1. Action Research Designs
Chapter 18
Action Research Designs
Power Point Slides by Ronald J. Shope in collaboration with John W. Creswell

2. Educational Research 2e: Creswell
Key Topics
Purposes and uses of Action Research
Types of action research designs
Key characteristics of action research
Steps in conducting an action research study
Evaluating an action research study
Educational Research 2e: Creswell

3. What is action research?
Action research is systematic inquiry done by teachers (or other individuals in an educational setting) to gather information about, and subsequently improve, the ways their particular educational setting operates, how they teach, and how well their students learn (Mills, 2000).
Educational Research 2e: Creswell

4. When do you use action research?
When you have an educational problem to solve
When educators want to reflect on their own practices
When you want to address school-wide problems
When teachers want to improve their practices
When educators want to participate in a research project
Educational Research 2e: Creswell

5. Types of action research designs
Participatory
Practical
Studying local practices
Involving individual or team-
based inquiry
Focusing on teacher development and
student learning
Implementing a plan of action
Leading to the teacher-as-researcher
Studying social issues
that constrain individual lives
Emphasizing equal
collaboration
Focusing on “life-enhancing
changes”
Resulting in the emancipated
researcher
Educational Research 2e: Creswell

6. Practical Action Research
Steps are interactive:
Identify themes or research questions
Collect data & analyze data
Develop an action plan
Reflect, revise, & share findings
Educational Research 2e: Creswell

7. Participatory action research
Focuses on improving the quality of people’s organizations, communities, and family lives
In education:
Focuses on improving and empowering individuals in schools, systems of education and school communities
Educational Research 2e: Creswell

8. Participatory Action Research
Explores relationships between individual and others
Individuals conduct research on themselves
Involves non-linear approach of looking at the problem/collecting data, thinking about the issues & priorities for action, and finally acting on practical solutions
Educational Research 2e: Creswell

9. What are the steps in conducting action research?
Determine if action research is the best design to use.
Identify the problem to study
Locate resources to help address the problem
Identify the information you will need
Educational Research 2e: Creswell

10. Taxonomy of action research data collection techniques
(The Three E’s)
Examining
Experiencing
Enquiring
Using and making
records
(Through observation
and field notes)
When the researcher
asks
Archival documents
Informal Interview
Journals
Participant observation
(Active participant)
Structured formal
Interview
Maps
Audio and
Videotapes
Privileged, active
observer
Questionnaires
Attitude Scales
Artifacts
Standardized Tests
Fieldnotes
Passive observer
Educational Research 2e: Creswell

11. What are the steps in conducting action research?
Implement the data collection
Analyze the data
Develop a plan for action
Implement the plan and reflect
Educational Research 2e: Creswell

12. How do you evaluate action research?
Does the project clearly address a problem or issue in practice that needs to be solved?
Did the action researcher collect sufficient data to address the problem?
Did the action researcher collaborate with others during the study? Was there respect for all collaborators?
Educational Research 2e: Creswell

13. How do you evaluate action research?
Did the plan of action advanced by the researcher build logically from the data?
Is there evidence that the plan of action contributed to the researcher’s reflection as a professional?
Has the research enhanced the lives of the participants by empowering them, changing them, or providing them with new understanding?
Educational Research 2e: Creswell

14. How do you evaluate action research?
Did the action research actually lead to change or did a solution to a problem make the difference?
Was the action research reported to audiences who might use the information?
Educational Research 2e: Creswell