What is Action Research?

Dr. Greg Waddell Director of Institutional Improvement Mid-South Christian College

According to the experts . . .

it is . . .

a cycle

a cycle of posing questions,

a cycle of posing questions, gathering data,

a cycle of posing questions, gathering data, reflection,

a cycle of posing questions, gathering data, reflection, & deciding on a course of action.
Eileen Ferrance, "Action Research," Providence, RI: The Education Alliance, 2000, available from www.alliance.brown.edu/pubs/themes_ed/act_research.pdf

Kurt Lewin described it as a process of ...

Planning

Kurt Lewin, "Action Research & Minority Problems," Journal of Social Issues 2, no. 4 (1946): 34-46.

Kurt Lewin described it as a process of ...

Planning Action,

Kurt Lewin, "Action Research & Minority Problems," Journal of Social Issues 2, no. 4 (1946): 34-46.

Kurt Lewin described it as a process of ...

Planning Action, and Searching

Kurt Lewin, "Action Research & Minority Problems," Journal of Social Issues 2, no. 4 (1946): 34-46.

Learning Point Associates (http://www.learningpt.org/) define it as . . .

Inquiry or research in the context of focused efforts to improve the quality of an organization and its performance.

It is a cyclical process

You start out with a problem.

Problem

You design a potential solution.

Problem Design

D P

You take action on your solution.

Problem Design Action

D P

You reflect on the results.

Problem Design Action Reflection

D P R

You capture the learning.

Problem Design Action Reflection Capture

D P R C

Then, you repeat the process.

Problem Design Action Reflection Capture

D P D A

P R C C R

Again and again

P D P D P D A A A

P R C C C R R

Problem Design Action Reflection Capture

First, you need a good problem

A Good Problem is ... important

A Good Problem is ... complex

A Good Problem is ... multi-functional

A Good Problem ... asks difficult questions

A Good Problem ... demands action

A Good Problem ... resists structure

A Good Problem . . . leads to

A Good Problem . . . leads to

surprises

Action Research requires that we

REFRAME
the problem

by looking at it in different contexts

from different perspectives

as a part of a larger system

by making comparisons

by applying the problem to different groups

As You Implement the Plan . . .

Control the progress

As You Implement the Plan . . .

Control the progress Collect the data (evidence)

As You Implement the Plan . . .

Control the progress Collect the data (evidence) Present periodic reports

Another essential element of Action Research is . . .

A cycle of action and reflection is the heart of action learning.

Tom Bourner, Alan Cooper and Linda France, "Action Learning Across a University Community," Innovations in Education & Training International 37, no. 1 (2000): 2-9. available from Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed December 20, 2006).

Reflection is . . .
A process of entering into dialogue based on the data collected and [being] guided by a systemic framework to discover the root causes of the organization's problems.
Michael Beer, Russell A. Eisenstat and Burt Spector, "Why Change Programs Don't Produce Change," Harvard Business Review, November-December, 1990, 158-66; available from EBSCOhost.

What did we intend to do?

These questions are used by the U.S. Army for their After-Action Reviews. Garvin, 2000, p. 107.

What actually happened?

Why did this happen?

What are we going to do the next time?

Lastly, we need to capture the learning

Information must be captured and then made institutional--

Information must be captured and then made institutional--

Information must be captured and then made institutional--

a process that involves recording and storing the learning in a way that is accessible to others.

In a nutshell . . .
Action Research seeks to accomplish two goals:

In a nutshell . . .
Action Research seeks to accomplish two goals: 1. Stimulate Learning and

In a nutshell . . .
Action Research seeks to accomplish two goals: 1. Stimulate Learning and 2. Make a Difference.

For more information contact me at . . .

greg@envoycm.org

 Grate Dane and Chihuahua by unknown photographer (unknown to me) http://www.bloggyaward.com/pets/great-dane/ Texture water: _MG_1662bi.jpg by somadjinn http://www.morguefile.com/archive/?display=170527 & Beautiful Spider Web http://www.eglobe1.com/index.php/2006/11/12/spid er-web-after-rain/ Window photos are my own All other photos from Microsoft Clip art Office Online

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