From Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development)

Themes in Education: Action Research

Addressing the subject of action research, this booklet describes what it is, what it is not, its history, the steps to take, the benefits, and gives examples. (From Northeast and Islands Regional Educational Laboratory at Brown University)
Tools & Resources

Action Research

On this web-page, educators will find a brief summary of action research, followed by a list of ten books educators may read to learn more. (From North Central Regional Educational Laboratory)

Action Research in Early Childhood Education

Although mostly geared for an audience of teachers, this article has many ideas administrators may use when engaging in action research. In this article, administrators will read about the action research process, as well as the five C’s tools of action research--Commitment, Collaboration, Concern, Consideration, and Change. (From ERIC Digests, ED401047)

Action Research Listserv

Meet other action researchers through AEL's listserv--aelaction--a free, facilitated forum on the Internet for sharing questions and information about action research. (From Appalachia Educational Laboratory)

Bookmarks

On this web-page are close to 15 different links educators can follow to find out more information about action research. (From Appalachia Educational Laboratory)

Knowledge Loom: Spotlight on the Principal as Instructional Leader

The Knowledge Loom is a place for educators worldwide to review research that identifies best practices related to various themes, view stories about the practices in real schools/districts, learn to replicate the success of these practices in your own organization, add your own stories, knowledge, questions to the collections, participate in online events and discussions, and discover supporting organizations and resources. The valuable addition of the online components and accompanying guidebook allows school leaders to work together in study groups, either online or in person as part of an More importantly, using the Knowledge Loom makes you part of an active online teaching and learning community. (From The Education Alliance at Brown University)

LAB’s Booklet Tells Action Research History, Types, Process

This booklet discusses several types of action research, its history, and a process that may be used to engage educators in action research. Two stories from the field, written by teachers about their own reflections on the process, are given as illustrations of action research (From Northeast and Islands Regional Educational Laboratory at Brown University)

Participatory Action Research Network (PARnet)

Based at Cornell University, in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of central New York State, PARnet serves an international group of students, faculty, and other practitioners who share a commitment to promoting high standards of intellectual and social integrity in doing social research for social change. A password is needed to access this website.

Recent Books on Action Research and Related Topics

The books listed on this web-page come from a resource file which supports the regular public program "areol" (action research and evaluation on line).
Model Programs

Action Research as A Framework for School Improvement

This web-page allows administrators to find out more about action research, as well as read about several action research models which the Southern Florida Center for Educational Leaders has supported. (From South Florida Center for Educational Leaders)

The Principal’s Project

The purpose of the Principal’s Project is to describe, enhance, and replicate effective strategies for ensuring that students with disabilities are integrally included as part of building level school improvement and reform initiatives and are accommodated accordingly.

World-Class Learning: Making the Best Even Better

This is a story about a group of superintendents who came together and decided to improve the quality of education administered in their schools. Using the research and results of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) as a guide, the administrators worked hard to improve their students’ education system. (From National Staff Development Council)
Selected Research & Articles

Action Research With Principals: Gain, Strain, and Dilemmas

This article discusses strengths and weaknesses of action research as a research strategy, and its potential of generating theory about educational leadership. The article underlines that an analysis of the role of self in social inquiry serves as a critical context in order to understand the research findings. (From Educational Action Research, vol. 6, no. 1)

Action Researcher Narrows Focus to Broaden Effectiveness

In an interview, writers from the Journal of Staff Development ask Emily Calhoun about the principle of action research. Emily Calhoun is director of Phoenix Alliance, which provides long-term support to school districts and state/regional agencies that are committed to improving student achievement through investing in staff learning at the school level. (From National Staff Development Council)

How to Use Action Research in the Self-Renewing School

This book provides practical guidance for conducting schoolwide action research to improve student learning. Calhoun presents the simple process of collective study in action. First, seek agreement with others in your school community on what to study. Second, collect and share information about students' knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Third, search your own experiences and examine educational research for strategies and programs that will improve your students' math understanding. Fourth, work together to improve curriculum and instruction in math. Fifth, collect data on results, study effects, and begin the cycle all over again. (From Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development)

Professional Development and Action Research

The concept of professional development should mean going beyond the dominant view that knowledge about education is generated by academic researchers then imposed. This article discusses the merits of action research and how it applies to professional development. (From Research in Education)