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Action Research

Describes Action Research and how it is used in education.

Action Research by Groups Involved

Action research can be very flexible in the types of questions it asks as well as who is involved in the research process. In this chart by Eileen Ferrance, you can see that the researcher can range from an individual teacher to a district-wide activity. The focus of the research discussions and approach may vary depending on the individuals or groups involved.

 

 

  Individual Teacher 
  Research

  Collaborative
  Action Research

  School-Wide Action
  Research

  District Wide Action
  Research

  Focus

 Single classroom issue

 Single classroom or
       several classrooms
       with common issue

 School issue, problem, or
      area of collective
      interest

  District issue
 Organizational Structures

Possible Support Needed

Access to technology

Assistance with data
    organization and analysis

Substitute teachers

     Release time

     Close link with
        administrators

School commitment

Leadership 

Communication

External partners

District commitment

Facilitator
Recorder
Communication

External partners

Potential Impact

Curriculum  instruction
Assessment

Curriculum instruction
Assessment

Policy

Potential  to impact
      school restructuring and
      and change

Policy

Parent involvement

Evaluation of programs

Allocation of  resources

Professional development
      activities

Organizational structures

Policy

Side Effects

  Practice informed by data

  Improved collegiality

  Formation of
        partnerships

  Improved
      collegiality,
      collaboration, and
      communication

  Team building

  Disagreements on process

  Improved collegiality,
    collaboration, and
     communication

  Team building

  Disagreements on process

(Ferrance, 2000, p. 6)

Ferrance, E. (2000) Action Research. Providence, RI. Retrieved October 6, 2018 from https://www.brown.edu/academics/education-alliance/sites/brown.edu.academics.education-alliance/files/publications/act_research.pdf

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