ACTION RESEARCH

Conceptual Action research

- “Learning by doing”
- A participatory research
- Collaborative inquiry
- Action research
- Solving real problem
Purpose
-Contributes to the theory & knowledge base to enhance practice
-Supports the professional development of practitioners
-Builds a collegial networking system
-Helps practitioners identify problems & seek solutions systematically
-Can be used at all levels & in all areas of education

Action Research Characteristics

1. Problem focus
2. Action oriented
3. Cyclical process
4. Collaborative
5. Ethical
6. Experimental
7. Scientific
8. Re-educative
9. Emancipatory
10. Naturalistic
11. Normative
12. Group dynamics
13. Emphasis on change
14. Concentration on practical issues
15. Multiple data generation methods

Goals
 Overall goal should be to solve a problem
 Include collaboration
 Professional development
 Enhance professional practice

Types of action research

 Positivist approach to action research, also known as ‘classical action research’

-A new practice is tried to bring improved outcomes
-Hopes & concerns are incorporated
-Data are collected regularly to track changes
-Reflection on alternatives takes place
-Another practice is tried
-Process begins again

 Responsive action research

-Data collected to diagnose situation
-Data analyzed for themes & ideas
-Data distributed & changes to be tried announced
-New practice tried
-Reactions checked
-Data collected to diagnose
-Process begins again

Process
-Identify the problem (select an area of focus.)
-Review the related research literature.
-Collect the data.
-Organize, analyze & interpret the data.
-Take the action (apply the findings).

Planning action research

1. Write an area-of-focus statement.
2. Define the variables.
3. Develop research questions.
4. Describe the intervention or innovation.
5. Describe the action research group.
6. Describe the negotiations that need to happen.
7. Develop a timeline.
8. Develop a statement of resources.
9. Develop data collection ideas.
10. Put action plan into action.

Advantages of Action Research

 High level of practical relevance of the business research;

 Can be used with quantitative, as well as, qualitative data;
 Possibility to gain in-depth knowledge about the problem.
 Sharing practices
 Collaborative and democratic
 Can identify the problem systematically

Disadvantages of Action Research

 Difficulties in distinguishing between action and research and ensure the

application of both;
 Delays in completion of action research due to a wide range of reasons are not
rare occurrences
 Lack of repeat ability and rigour
 Lack of time
 Inevitable research bias
 Results are not generalizable