Tomas BuenoTran Tran

Action Research

Outline:•Definition•Advantages•4 steps of Action Research• Threats to validity

Definition:Conducted by a teacher, administrator, or other education professionals --> to solve a problem at the local level.

Advantages:•Can be done by anyone, in any type of school to investigate

about any kind of problem.•Can help improve educational practice.•Can help educators identify problems systematically.•Can build up a small community of research-oriented

individuals at the local level.

4 steps in Action Research:1. Identifying the research question

2. Gathering the necessary information

3. Analyzing and interpreting the information

4. Developing an action plan

1. Identifying the research question• The people who conduct AR need to carefully examine

the situation and identify the problem.•A successful AR should be manageable and narrow in

scope.

2. Gathering the necessary information:

- Possible methodologies to consider: • Observations• Interviews and questionnaires • Analysis of documents

- Avoid collecting only anecdotal data.- Should obtain evidence from audio recording, video, written replies to

questionnaire.

3. Analyzing and interpreting the information:

- The examined data should be in relation to resolve the research question or problem.

- Participants need to work together to reflect the perceptions of all the stakeholders involved in the study and create descriptions of what the data reveal.

- Participants should give their input continuously as the study progresses.

4. Developing an action plan:- Creating a plan to implement changes based on

the findings.- Indicating clear directions for further work on

the original problem or concern.

1. Identifying the research

question

2. Gathering the

necessary information

3. Analyzing and

interpreting the

information

4. Developing an action

plan

Threats to validity:

Internal validity: Data collector bias

External validity: The generalizability