Action Research for School Leaders by Dr. Paul A. Rodríguez

Chapter 5 Objectives Discuss the role of research in bringing about school reform Explain the importance of he action research movement Describe what action research is & its relationship to quantitative & qualitative research Identify & describe the steps in action research Discuss how action research can support school improvement & professional development Identify action research methodologies, including surveys, case studies, interviews and classroom observations and discuss their applications to school improvement through action research Identify possible ways that action research contributes to improved practices 2

Leaders in today’s schools are faced with the pressure to improve professional practice. Action research can enhance the role of the campus leader in creating and sustaining a campus-culture that is focused on learning and ensures that learning occurs for all. Research can be classified according to one of two major categories, basic or applied, based on the goals or purposes. Basic Research  Involves an objective, experimental model that is most often used in the sciences to confirm or document natural phenomena Applied Research  Seeks to examine social and psychological events or phenomena. It is designed to provide solutions to problems that lead to greater understanding & improved practice Applied research uses two major methods to collect & analyze data:  Quantitative Research, which involves descriptive, correlational and group comparisons  Qualitative Research uses ethnography & historical methods, especially naturalistic observations & case studies. 3

Qualitative research describes phenomena in words instead of numbers or measures. Quantitative research describes phenomena in numbers and measures instead of words. Descriptive research:  Can be either based on survey or observational data and involves tallies or frequencies, numbers or measurements such as Likert scales or ratings Correlational research:  Uses statistical models to explain or interpret relationships between variables Group comparisons:  Divided into experimental and quasiexperimental  Experimental studies are conducted using a different treatment that is compared with a control group  Quasiexperimental designs involve single measurements, one group with pretest and posttest scores, interrupted time series, or a single subject 4

Qualitative research seeks to understand the problem or situation by looking at the whole, ethnographically. In qualitative research, data are gathered through naturalistic observations or case studies and include extensive notes from interviews that contribute to the context in which the research is being conducted. To strengthen the conclusions drawn from qualitative research, the action research can implement quantitative methods as well by using control groups, student pretest and posttest scores, and results from surveys. Using multiple research sources and procedures, referred to as triangulation increases the credibility of the research findings. Triangulation refers to the use of multiple independent data sources to corroborate findings. For school leaders, action research can be used as a tool for addressing renewal at the campus level and jointly identifying targets for change, studying the problem, analyzing the data and taking appropriate action 5

Three related stages of action:  Initiating action such as, adopting a text or choosing an alternative assessment strategy  Monitoring and adjusting action, such as seeing how a pilot project is proceeding, assessing the early progress of a new program, and improving current practice  Evaluating action, such as preparing a final report on a completed project What is Action Research? Action research is an enterprise of inquiry in which school leaders working in collaboration with their faculty participate in a cycle of planning, researching, analyzing, self-reflection and action. Action research then can be categorized as both basic, fundamental research and applied research. Action research can be defined as:  Systematic inquiry conducted by teachers, principals or other stakeholders that further their efforts of effecting positive changes  A collective process of defining & redefining understanding on which the organizational life is built 6

 A disciplined process of inquiry conducted by & for those taking the action  Process of systemic study by teachers for the purpose of improving classroom instruction  Practice-based professional inquiry & practical classroom problem solving in the natural language of teachers  A professional development strategy, which is central to restructuring schools Steps in Action Research Steps that leaders can use for school and student success, include:  Select area of study or focus  Collect data  Organize data  Analyze and interpret  Report data  Develop a plan of action 7

Select area of study Or focus Collect data using Existing data sources Interactive sources Observational data Organize data using Graphs & tables Charts Narratives Analyze interpret and report data Develop a plan of action School & Student Success 8

Action Research: Suggestions for School Leaders For school leaders, fads and quick fixes have often characterized the answers offered for instructional and managerial problems. But as educators know, these fads are frequently short-lived. Action research, on the other hand, provides a unique opportunity for involving school leaders in a collaborative endeavor with faculty and others to address specific school-related issues. School leaders can use the research inquiry process as a catalyst for school change by involving teachers in improving the working conditions and learning climate at their campuses. School leaders who value the research see it as a way to advance teaching and learning practices. To value research means to make it an integral part of a school mission. An important step in gaining the support of the entire faculty is a small core group of teachers forming study groups that use the results generated from research. 9

Three Sources of Data Collection  The first source, includes historical or existing data in the form of student records, student work and other specimens of student archival work  The second source, includes an interactive process that solicits input in the form of surveys, questionnaires and interviews  A third source, includes considered observational data and includes journals, videos, photographs and shadowing In Conclusion, Action Research can: Action research can guide school leaders and teachers toward systems thinking strategies for accommodating all learners in a classroom. The ultimate goal for school leaders is to create a climate of positive change for the school site and society. 10