Action Research

TECS 314
 The Concepts of Action Research

Activity
• What is action research for you?
• Why we, as a teacher need to conduct action research?
• What are the unique identity of action research?
 The Concept of Action Research
• AR. is conceived differently by different people, under different
contexts, and at different times.
• In teaching learning context, action research is known by many other
names such as:

 School based research 1

 Teacher research 2

 Practitioner inquiry 3

 Teacher professional development 4

 Teacher as researcher 5

 Teacher self evaluation 6

 Self-reflective inquiry 7
 The Concept of Action Research
• It is an on set practice-conducted at the practitioner’s work
place 1
• A teacher, as an actor of the teaching routine, initiates it 2

• AR as an investigation to learn from a practice 3

• For the purpose of growing up in a professional ladder 4.

• Research as a teachers regular duty like teaching process 5

• Shows/mirrors teachers’ practices 6

• Ensures a series thought & consideration of own practice7
-Creating critical image of our practice
 The Concept of Action Research
• The reasons for naming AR differentially could be
due to;
1. Setting & processes of AR are dynamic

2. Philosophy, and experiences of researchers vary

3. The context in which AR is sought may vary

4. The theory motivating the practitioner

5. The objectives under which the research is conducted

 The Concept of Action Research
• Traditional : as simple and routine activities of a
teachers in their classrooms
• Modern : it is planned, more systematic and more
collaborative
 Practical way of looking at someone’s professional,
environmental concern with the purpose of
understanding these and causing betterment
 Includes learning by doing being in active mind
setup
 Involves a strong culture of critical reflection,
 The Concept of Action Research
1. Action Research is a reflective process that
allows for inquiry and discussion as components
of the “research.”

2. Action research is a process in which participants

examine their own educational practice
systematically and carefully, using the
techniques of research.
 The Concept of Action Research
3. Action research is teacher-initiated, school-based
research used to improve the practitioner’s practice
by doing or changing something …where the
teacher is the researcher and the teacher’s practice
is the focus of the research.

4. Action research is a way of learning from and

through one's practice by working through a series
of reflective stages that facilitate the development
of a form of "adaptive" expertise.
Importance of action research
Importance of Action Research?
 Importance of action research
• The main purpose of action research is to learn from and to improve
teaching

d/t views on the purpose

 Observing and describing individuals’ action in order to understand how
they behave
 It as living, experiencing, and influencing change through the production of
descriptions and explanations to justify educ. Practice (current thoughts )

• Its effect for the betterment of the practice and the practitioner

 4 broad & fundamental ways in which AR helps educ. settings

 Importance of action research (4 ways)
1. To connect theory to practice

2. To improve instructional practice

3. To empower teacher as a decision maker

4. To promote professional growth

 Importance of action research

1. Connecting theory to practice

 AR is a means of bridging the gap between

theory or research & practice/ classroom
situation -----by creating 2 way flow of info.

 Which means teaching decision is shaped by

theory and practice
 Importance of action research
2) Improvement of educational practice
 AR offers a process in which a classroom practice can be transformed to better
ones.
 Because it allows teachers to study their own classroom
eg. Areas of focus in Action research might includes;

• Instructional planning
• Content to teach
• Instructional methods
• Instructional assessments
• You and your learning ability
…
 Importance of Action Research
• Classroom organization
• Pattern of interaction
• Time management

o Requires constant and systematic reflection of teachers on their

actions
o Results in the acquisition of new knowledge & skills
o Systematic reflection is important to provide stimulus for
changing & improving practice……
…….. in order to make it appropriate for the unique individuals
 Importance of Action Research
• It has the power of identifying & solving a problem within the
process of the research.
• It contributes both to pedagogical knowledge & subsequent
modification of teaching practice & students learning
AR. is a powerful instrument for change & improvement
 Importance of action research
3) Teacher empowerment -(decision maker ) It entails:
 Professional Autonomy, accountability, commitment to do
the right things right
 IT can be advanced through action research
 Enables teachers to appropriate decision at whatsoever level
 It allows teachers to bring into their classrooms their own
unique expertise, talents, and creativity
 Importance of action research

Integral in the notion of empowerment are

Moral …………ethical issues

Ontological………… abstract reasoning

Epistemological ……..wisdom of knowledge

Methodological positions of the

teacher…….procedural
 Importance of action research
NB. AR enables teachers;
 To make appropriate decisions at what so ever level

To bring their unique, creative and expertise

To take risk and to bring change to their institutional practices

Thus, invites them to:

Explore possibilities for action

Enhance their self image a originators

Develop strategies geared to improve their situations

 Importance of Action Research
4) Professional growth
AR. As catalyst of professional dev’t

A means of improving teachers’ problem solving skill

A means to change their attitude towards;

 professional dev’t

Institutional change

Increases confidence and professional self-esteem

Characteristics of Action Research
 Activity

Be in pair and list some

characteristics of action research?
 Characteristics of Action Research
1. Its process is cyclic & zigzag in the continuum

2. It is participatory /collaboration/

3. It is more of qualitative

4. It is reflective

5. It is not/less generalizable

6. It is not done by external experts without the

practitioner’s involvement:
 Characteristics….
7. A practical focus: problem that will have
immediate benefits

8. The educator-researcher’s own practices

9. Dynamic process /less rigid/ flexible

10. A plan of action/ there is intervention/

11. Sharing research /Not specifically interested in
publication but in sharing with individuals or
groups who can promote change
 The possible action research topic areas
(Scope)
1. Aspects of instructional planning

2. Content to teach

3. Instructional/teaching methods

4. Student learning achievement

5. You and your learning

6. Classroom environment

7. Institutional/school-wide issues
 The possible action research topic areas
(scope)
8. Instructional materials

9. Classroom management

10. Student interest and learning style

11. Grading and evaluation

12. Parent Teacher Association (PTA)

 UNIT TWO
Processes of Action Research

Activity
Be in a small group and outline
the basic steps of conducting
action research
 Basic steps of conducting action research
• The steps consists of four to nine components

• The four steps

1. Planning

2. Acting

3. Developing

4. Reflecting
 The Nine Steps of Action Research
Step 1: Identifying an issue and limiting it for
investigation
Step 2: Learning more about your issue/topic/
Step 3: Reviewing Related Literature
Step 4: Develop a research plan and a strategy for your
research
Step 5: Collecting data
Step 6: Analyzing data
Step 7: Developing an action plan
Step 8: Taking action/sharing/communicating your result
Step 9: Reflecting on the overall process and the Result
Step 1: Identifying an issue and
limiting it for investigation

Activity
Individually think of at list three
possible action research
problems and write it on your
note book.
 Step 1: Identifying an issue and
limiting it for investigation
• The problem should be:
 Interesting to the researcher
Related to your practice
Important and significant
Feasible
Doable /answerable by the teacher
Ethical etc
SMART
• Now in Pair evaluate your problem against
these criteria
 Step 2: Learning more about your
issue/topic/
• Understand the problem clearly through:

 Gathering information talking with other

teachers, administration bodies, students,
parents etc

Read more sources

Step 3: Reviewing Related Literature

Sources of information for the review:

Books
Research journals
Web sites
Manuals
Modules
School documents
Polices and guidelines etc
 Step 4: develop a research Plan and a
strategy for your research

• Focuses on how you approach your study

including:
 Research Design

Source of data

Sampling techniques

Instruments of data collection

 Step 5: Collecting data
• Collect data by using different instruments such as:
 Interview… face to face conversation
 Observation… strategy of collecting data based on first
hand experiences
 Questionnaires… a form of inquiry where the
respondents are free to forward any idea they have
 Document analysis...investigating manuscripts
 Focus group discussion… dialogue of a target group
selected for the study
 Step 6: Analyzing data

• Interpreting the data based on the nature of

information:
• Quantitative data: ( descriptive/inferential
statistics)
• Qualitative data: ( by using words)
Step 7: Developing an action plan
• Based on the result, a plan of action needs to
be prepared.
• It is a plan for action/ intervention/
• The plan needs to include:

1.Summary of research questions and findings

2. Recommended action
3. Who is responsible?
4. Who needs to be consulted?
 Developing…
5. Who will do what?
6. Timeline for implementing the action
7. Resource needed for carrying out the action
8. How the results of the action will be
monitored?
 Developing…
Summary Recomme Who is Who Who will Timeline Resource How the
of nded responsib needs to do what? for needed results of
research action le? be implemen for the action
questions consulted ting the carrying will be
and ? action out the monitore
findings action d?
 Step 8: Taking
action/sharing/communicating your result
• Implementing the action and recording the
results of the intervention
Communicating your result
• Through formally written report
• Presentation
• Electronic dissemination
 Step 9: Reflecting on the overall
process and the Result
• It occurs before, during, and after the
research process

• The learning experience as a result of

completing your action research
 Basic steps of conducting action
research
Four Stage Nine steps
The planning stage 1. Identifying and limiting the topic
2. Learning more about the topic
3. Reviewing the related literature
4. Developing a research plan
The acting stage 5. Implementing the plan and
collecting data
6. Analyzing data
The developing stage 7. Developing an action plan

The reflection stage 8. Sharing and communicating

9. Reflection on the process
 UNIT THREE

Preparing and Presenting Action Research

Report
 Preparing and Presenting Action
Research Report
• The formats of research report include the
following:
1.Cover page: it contains title, your name, the
name of the institute to which the research
report is to be submitted
2.Second page: it contains title, your name, the
supervisor’s/ mentor’s name, the name of the
institute to which the research report is to be
submitted
 Research report…
3. Table of content: it contains main contents
with their page number.
4. Abstract : the critical summary of the major
parts of the research
5. Acknowledgements: it contains the name of
individual(s) who have contributed for a
successful completion of your research
project.
 Research report…
6. Body of the report
6.1. A background of why you conducted
the study/the significance of the problem
you are addressing
6.2. The context
6.3. Statement and origin of your research
focus
6.4. Research question
6.5. Methods
 Research report…
6.6. Outline your findings
6.7. Something you have learnt
6.8. Explain the implications
6.9. Description of the next step of this
research
7. Reflection
8.Reference
9. Appendices