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Action Research

Concept Map

References

Creswell, J.W. & Guetterman, T.C. (2019). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Merrill Prentice Hall.

Theoretical Underpinnings and Grounding Assumptions

Theoretical Underpinnings and Grounding Assumptions

Kurt Lewin first coined the term action research in 1930. He believed that after the war intercultural group relations might be enhanced through the process of group discussions. This developed four group processes of planning, acting, observing, and reflecting.

Creswell & Gutterman, 2019, p. 588

Action research then took a back seat and resurfaced again in 1970 with projects in Great Britain, the United States, and Austrailia. These projects focused on teachers studying their own practices, educators working with schools, and researchers helping individuals emancipate themselves from social issues in educational settings.

Creswell & Gutterman, 2019, p. 602

How Action Research Developed

How did action research develop?

1. identifying processes for addressing societal issues

2. the need to involve practitioners, such as teachers, in the solution to their own problems

3. groups assuming responsibility for their own emancipation and change

Creswell & Gutterman, 2019, p. 587

Modern Ideas of Action Research

Modern Ideas of Action Research

The ideas created in the 1930's and 1970's paved the way for the modern ideas that surround action research. The main ideas are:

- a process of steps

- participation

- the democratic impulse of involvement

- contribution to social change

Creswell & Gutterman, 2019, p. 588

Today, action research has grown in importance as a means for enhancing school renewal, promoting teacher development, and testing new ideas.

Creswell & Gutterman, 2019, p. 602

Research Purposes and Examples of Research Questions

Research Purposes, Designs and Examples of Research Questions

The purpose behind Action Research is to look at an issue in education and determine steps to observe and solve the issue.

This can be done in a practical way where teachers are looking at issues in their own context or in a participatory way which focuses on larger social issues.

Creswell & Gutterman, 2019, p. 589

What Action Research Accomplishes

What does Action Research Accomplish?

  • encourages change in schools
  • fosters a democratic approach to education
  • empowers individuals through collaboration on projects
  • positions teachers and other educators as learners who seek to narrow the gap between practice and their vision of education
  • encourages educators to reflect on their practices
  • promotes a process of testing new ideas (Mills, 2018)

Creswell & Gutterman, 2019, p. 589

Practical Action Research

Practical Action Research Designs

In Practical Action Research the purpose is to research a specific situation with a view toward improving practice. Teams of teachers or individual educational professionals focus on a specific problem or issue within their context i.e. a school or classroom.

  • Studying local practices
  • Involving individual or team-based inquiry
  • Focusing on topics such as teacher development and student learning
  • Implementing a plan of action
  • Leading to the professional-as-researcher

An example of what a research topic may be for practical action research might be an elementary teacher studies the disruptive behavior of a child in her classroom.

Creswell & Gutterman, 2019, p. 590

Participatory Action Research

Participatory Action Research Designs

Participatory Action Research has a social and community orientation and an emphasis on research that contributes to emancipation or change in our society. The purpose of Participatory action research is to improve the quality of people's organizations, communities, and family lives. Creswell & Gutterman, 2019, p. 592

  • Studying social issues that constrain individual lives
  • Emphasizing "equal" collaboration
  • Focusing on "life-enhancing" changes
  • Resulting in the emancipated researcher

Creswell & Gutterman, 2019, p. 590

An example of participatory action research is textbooks and tests that label and stereotype students or omit important historical events of cultural and ethnic groups. Creswell & Gutterman, 2019, p. 592

Approach to Data Collection and Analysis

Creswell & Gutterman, 2019, p. 587

Approach to Data Collection and Analysis

Action Research uses data collection based on either quantitative or qualitative methods or both.

It is sorted into three dimensions:

  • Experiencing - Observing and taking field notes
  • Enquiring - Asking people for information
  • Examining - Using and making records

Creswell & Gutterman, 2019, p. 600

Mills Dialectic Action Research Spiral

Four cycles where investigators cycle back and forth among data collection, their focus, analysis, and interpretation.

Creswell & Gutterman, 2019, p. 591

Retrieved from: https://www.google.com/search?q=dialectic+action+research+spiral&safe=strict&rlz=1C1CHBF_enCA839CA839&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjR242BnKjhAhXRsJ4KHQ2pBmQQ_AUIDigB&biw=1366&bih=625#imgrc=6C4t8hmbY4O-xM:

Stringer's Action Research Interacting Spiral

Action research is not neat, orderly, and linear but rather is a process of repeating and revising procedures and interpretations.

Creswell & Gutterman, 2019, p. 594

Retrieved from: https://www.google.com/search?safe=strict&rlz=1C1CHBF_enCA839CA839&biw=1366&bih=625&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=64OeXJL3H9Da0wLM35rQBg&q=Stringer%27s+Action+Research+Interacting+Spiral&oq=Stringer%27s+Action+Research+Interacting+Spiral&gs_l=img.3...336020.336020..336453...0.0..0.56.56.1......1....2j1..gws-wiz-img.qzWAV5RMJFI#imgrc=bfFW39RS8H0eAM:

Analyzing the Data Collected

Analyzing the Data Collected

Data can be analyzed

  • by the researcher alone or they can enlist the help of others
  • by showing the results to others and getting their interpretation
  • (most situtaions) by using descriptive statistics or using group data and variables to compare findings

The main idea is to have the data analysis manageable so the researchers and other educational professionals can pull out the useful information.

Creswell & Gutterman, 2019, p. 601

Form of Reporting and Evaluating

Form of Reporting and Evaluating

Action Researchers typically report results of their studies through websites, social media, local school groups, and scholarly journals in education.

Creswell & Gutterman, 2019, p. 589

Criteria for Action Plan

Criteria for Action Plan

At the end of the study the researchers create an action plan. This plan includes:

- a summary of findings

- recommended actions

- identification of individuals responsible for action

- identification of individuals who need to be consulted and informed

- who monitors and collects the data, a timeline for data collection

- resources need for action

Creswell & Gutterman, 2019, p. 592

Evaluating the Quality

Evaluating Quality of an Action Research Study

The key elements to determine the quality of an action research study:

  • the researcher is focused on a practical problem or issue in the community
  • includes multiple sources of quantative and qualitative data
  • the researcher collaborates with participants in the study
  • the action research report includes a plan for action that addresses te problem or community need
  • the researcher grows as a result of conducting the study
  • the researcher reports in an acceptable way to stakeholders and community audiences

Creswell & Gutterman, 2019, p. 602

Reflecting on the Results

Reflecting on Results

A researcher must reflect on their study and share what they have learned with members of their community whether it is other teachers in their school or across their district.

By sharing ideas in this way it can bring other solutions to try to the surface and often result in another research plan.

Creswell & Gutterman, 2019, p. 601

Assertions made by Critics

Assertions made by Critics

Critics are reluctant to view it as a legitimate form of research due to teachers being the conductors and are not trained as formal academic researchers. Creswell & Gutterman, 2019, p. 589

Most studies are not published in scholarly journals or get peer reviewed like other research. Creswell & Gutterman, 2019, p. 589

There are also ethical dilemmas that arise when collaborating with participants and other researchers. The researcher must ensure transparency when conducting all apescts of the study. Creswell & Gutterman, 2019, p. 598

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