A Short Guide to Action Research 4 th Edition Andrew P. Johnson, Ph.D. Minnesota State University, Mankato

Chapter 2: Introduction to Action Research

RESEARCH IN ACTION 1. Action research is a systematic observation 2. Pre-planned, organized, and can be shared with others 3. Systematic and orderly way to observe ones teaching practice or explore a problem

define question, problem, area of interest plan data collection collect and analyze data create an action plan share findings and plan of action review the literature Action Research: recursive nonlinear

Descriptors of Action Research 1. Action research is systematic 2. You do not start with an answer 3. An action research study does not have to be complicated or elaborate to be rigorous or effective

4. Plan your study adequately before you begin to collect data 5. Action research projects vary in length 6. Observations should be regular, but they do not necessarily have to be long

7. Action research projects - continuum from simple and informal to detailed and formal 8. Action research - sometimes grounded in theory 9. Action research - not a quantitative study 10. Results of quantitative action research projects are limited

THE IMPORTANCE OF ACTION RESEARCH 1. Research used to build theories that determine best practice in education 2. Best practice used to create effective learning experiences 3.Sometimes there is a gap between research and teacher practice

basic research theories applications applied research best practice teachers The Moses Effect

basic research theories applicationsapplied research best practice Action Research Quadrant action research applications

4. Facilitates teacher empowerment 5. Professional growth and development