1. Action Research: Getting to the Bottom of Instructional Problems
Uncovering Solutions
Through Inquiry
and Reflection
Donna H. Ziegenfuss, Ed.D.
Visiting Associate Librarian
J. Willard Marriott Library, 1705Z

2. The Agenda today is to discuss:
WHAT is action research?
WHY would you want to do action research?
HOW do you conduct action research?

3. session you will be able to:
By the end of this
session you will be able to:
List the stages of the action research (AR) process
Brainstorm an instructional problem
Map out a preliminary AR plan
Know where to gather resources for conducting AR

4. What is Action Research?
+ Practice
+ Reflection
___________
=Action Research

5. What is Action Research?
Research Practice
Schon, 1983
“IN”

6. What is Action Research?
“Action research is a form of self-reflective inquiry” Kemmis, (1983)
Informal and descriptive (usually qualitative) model of inquiry with a purpose to inform and improve practice
Fosters an understanding of an identified problem and public sharing of findings
A more systematic version of trail and error for solving real problems in context
Aligns to Schon's model of reflection-in-action (1983)

7. Characteristics of AR
It is a cyclical process that involves distinct research steps
It is participative (the researcher and subject are active participants in the research process); can also be done collaboratively
It usually involves qualitative methods
It is a reflective process
Collaborative and open

8. Susman, G.I. (1983). Action Research: A Sociotechnical systems perspective, In G. Morgan (ed.)
Beyond Method: Strategies for Social Science Research, pp. 102 London: Sage Publications

9. Muir, P. (2007). Action research in the scholarship of learning & teaching, The RMIT Journal of Teaching and Learning, v2 n

10. Step 1: Identify your Problem (Question)
How to do AR?
Step 1: Identify your Problem (Question)
Draw from your own experiences
Reflect on why this problem is important?
Research this issue
What has been done already? What learning theory or bodies of work have already been associated with this idea
Gather stakeholder perspectives
What do students say about this?
What do your peers say?

11. Step 2: Designing a Research Plan
How to do AR?
Step 2: Designing a Research Plan
Reflect on what can you do to resolve the problem?
What will you do, how will you implement your plan?
What is your best idea for solving issue?
Think of it as a recipe (step-by-step)
What data do you need to collect
What type of data will you collect?
When will you collect data, and how?

12. Step 3: Collecting & Organizing the Data
How to do AR?
Step 3: Collecting & Organizing the Data
Reflect on how the data you collected answers your question?
How will you organize data to look at your questions
Think of using a variety of data collected at different times
What data analysis strategies will you use?
What stakeholders need to be involved?
Did you consider different perspectives?

13. Step 4: Reflect On & Analyze the Data How will you analyze the data?
How to do AR?
Step 4: Reflect On & Analyze the Data
How will you analyze the data?
Develop an analysis methodology to make the process more rigorous
Set up a timeline for analysis
What tools/knowledge do you need to complete analysis
Excel or Nvivo, or Atlas.ti – support is available in the Marriott Library
Where will you store and archive data?

14. Step 5: Using the Data – Did It Work?
How to do AR?
Step 5: Using the Data – Did It Work?
How will use your findings to make new changes or adjustments?
This step is what makes action research unique – the purpose of using data and findings for improvement
How will you share your findings?
Share with peers what you learned and find outlet for you’re your findings
Reflect and look for patterns and themes that could be shared across disciplines

15. Questions? Resources & Support for Action Research
Library Action Research Resources
94853/wiki/actionresearch
Questions?