Appendix C

Action Research Developmental Templates

“5 Why Process” for Problem Identification

Describe a specific problem you have observed in your classroom or school:

Why does/doesn’t this happen?

Why does/doesn’t this happen?

Why does/doesn’t this happen?

Why does/doesn’t this happen?

Why does/doesn’t this happen?

Stop the “5 Why Process” when you believe you have identified the root cause of the original problem.

NOTE: These templates are also available at TeachersPayTeachers.com, called the Action Research
Mentor Portfolio. The Portfolio is available for $1.50 in my TPT Store (https://www.teacherspay
teachers.com/Store/Dr-Craig-Mertler).

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306  Action Research

Examining Background Information & Related Literature

Introduction:

Describe your overall topic, why it is important, and why you are interested in it:

List any major themes, subtopics, or trends research questions, methodologies, results and/or
conclusions:

Body:

Theme #1:

Characteristics of this theme:

Supporting literature:
 Appendix C   307

Theme #2:

Characteristics of this theme:

Supporting literature:

Theme #3:

Characteristics of this theme:

Supporting literature:
308  Action Research

Theme #4:

Characteristics of this theme:

Supporting literature:

Theme #5:

Characteristics of this theme:

Supporting literature:
 Appendix C   309

Other supporting background information (from personal experiences, etc.):

Characteristics of this theme:

Supporting literature:
310  Action Research

Developing a Research Plan

1) My potential action research 2) The purpose of my study is

topic is: to:

3) My fundamental research 4) The most appropriate type of

question(s) is/are: data for me to collect is:

 qualitative
 quantitative
 both (mixed-methods)

Why?

6) Based on my previous re-

5) The specific data that I will
sponses, my research design
collect is:
can best be described as:

REMEMBER:
ALL aspects of your research study (e.g., research questions,
research design, data collection, analyses) must be PARALLEL.
 Appendix C   311

Planning for Data Collection

2) My research question(s) is/

1) My action research topic is:
are:

4) The instrumentation needed

3) Important demographic
to answer my research
variables (if any) include:
question(s) can best be
described as:

5) The following must be

6) Other potential data collec-
considered in my data
tions concerns I have include:
collection process in order to
answer my question(s):

REMEMBER:
ALL aspects of your research study (e.g., research questions,
research design, data collection, analyses) must be PARALLEL.
312  Action Research

Planning for Data Analysis

1) My research question(s) is/are: 2) I will answer my question(s) with:

 qualitative analyses
 quantitative analyses
 both types of analyses

Qualitative analyses . . . Quantitative analyses . . .

3) I will code, organize, and analyze:

3) I will analyze my data using:
 by hand . . .
 a handheld calculator
 using notecards
 computer software
 using “sticky” notes
 other

 using computer software . . .

4) I will present my results . . . 4) I will use the following statistical

analysis techniques:
 in narrative form
 i
n narrative form, using some tables
and graphs

5. I will present my results . . .

 in narrative form
 i
n narrative form, using some tables
and graphs

REMEMBER:
ALL aspects of your research study (e.g., research questions,
research design, data collection, analyses) must be PARALLEL.
 Appendix C   313

Action Planning

1) The purpose of my study was 2) My research question(s) was/

to: were:

3) A summary of my research 4) Something I learned from my

findings include: study was:

5) Recommendations for changes 6) Recommendations for future

to my practice include: cycles of action research
include:

REMEMBER:
ALL aspects of your research study (e.g., research questions,
research design, data collection, analyses) must be PARALLEL.
314  Action Research

Professional Reflection

1) The purpose of my study was 2) I learned the following about

to . . . my initial problem . . .

3) Things I learned about my 4) Things I learned about action

professional practice are . . . research are . . .

5) Things I learned about myself 6) When I conduct action

include . . . research again, I will . . .