Action Research

What is action research?

‘Action research is simply a form of self-

reflective enquiry undertaken by participants
in social situations in order to improve the
rationality and justice of their own practices,
their understanding of these practices, and
the situations in which the practices are
carried out.’
(William Carr & Stephen Kemmis)
‘Good teaching is reflective, based on high-
quality information, and constantly improving.’
(Valerie Robinson & Mei Kuin Lai)
Action research in the school
environment

‘Action research is any systematic inquiry

conducted by teacher researchers... In the
teaching/ learning environment to gather
information about how their particular schools
operate, how they teach, and how well their
students learn.’
 Action Research Framework

 Develop a plan for improvement

 Implement the plan
 Observe and document the effects of the plan
 Reflect on the effects of the plan for further
planning and informed action
Models of action research
 Why undertake action research?
 Is it enough to follow the action research
cycle in your head?
 Is what you think is working sufficient grounds
to change your practice?
 Is it ethical to gamble with your students’
learning on the basis of intuition?
 Will your colleagues be convinced by what
you only think works?
 Why should you share your “secrets”?
Why action research cont…
 Improves outcomes for students
 Develops context-specific solutions to
problems (i.e. it’s relevant)
 Promotes shared understandings (moves
knowledge from tacit to explicit)
 Empowers participants (provides professional
development)
 Sustains improvements in practice (intuitive to
intentional and informed practice)
 The research plan
 Decide on an area of focus
 Refine your focus to a specific research
question
 Design the study
 Setting
 Sample
 Methodology
 Data collection techniques
 Analysis of results
 Writing it up
 Other considerations
 Research timetable
 Ethics
 Support
 Challenges
 I don’t have time
 It’s too complicated
 I don’t have support
 No-one will listen
 Desiderata for Practitioner Research
 Be prepared for disputation and vigorous debate
 Shun the veneer of politeness
 Take the time to take risks
 Be bold
 Trust and be trustworthy
 Seek for action which transforms rather than that
which reproduces
 Remember that there may be more power in critique
than in celebration
Action researchers…explorers in the
cause of understanding

Michael Leunig 1992, The Prayer Tree, Harper Collins, Sydney.

God be with those who explore in the cause of
understanding;
Whose search takes them from what is familiar and
comfortable
And leads them into danger or terrifying loneliness.
Let us try to understand their sometimes strange or
difficult ways;
Their confronting or unusual language; the uncommon
life of their emotions,
For they have been affected and shaped and changed
by their struggle
at the frontiers of a wild darkness, just as we may be
affected,
shaped and changed by the insights they bring back to
us.
Bless them with strength and peace.
AMEN