A Practical Guide in Writing Your Action Research

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Lh Goh at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

  • Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Abstract and Figures

Susman's Action Research Model (1983) Whitehead and McNiff's (2006) model consists of five disciplined and systematic steps in a research cycle known as "action-reflection" (p.8): observe -> reflect -> act -> evaluate -> modify (Figure 1 6). Observing will result in identifying a concern or problem. Reflecting is the act of thinking of a possible way forward. This is followed by acting to try out a new way. The action will be monitored through data gathering. Evaluation of the success of the action is done through reflection of what is happening. The cycle is complete with a plan to modify the action and move in new and improved directions.

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Action Research Proposal Template: A Comprehensive Guide + Free Template Download + How to Write it

Action research proposal template: a guide for real-world problem solving.

As a researcher dedicated to making a real impact in the world, I understand the importance of developing an action research proposal that goes beyond the standard academic proposal . Action research is a powerful tool for bringing about meaningful change in a specific context, and a well-crafted proposal is essential for ensuring that the research is both rigorous and relevant to the needs of the community or organization being studied. This article will provide a comprehensive guide to creating an action research proposal template, outlining the key components and considerations that set it apart from a traditional research proposal . Whether you are a student, practitioner, or academic, understanding the unique elements of an action research proposal will enable you to approach your research projects with a focus on real-world problem solving and positive change.

Action Research Proposal Template

The Effectiveness of Implementing Technology in a Mathematics Classroom

Background and Introduction:

In this section, provide a brief overview of the research problem and context. Discuss the rationale for conducting the action research and provide a clear statement of the research question or objective.

The incorporation of technology in educational settings has become increasingly prevalent in recent years. However, the effectiveness of using technology in mathematics classrooms is still a subject of debate. This action research aims to investigate the impact of implementing technology on students’ mathematical abilities and engagement in a middle school classroom.

Research Goals and Objectives:

Clearly outline the specific goals and objectives of the action research. What do you hope to achieve through this study? What are the intended outcomes?

The primary goal of this action research is to analyze the impact of technology integration on students’ mathematical performance and attitudes towards the subject. The objectives include assessing changes in students’ test scores, observing their engagement during technology-enhanced lessons, and gathering feedback from both students and teachers about their experiences with technology in the classroom.

Research Methodology:

Detail the research methodology that will be used to conduct the action research. This includes a description of the participants, data collection methods , and data analysis techniques .

The action research will be conducted in a 7th-grade mathematics classroom with a total of 30 students. Data will be collected through pre- and post-assessments, classroom observations, and student and teacher interviews. Quantitative data will be analyzed using statistical methods, while qualitative data will be subjected to thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns and themes.

Action Plan:

Provide a timeline and action plan for implementing the research. How will the data collection and analysis be carried out? What are the key milestones and deadlines?

The action research will be carried out over the course of 10 weeks. Week 1-2 will involve pre-assessments and the introduction of technology integration into the classroom. Weeks 3-8 will focus on implementing technology-enhanced lessons and collecting data through observations and student feedback. Weeks 9-10 will be dedicated to post-assessments and data analysis .

Expected Outcomes and Impact:

Discuss the anticipated outcomes of the action research and the potential impact on the educational setting. How will the findings contribute to the existing knowledge in the field?

It is expected that the findings of this action research will demonstrate the positive impact of technology integration on students’ mathematical performance and engagement. The results will provide valuable insights for educators and policymakers on the effectiveness of using technology in mathematics classrooms, potentially influencing future curriculum and instructional design decisions.

Budget and Resources:

Outline the budget and resources required to conduct the action research. This may include costs for technology equipment, data collection materials, and personnel.

The action research will require funding for the purchase of tablets or laptops for the classroom, as well as printing materials for assessments and consent forms. Additionally, there may be personnel costs for hiring a research assistant to aid in data collection and analysis.

Conclusion:

Summarize the key points of the action research proposal and reiterate the significance of the study . Emphasize the potential benefits of conducting the research and the importance of addressing the research question or objective.

References:

List all of the references cited in the action research proposal using the appropriate citation style (e.g., APA, MLA). This section demonstrates the scholarly foundation of the proposed research.

My advice on using the Action Research Proposal Template:

When using this template, be sure to customize it to fit the specific context and goals of your action research. Tailor the examples and language to your own research topic and consider seeking feedback from peers or mentors to ensure the proposal is clear and comprehensive. Pay close attention to the research methodology and action plan, as these sections will guide the implementation and data collection process. Lastly, be diligent in your budget and resource planning to ensure the successful execution of the action research.

Download free Action Research Proposal Template in Word DocX, Powerpoint PPTX, and PDF. We included Action Research Proposal Template examples as well.

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Action Research Proposal Template FAQ

1. what is an action research proposal.

An action research proposal is a document that outlines the plan for an action research project . It includes the background of the issue, the purpose of the research, the research questions , the methodology, and the expected outcomes .

2. What should be included in an action research proposal?

An action research proposal should include an introduction to the research problem, a literature review , the research questions , the methodology, the timeline for the project, the expected outcomes , and a brief discussion of how the research will be implemented and evaluated.

3. How long should an action research proposal be?

An action research proposal should typically be around 5-10 pages long, including all necessary components such as the background, literature review , methodology, and expected outcomes.

4. What is the purpose of an action research proposal?

The purpose of an action research proposal is to outline the plan for conducting an action research project, including the steps to be taken, the goals to be achieved, and the expected impact of the research.

5. Can an action research proposal be modified during the course of the research?

Yes, an action research proposal can be modified as the research progresses and new information becomes available. It is important to be flexible and willing to make changes as needed to ensure the success of the research project.

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Action Research Proposal Templates

An action research proposal is a document written to explain the problems faced in a particular field such as education or medicine and the actions that can be taken to solve those problems. Take an example of an action research proposal about the reading strategies in primary school. Writing an action research proposal is very helpful when undertaking your research. Completing this type of research proposal is made easier by using an action research proposal template because the latter explains the format one is supposed to follow.

When done thoroughly, an action research proposal can be persuasive and can increase the chances of your research is approved.

Action Research Proposal

Action Research Proposal

Action Research Proposal DOC

Action Research Proposal DOC

Action Research Proposal Word

Action Research Proposal Word

Action Research Proposal in Word

It is used to explain how the action research proposal should appear. You can find them all over the internet. However, when looking for one, ensure that you choose a site with highly specialized research proposal writing services.

Action Research Proposal in Word

Action Research Proposal Outline

It explains the format that is supposed to be used when creating an action research proposal. Different institutions use different formats, and the format you choose, therefore, depends on your institution. However, most of them follow the following format;

  • Introduction- This is the section where you indicate your problem and your motivation for doing the research. In the above example; you have to explain that many pupils in primary school face challenges when reading. However, these students need to learn to learn because failure to this will lead to low performance and self-confidence.
  • Literature review – in this section, you have to discuss the literature related to your topic or what has previously been discovered around your problem of research and why your analysis is a continuation of the same.
  • Methodology- you have to indicate all the parties that will take part in the study, how data will be collected and analyzed and the plan of action. In the above example; teachers can be right participants. Data can be obtained through interviews. They can solve the problem by motivating the students to read more and also creating an extensive reading program for the students in primary schools.
  • Conclusion – explains whether it is necessary to conduct this research.

Action Research Proposal Outline

Action Research Proposal PDF

The PDF form is entirely different from the word form. The action research template in PDF shows research that has already been carried out by another person. You can be allowed to follow the example as long as you do not copy paste.

Action Research Proposal PDF

Using an action research proposal template is very helpful. It will show the tutor and the supervisor that you have a complete understanding of the problem, related topics to the study and the actions that can be taken to solve that problem. It gives them more reason to allow you to continue to the main research.

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Linking Research to Action: A Simple Guide to Writing an Action Research Report

What Is Action Research, and Why Do We Do It?

Action research is any research into practice undertaken by those involved in that practice, with the primary goal of encouraging continued reflection and making improvement. It can be done in any professional field, including medicine, nursing, social work, psychology, and education. Action research is particularly popular in the field of education. When it comes to teaching, practitioners may be interested in trying out different teaching methods in the classroom, but are unsure of their effectiveness. Action research provides an opportunity to explore the effectiveness of a particular teaching practice, the development of a curriculum, or your students’ learning, hence making continual improvement possible. In other words, the use of an interactive action-and-research process enables practitioners to get an idea of what they and their learners really do inside of the classroom, not merely what they think they can do. By doing this, it is hoped that both the teaching and the learning occurring in the classroom can be better tailored to fit the learners’ needs.

You may be wondering how action research differs from traditional research. The term itself already suggests that it is concerned with both “action” and “research,” as well as the association between the two. Kurt Lewin (1890-1947), a famous psychologist who coined this term, believed that there was “no action without research; no research without action” (Marrow, 1969, p.163). It is certainly possible, and perhaps commonplace, for people to try to have one without the other, but the unique combination of the two is what distinguishes action research from most other forms of enquiry. Traditional research emphasizes the review of prior research, rigorous control of the research design, and generalizable and preferably statistically significant results, all of which help examine the theoretical significance of the issue. Action research, with its emphasis on the insider’s perspective and the practical significance of a current issue, may instead allow less representative sampling, looser procedures, and the presentation of raw data and statistically insignificant results.

What Should We Include in an Action Research Report?

The components put into an action research report largely coincide with the steps used in the action research process. This process usually starts with a question or an observation about a current problem. After identifying the problem area and narrowing it down to make it more manageable for research, the development process continues as you devise an action plan to investigate your question. This will involve gathering data and evidence to support your solution. Common data collection methods include observation of individual or group behavior, taking audio or video recordings, distributing questionnaires or surveys, conducting interviews, asking for peer observations and comments, taking field notes, writing journals, and studying the work samples of your own and your target participants. You may choose to use more than one of these data collection methods. After you have selected your method and are analyzing the data you have collected, you will also reflect upon your entire process of action research. You may have a better solution to your question now, due to the increase of your available evidence. You may also think about the steps you will try next, or decide that the practice needs to be observed again with modifications. If so, the whole action research process starts all over again.

In brief, action research is more like a cyclical process, with the reflection upon your action and research findings affecting changes in your practice, which may lead to extended questions and further action. This brings us back to the essential steps of action research: identifying the problem, devising an action plan, implementing the plan, and finally, observing and reflecting upon the process. Your action research report should comprise all of these essential steps. Feldman and Weiss (n.d.) summarized them as five structural elements, which do not have to be written in a particular order. Your report should:

  • Describe the context where the action research takes place. This could be, for example, the school in which you teach. Both features of the school and the population associated with it (e.g., students and parents) would be illustrated as well.
  • Contain a statement of your research focus. This would explain where your research questions come from, the problem you intend to investigate, and the goals you want to achieve. You may also mention prior research studies you have read that are related to your action research study.
  • Detail the method(s) used. This part includes the procedures you used to collect data, types of data in your report, and justification of your used strategies.
  • Highlight the research findings. This is the part in which you observe and reflect upon your practice. By analyzing the evidence you have gathered, you will come to understand whether the initial problem has been solved or not, and what research you have yet to accomplish.
  • Suggest implications. You may discuss how the findings of your research will affect your future practice, or explain any new research plans you have that have been inspired by this report’s action research.

The overall structure of your paper will actually look more or less the same as what we commonly see in traditional research papers.

What Else Do We Need to Pay Attention to?

We discussed the major differences between action research and traditional research in the beginning of this article. Due to the difference in the focus of an action research report, the language style used may not be the same as what we normally see or use in a standard research report. Although both kinds of research, both action and traditional, can be published in academic journals, action research may also be published and delivered in brief reports or on websites for a broader, non-academic audience. Instead of using the formal style of scientific research, you may find it more suitable to write in the first person and use a narrative style while documenting your details of the research process.

However, this does not forbid using an academic writing style, which undeniably enhances the credibility of a report. According to Johnson (2002), even though personal thoughts and observations are valued and recorded along the way, an action research report should not be written in a highly subjective manner. A personal, reflective writing style does not necessarily mean that descriptions are unfair or dishonest, but statements with value judgments, highly charged language, and emotional buzzwords are best avoided.

Furthermore, documenting every detail used in the process of research does not necessitate writing a lengthy report. The purpose of giving sufficient details is to let other practitioners trace your train of thought, learn from your examples, and possibly be able to duplicate your steps of research. This is why writing a clear report that does not bore or confuse your readers is essential.

Lastly, You May Ask, Why Do We Bother to Even Write an Action Research Report?

It sounds paradoxical that while practitioners tend to have a great deal of knowledge at their disposal, often they do not communicate their insights to others. Take education as an example: It is both regrettable and regressive if every teacher, no matter how professional he or she might be, only teaches in the way they were taught and fails to understand what their peer teachers know about their practice. Writing an action research report provides you with the chance to reflect upon your own practice, make substantiated claims linking research to action, and document action and ideas as they take place. The results can then be kept, both for the sake of your own future reference, and to also make the most of your insights through the act of sharing with your professional peers.

Feldman, A., & Weiss, T. (n.d.). Suggestions for writing the action research report . Retrieved from http://people.umass.edu/~afeldman/ARreadingmaterials/WritingARReport.html

Johnson, A. P. (2002). A short guide to action research . Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

Marrow, A. J. (1969). The practical theorist: The life and work of Kurt Lewin . New York, NY: Basic Books.

Tiffany Ip is a lecturer at Hong Kong Baptist University. She gained a PhD in neurolinguistics after completing her Bachelor’s degree in psychology and linguistics. She strives to utilize her knowledge to translate brain research findings into practical classroom instruction.

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Methodology

  • What Is Action Research? | Definition & Examples

What Is Action Research? | Definition & Examples

Published on January 27, 2023 by Tegan George . Revised on January 12, 2024.

Action research Cycle

Table of contents

Types of action research, action research models, examples of action research, action research vs. traditional research, advantages and disadvantages of action research, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about action research.

There are 2 common types of action research: participatory action research and practical action research.

  • Participatory action research emphasizes that participants should be members of the community being studied, empowering those directly affected by outcomes of said research. In this method, participants are effectively co-researchers, with their lived experiences considered formative to the research process.
  • Practical action research focuses more on how research is conducted and is designed to address and solve specific issues.

Both types of action research are more focused on increasing the capacity and ability of future practitioners than contributing to a theoretical body of knowledge.

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Action research is often reflected in 3 action research models: operational (sometimes called technical), collaboration, and critical reflection.

  • Operational (or technical) action research is usually visualized like a spiral following a series of steps, such as “planning → acting → observing → reflecting.”
  • Collaboration action research is more community-based, focused on building a network of similar individuals (e.g., college professors in a given geographic area) and compiling learnings from iterated feedback cycles.
  • Critical reflection action research serves to contextualize systemic processes that are already ongoing (e.g., working retroactively to analyze existing school systems by questioning why certain practices were put into place and developed the way they did).

Action research is often used in fields like education because of its iterative and flexible style.

After the information was collected, the students were asked where they thought ramps or other accessibility measures would be best utilized, and the suggestions were sent to school administrators. Example: Practical action research Science teachers at your city’s high school have been witnessing a year-over-year decline in standardized test scores in chemistry. In seeking the source of this issue, they studied how concepts are taught in depth, focusing on the methods, tools, and approaches used by each teacher.

Action research differs sharply from other types of research in that it seeks to produce actionable processes over the course of the research rather than contributing to existing knowledge or drawing conclusions from datasets. In this way, action research is formative , not summative , and is conducted in an ongoing, iterative way.

Action research Traditional research
and findings
and seeking between variables

As such, action research is different in purpose, context, and significance and is a good fit for those seeking to implement systemic change.

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Action research comes with advantages and disadvantages.

  • Action research is highly adaptable , allowing researchers to mold their analysis to their individual needs and implement practical individual-level changes.
  • Action research provides an immediate and actionable path forward for solving entrenched issues, rather than suggesting complicated, longer-term solutions rooted in complex data.
  • Done correctly, action research can be very empowering , informing social change and allowing participants to effect that change in ways meaningful to their communities.

Disadvantages

  • Due to their flexibility, action research studies are plagued by very limited generalizability  and are very difficult to replicate . They are often not considered theoretically rigorous due to the power the researcher holds in drawing conclusions.
  • Action research can be complicated to structure in an ethical manner . Participants may feel pressured to participate or to participate in a certain way.
  • Action research is at high risk for research biases such as selection bias , social desirability bias , or other types of cognitive biases .

If you want to know more about statistics , methodology , or research bias , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

  • Normal distribution
  • Degrees of freedom
  • Null hypothesis
  • Discourse analysis
  • Control groups
  • Mixed methods research
  • Non-probability sampling
  • Quantitative research
  • Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Research bias

  • Rosenthal effect
  • Implicit bias
  • Cognitive bias
  • Selection bias
  • Negativity bias
  • Status quo bias

Action research is conducted in order to solve a particular issue immediately, while case studies are often conducted over a longer period of time and focus more on observing and analyzing a particular ongoing phenomenon.

Action research is focused on solving a problem or informing individual and community-based knowledge in a way that impacts teaching, learning, and other related processes. It is less focused on contributing theoretical input, instead producing actionable input.

Action research is particularly popular with educators as a form of systematic inquiry because it prioritizes reflection and bridges the gap between theory and practice. Educators are able to simultaneously investigate an issue as they solve it, and the method is very iterative and flexible.

A cycle of inquiry is another name for action research . It is usually visualized in a spiral shape following a series of steps, such as “planning → acting → observing → reflecting.”

Sources in this article

We strongly encourage students to use sources in their work. You can cite our article (APA Style) or take a deep dive into the articles below.

George, T. (2024, January 12). What Is Action Research? | Definition & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved August 21, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/action-research/
Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2017). Research methods in education (8th edition). Routledge.
Naughton, G. M. (2001).  Action research (1st edition). Routledge.

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Action research is a qualitative method that focuses on solving problems in social systems, such as schools and other organizations. The emphasis is on solving the presenting problem by generating knowledge and taking action within the social system in which the problem is located. The goal is to generate shared knowledge of how to address the problem by bridging the theory-practice gap (Bourner & Brook, 2019). A general definition of action research is the following: “Action research brings together action and reflection, as well as theory and practice, in participation with others, in the pursuit of practical solutions to issues of pressing concern” (Bradbury, 2015, p. 1). Johnson (2019) defines action research in the field of education as “the process of studying a school, classroom, or teacher-learning situation with the purpose of understanding and improving the quality of actions or instruction” (p.255).

Origins of Action Research

Kurt Lewin is typically credited with being the primary developer of Action Research in the 1940s. Lewin stated that action research can “transform…unrelated individuals, frequently opposed in their outlook and their interests, into cooperative teams, not on the basis of sweetness but on the basis of readiness to face difficulties realistically, to apply honest fact-finding, and to work together to overcome them” (1946, p.211).

Sample Action Research Topics

Some sample action research topics might be the following:

  • Examining how classroom teachers perceive and implement new strategies in the classroom--How is the strategy being used? How do students respond to the strategy? How does the strategy inform and change classroom practices? Does the new skill improve test scores? Do classroom teachers perceive the strategy as effective for student learning?
  • Examining how students are learning a particular content or objectives--What seems to be effective in enhancing student learning? What skills need to be reinforced? How do students respond to the new content? What is the ability of students to understand the new content?
  • Examining how education stakeholders (administrator, parents, teachers, students, etc.) make decisions as members of the school’s improvement team--How are different stakeholders encouraged to participate? How is power distributed? How is equity demonstrated? How is each voice valued? How are priorities and initiatives determined? How does the team evaluate its processes to determine effectiveness?
  • Examining the actions that school staff take to create an inclusive and welcoming school climate--Who makes and implements the actions taken to create the school climate? Do members of the school community (teachers, staff, students) view the school climate as inclusive? Do members of the school community feel welcome in the school? How are members of the school community encouraged to become involved in school activities? What actions can school staff take to help others feel a part of the school community?
  • Examining the perceptions of teachers with regard to the learning strategies that are more effective with special populations, such as special education students, English Language Learners, etc.—What strategies are perceived to be more effective? How do teachers plan instructionally for unique learners such as special education students or English Language Learners? How do teachers deal with the challenges presented by unique learners such as special education students or English Language Learners? What supports do teachers need (e.g., professional development, training, coaching) to more effectively deliver instruction to unique learners such as special education students or English Language Learners?

Remember—The goal of action research is to find out how individuals perceive and act in a situation so the researcher can develop a plan of action to improve the educational organization. While these topics listed here can be explored using other research designs, action research is the design to use if the outcome is to develop a plan of action for addressing and improving upon a situation in the educational organization.

Considerations for Determining Whether to Use Action Research in an Applied Dissertation

  • When considering action research, first determine the problem and the change that needs to occur as a result of addressing the problem (i.e., research problem and research purpose). Remember, the goal of action research is to change how individuals address a particular problem or situation in a way that results in improved practices.
  • If the study will be conducted at a school site or educational organization, you may need site permission. Determine whether site permission will be given to conduct the study.
  • Consider the individuals who will be part of the data collection (e.g., teachers, administrators, parents, other school staff, etc.). Will there be a representative sample willing to participate in the research?
  • If students will be part of the study, does parent consent and student assent need to be obtained?
  • As you develop your data collection plan, also consider the timeline for data collection. Is it feasible? For example, if you will be collecting data in a school, consider winter and summer breaks, school events, testing schedules, etc.
  • As you develop your data collection plan, consult with your dissertation chair, Subject Matter Expert, NU Academic Success Center, and the NU IRB for resources and guidance.
  • Action research is not an experimental design, so you are not trying to accept or reject a hypothesis. There are no independent or dependent variables. It is not generalizable to a larger setting. The goal is to understand what is occurring in the educational setting so that a plan of action can be developed for improved practices.

Considerations for Action Research

Below are some things to consider when developing your applied dissertation proposal using Action Research (adapted from Johnson, 2019):

  • Research Topic and Research Problem -- Decide the topic to be studied and then identify the problem by defining the issue in the learning environment. Use references from current peer-reviewed literature for support.
  • Purpose of the Study —What need to be different or improved as a result of the study?
  • Research Questions —The questions developed should focus on “how” or “what” and explore individuals’ experiences, beliefs, and perceptions.
  • Theoretical Framework -- What are the existing theories (theoretical framework) or concepts (conceptual framework) that can be used to support the research. How does existing theory link to what is happening in the educational environment with regard to the topic? What theories have been used to support similar topics in previous research?
  • Literature Review -- Examine the literature, focusing on peer-reviewed studies published in journal within the last five years, with the exception of seminal works. What about the topic has already been explored and examined? What were the findings, implications, and limitations of previous research? What is missing from the literature on the topic?  How will your proposed research address the gap in the literature?
  • Data Collection —Who will be part of the sample for data collection? What data will be collected from the individuals in the study (e.g., semi-structured interviews, surveys, etc.)? What are the educational artifacts and documents that need to be collected (e.g., teacher less plans, student portfolios, student grades, etc.)? How will they be collected and during what timeframe? (Note--A list of sample data collection methods appears under the heading of “Sample Instrumentation.”)
  • Data Analysis —Determine how the data will be analyzed. Some types of analyses that are frequently used for action research include thematic analysis and content analysis.
  • Implications —What conclusions can be drawn based upon the findings? How do the findings relate to the existing literature and inform theory in the field of education?
  • Recommendations for Practice--Create a Plan of Action— This is a critical step in action research. A plan of action is created based upon the data analysis, findings, and implications. In the Applied Dissertation, this Plan of Action is included with the Recommendations for Practice. The includes specific steps that individuals should take to change practices; recommendations for how those changes will occur (e.g., professional development, training, school improvement planning, committees to develop guidelines and policies, curriculum review committee, etc.); and methods to evaluate the plan’s effectiveness.
  • Recommendations for Research —What should future research focus on? What type of studies need to be conducted to build upon or further explore your findings.
  • Professional Presentation or Defense —This is where the findings will be presented in a professional presentation or defense as the culmination of your research.

Adapted from Johnson (2019).

Considerations for Sampling and Data Collection

Below are some tips for sampling, sample size, data collection, and instrumentation for Action Research:

Sampling and Sample Size

Action research uses non-probability sampling. This is most commonly means a purposive sampling method that includes specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. However, convenience sampling can also be used (e.g., a teacher’s classroom).

Critical Concepts in Data Collection

Triangulation- - Dosemagen and Schwalbach (2019) discussed the importance of triangulation in Action Research which enhances the trustworthiness by providing multiple sources of data to analyze and confirm evidence for findings.

Trustworthiness —Trustworthiness assures that research findings are fulfill four critical elements—credibility, dependability, transferability, and confirmability. Reflect on the following: Are there multiple sources of data? How have you ensured credibility, dependability, transferability, and confirmability? Have the assumptions, limitations, and delimitations of the study been identified and explained? Was the sample a representative sample for the study? Did any individuals leave the study before it ended? How have you controlled researcher biases and beliefs? Are you drawing conclusions that are not supported by data? Have all possible themes been considered? Have you identified other studies with similar results?

Sample Instrumentation

Below are some of the possible methods for collecting action research data:

  • Pre- and Post-Surveys for students and/or staff
  • Staff Perception Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Semi-Structured Interviews
  • Focus Groups
  • Observations
  • Document analysis
  • Student work samples
  • Classroom artifacts, such as teacher lesson plans, rubrics, checklists, etc.
  • Attendance records
  • Discipline data
  • Journals from students and/or staff
  • Portfolios from students and/or staff

A benefit of Action Research is its potential to influence educational practice. Many educators are, by nature of the profession, reflective, inquisitive, and action-oriented. The ultimate outcome of Action Research is to create a plan of action using the research findings to inform future educational practice. A Plan of Action is not meant to be a one-size fits all plan. Instead, it is mean to include specific data-driven and research-based recommendations that result from a detailed analysis of the data, the study findings, and implications of the Action Research study. An effective Plan of Action includes an evaluation component and opportunities for professional educator reflection that allows for authentic discussion aimed at continuous improvement.

When developing a Plan of Action, the following should be considered:

  • How can this situation be approached differently in the future?
  • What should change in terms of practice?
  • What are the specific steps that individuals should take to change practices?
  • What is needed to implement the changes being recommended (professional development, training, materials, resources, planning committees, school improvement planning, etc.)?
  • How will the effectiveness of the implemented changes be evaluated?
  • How will opportunities for professional educator reflection be built into the Action Plan?

Sample Action Research Studies

Anderson, A. J. (2020). A qualitative systematic review of youth participatory action research implementation in U.S. high schools. A merican Journal of Community Psychology, 65 (1/2), 242–257. https://onlinelibrary-wiley-com.proxy1.ncu.edu/doi/epdf/10.1002/ajcp.12389

Ayvaz, Ü., & Durmuş, S.(2021). Fostering mathematical creativity with problem posing activities: An action research with gifted students. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 40. https://proxy1.ncu.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edselp&AN=S1871187121000614&site=eds-live

Bellino, M. J. (2018). Closing information gaps in Kakuma Refugee Camp: A youth participatory action research study. American Journal of Community Psychology, 62 (3/4), 492–507. https://proxy1.ncu.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ofs&AN=133626988&site=eds-live

Beneyto, M., Castillo, J., Collet-Sabé, J., & Tort, A. (2019). Can schools become an inclusive space shared by all families? Learnings and debates from an action research project in Catalonia. Educational Action Research, 27 (2), 210–226. https://proxy1.ncu.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=135671904&site=eds-live

Bilican, K., Senler, B., & Karısan, D. (2021). Fostering teacher educators’ professional development through collaborative action research. International Journal of Progressive Education, 17 (2), 459–472. https://proxy1.ncu.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=149828364&site=eds-live

Black, G. L. (2021). Implementing action research in a teacher preparation program: Opportunities and limitations. Canadian Journal of Action Research, 21 (2), 47–71. https://proxy1.ncu.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=149682611&site=eds-live

Bozkuş, K., & Bayrak, C. (2019). The Application of the dynamic teacher professional development through experimental action research. International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education, 11 (4), 335–352. https://proxy1.ncu.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=135580911&site=eds-live

Christ, T. W. (2018). Mixed methods action research in special education: An overview of a grant-funded model demonstration project. Research in the Schools, 25( 2), 77–88. https://proxy1.ncu.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=135047248&site=eds-live

Jakhelln, R., & Pörn, M. (2019). Challenges in supporting and assessing bachelor’s theses based on action research in initial teacher education. Educational Action Research, 27 (5), 726–741. https://proxy1.ncu.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=140234116&site=eds-live

Klima Ronen, I. (2020). Action research as a methodology for professional development in leading an educational process. Studies in Educational Evaluation, 64 . https://proxy1.ncu.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edselp&AN=S0191491X19302159&site=eds-live

Messiou, K. (2019). Collaborative action research: facilitating inclusion in schools. Educational Action Research, 27 (2), 197–209. https://proxy1.ncu.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=135671898&site=eds-live

Mitchell, D. E. (2018). Say it loud: An action research project examining the afrivisual and africology, Looking for alternative African American community college teaching strategies. Journal of Pan African Studies, 12 (4), 364–487. https://proxy1.ncu.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ofs&AN=133155045&site=eds-live

Pentón Herrera, L. J. (2018). Action research as a tool for professional development in the K-12 ELT classroom. TESL Canada Journal, 35 (2), 128–139. https://proxy1.ncu.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ofs&AN=135033158&site=eds-live

Rodriguez, R., Macias, R. L., Perez-Garcia, R., Landeros, G., & Martinez, A. (2018). Action research at the intersection of structural and family violence in an immigrant Latino community: a youth-led study. Journal of Family Violence, 33 (8), 587–596. https://proxy1.ncu.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=132323375&site=eds-live

Vaughan, M., Boerum, C., & Whitehead, L. (2019). Action research in doctoral coursework: Perceptions of independent research experiences. International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 13 . https://proxy1.ncu.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsdoj&AN=edsdoj.17aa0c2976c44a0991e69b2a7b4f321&site=eds-live

Sample Journals for Action Research

Educational Action Research

Canadian Journal of Action Research

Sample Resource Videos

Call-Cummings, M. (2017). Researching racism in schools using participatory action research [Video]. Sage Research Methods  http://proxy1.ncu.edu/login?URL=https://methods.sagepub.com/video/researching-racism-in-schools-using-participatory-action-research

Fine, M. (2016). Michelle Fine discusses community based participatory action research [Video]. Sage Knowledge. http://proxy1.ncu.edu/login?URL=https://sk-sagepub-com.proxy1.ncu.edu/video/michelle-fine-discusses-community-based-participatory-action-research

Getz, C., Yamamura, E., & Tillapaugh. (2017). Action Research in Education. [Video]. You Tube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2tso4klYu8

Bradbury, H. (Ed.). (2015). The handbook of action research (3rd edition). Sage.

Bradbury, H., Lewis, R. & Embury, D.C. (2019). Education action research: With and for the next generation. In C.A. Mertler (Ed.), The Wiley handbook of action research in education (1st edition). John Wiley and Sons. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/nu/reader.action?docID=5683581&ppg=205

Bourner, T., & Brook, C. (2019). Comparing and contrasting action research and action learning. In C.A. Mertler (Ed.), The Wiley handbook of action research in education (1st edition). John Wiley and Sons. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/nu/reader.action?docID=5683581&ppg=205

Bradbury, H. (2015). The Sage handbook of action research . Sage. https://www-doi-org.proxy1.ncu.edu/10.4135/9781473921290

Dosemagen, D.M. & Schwalback, E.M. (2019). Legitimacy of and value in action research. In C.A. Mertler (Ed.), The Wiley handbook of action research in education (1st edition). John Wiley and Sons. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/nu/reader.action?docID=5683581&ppg=205

Johnson, A. (2019). Action research for teacher professional development. In C.A. Mertler (Ed.), The Wiley handbook of action research in education (1st edition). John Wiley and Sons. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/nu/reader.action?docID=5683581&ppg=205

Lewin, K. (1946). Action research and minority problems. In G.W. Lewin (Ed.), Resolving social conflicts: Selected papers on group dynamics (compiled in 1948). Harper and Row.

Mertler, C. A. (Ed.). (2019). The Wiley handbook of action research in education. John Wiley and Sons. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/nu/detail.action?docID=5683581

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Neag School of Education

Educational Research Basics by Del Siegle

Action research.

An Introduction to Action Research Jeanne H. Purcell, Ph.D.

 Your Options

  • Review Related Literature
  • Examine the Impact of an Experimental Treatment
  • Monitor Change
  • Identify Present Practices
  • Describe Beliefs and Attitudes

Action Research Is…

  • Action research is a three-step spiral process of (1) planning which involves fact-finding, (2) taking action, and (3) fact-finding about the results of the action. (Lewin, 1947)
  • Action research is a process by which practitioners attempt to study their problems scientifically in order to guide, correct, and evaluate their decisions and action. (Corey, 1953).
  • Action research in education is study conducted by colleagues in a school setting of the results of their activities to improve instruction. (Glickman, 1990)
  • Action research is a fancy way of saying Let’s study what s happening at our school and decide how to make it a better place. (Calhoun,1994)

Conditions That Support Action Research

  • A faculty where a majority of teachers wish to improve some aspect (s) of education in their school.
  • Common agreement about how collective decisions will be made and implemented.
  • A team that is willing to lead the initiative.
  • Study groups that meet regularly.
  • A basic knowledge of the action research cycle and the rationale for its use.
  • Someone to provide technical assistance and/or support.

The Action Research Cycle

  • Identify an area of interest/problem.
  • Identify data to be collected, the format for the results, and a timeline.
  • Collect and organize the data.
  • Analyze and interpret the data.
  • Decide upon the action to be taken.
  • Evaluate the success of the action.

Collecting Data: Sources

Existing Sources

  • Attendance at PTO meetings
  • + and – parent communications
  • Office referrals
  • Special program enrollment
  • Standardized scores

Inventive Sources

  • Interviews with parents
  • Library use, by grade, class
  • Minutes of meetings
  • Nature and amount of in-school assistance related to the innovation
  • Number of books read
  • Observation journals
  • Record of peer observations
  • Student journals
  • Teacher journals
  • Videotapes of students: whole class instruction
  • Videotapes of students: Differentiated instruction
  • Writing samples

Collecting Data: From Whom?

  • From everyone when we are concerned about each student’s performance.
  • From a sample when we need to increase our understanding while limiting our expenditure of time and energy; more in-depth interviews or observations may follow.

Collecting Data: How Often?

  • At regular intervals
  • At critical points

Collecting Data: Guidelines

  • Use both existing and inventive data sources.
  • Use multiple data sources.
  • Collect data regularly.
  • Seek help, if necessary.

Organizing Data

  • Keep it simple.
  • Disaggregate numbers from interviews and other qualitative types of data.
  • Plan plenty of time to look over and organize the data.
  • Seek technical assistance if needed.

Analyzing Data

  • What important points do they data reveal?
  • What patterns/trends do you note? What might be some possible explanations?
  • Do the data vary by sources? Why might the variations exist?
  • Are there any results that are different from what you expected? What might be some hypotheses to explain the difference (s)?
  • What actions appear to be indicated?

Taking Action

  • Do the data warrant action?
  • What might se some short-term actions?
  • What might be some long-term actions?
  • How will we know if our actions have been effective?
  • What benchmarks might we expect to see along the way to effectiveness ?

Action Plans

  • Target date
  • Responsibility
  • Evidence of Effectiveness

Action Research Handout

Bibliography

Brubacher, J. W., Case, C. W., & Reagan, T. G. (1994). Becoming a reflective educator . Thousand Oaks: CA: Corwin Press.

Burnaford, G., Fischer, J., & Hobson, D. (1996). Teachers doing research . Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

Calhoun, Emily (1994). How to use action research in the self-renewing school . Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

Corey, S. M. (1953). Action research to improve school practices . New York: Teachers College Press.

Glickman, C. D. (1990). Supervision of instruction: A developmental approach . Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

Hubbard, R. S. & Power, B. M. (1993). The art of classroom inquiry . Portsmouth, NH: Heineman.

Lewin, K. (1947). Group decisions and social change. In Readings in social psychology . (Eds. T M. Newcomb and E. L. Hartley). New York: Henry Holt.

Library Homepage

Research Methods and Design

  • Action Research
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  • Qualitative Research Methods
  • Mixed Methods Study
  • Indigenous Research and Ethics This link opens in a new window
  • Identifying Empirical Research Articles This link opens in a new window
  • Research Ethics and Quality
  • Data Literacy
  • Get Help with Writing Assignments

Action research

A type of applied research designed to find the most effective way to bring about a desired social change or to solve a practical problem, usually in collaboration with those being researched.

SAGE Research Methods Videos

How do you define action research.

Professor David Coghlan explains action research as an approach that crosses many academic disciplines yet has a shared focus on taking action to address a problem. He describes the difference between this approach and empirical scientific approaches, particularly highlighting the challenge of getting action research to be taken seriously by academic journals

Dr. Nataliya Ivankova defines action research as using systematic research principles to address an issue in everyday life. She delineates the six steps of action research, and illustrates the concept using an anti-diabetes project in an urban area.

This is just one segment in a whole series about action research. You can find the rest of the series in our SAGE database, Research Methods:

Videos

Videos covering research methods and statistics

Further Reading

Cover Art

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Action Research Tutorials-CCAR

Action research tutorials, action research tutorials  workbook.

Many of the activities described in the twelve tutorials have template pages linked to them.  These templates are stored in a google drive folder both as doc files with public access. You can download and modify any of them for use in your course or with those you are supporting, or for your own use. An Action Research Workbook with all of the templates can also be downloaded in both pdf (print) or doc (for an online workbook).  This can be used as either a printed workbook or downloaded to use as a computer workbook as you move through the tutorials. 

Instructions: The workbook and all of the individual activity templates can be downloaded and personalized to fit your teaching as long as they are not part of a commercial product. Graphics are creative commons graphics, purchased, graphics designed by us or designed by others, and are being used for educative purposes with citation.  

If someone forgets to download the file and instead edits the template with added content, please let me know ( [email protected] ), and I will replace the file with the template version.

Please visit the  Google Drive Folder  to download any of the 26 activity templates and title page as separate document files or all files in the Action Research Workbook  pdf (for easy printing) or textfile  doc   to download and use as an online document.

       

action research paper template

Link here for 

Action Research Tutorials Workbook) 

(Size 8.9 MB, Pdf file,  36 pages uploaded  November  2022 )

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Action Research Writing Template

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Related Papers

Charles Vanover

action research paper template

All too often education research focuses on academic disparities with under-served student populations. Frequently, both remedial and introductory college-level mathematics courses are cited as gatekeepers or insurmountable barriers for adult low-socioeconomic status (LSES) students. There has been a call from within the mathematics education community for less gap-gazing at disparities and more studies of success within marginalized groups. Many previously unsuccessful, under-prepared, under-served, and under-supported students persist and eventually succeed. In addition, there is a lack of research through the lens of the community college as a unique educational context, distinct from both K-12 and the four year colleges and universities. The goal of this hermeneutical phenomenological study is to describe and interpret the lived experienced of previously unsuccessful LSES students who became successful. Ten students told their stories during unstructured phenomenological interviews. Upon analysis of the interview transcripts, themes appeared consistent with the patterns of the inward and outward journeys found in the Hero’s Journey or monomyth narrative structure. The stages of the monomyth as described in the work of Campbell (2008) are rooted in the universal human themes of the transformational quest. Six meta-themes appeared through the textual analysis of the interview transcripts; 1) the call of a better life that requires education, 2) connections with mentors and allies through authentic relationships, 3) the cultural border crossing at the threshold to higher education, 4) perspective transformations taking place as tests presented by an array of threshold guardians are passed, 5) increasing resilience through taking ownership and increasing networks of connections as the labyrinth of higher education was navigated, 6) after seizing the magic elixir of education the desire to pay it forward. Their stories reveal a perspective transformation as described in Mezirow’s (1981) transformative learning theory. These stories of transformational learning as experienced by previously unsuccessful LSES community college students provide essential insights as to how we might foster positive learning transformations, and more importantly, avoid being the source of needless obstacles for our students. These findings present a narrative counter to the current deafening drumbeat of the anti-developmental education, completion and acceleration agendas.

Reflective Practice

Burcu Ates , Yurimi Grigsby

Due to increasing globalization and immigration, there has been an increase in the culturally and linguistically diverse student population in the public school system. Educating teacher candidates to become culturally aware, sensitive and competent in order to meet the needs of this diverse population has been a concern of teacher education programs. The purpose of this study was to explore the potential usefulness of cultural narratives in teacher education classrooms and determine how they could be used as an instructional strategy to positively influence the pre- and in-service teachers’ growing knowledge and application of teaching culturally and linguistically diverse students with the views of the three TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) teacher educators. Using the collaborative narrative inquiry, three TESOL educators, who are from linguistically, racially and culturally different backgrounds, academic settings and locations, analyzed the personal cultural narratives of one TESOL educator. We believe that cultural narratives have great potential as an instructional strategy in educating teacher candidates on issues related to language, culture, identity and diversity.

Kathmandu University School of Education

Niroj Dahal

My inquiry portrayed the existing classroom practices in mathematics pedagogy on understanding and uses of questioning by mathematics teachers. For this, narrative inquiry approach has been used to focus on experiences of six mathematics teachers working in schools in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, by using criterion-based selection strategy to choose my participants to be involved in this research (Roulston, 2010). It aims to examine the complexities of experiences by gaining insight into how understanding and uses of questioning in mathematics classroom are embedded in mathematics teachers’ multiple and uniquely situated experiences, and in doing so, this inquiry views from various theoretical lens, namely, sociological perspectives, behaviorists to constructivists approaches, categories of questioning as per expertise, critical pedagogical perspectives and algorithmic and daily life practices, for analysis how interlock to create unequal power relations in mathematics classroom exist while questioning from teachers' view. With those issues in mind, this study was designed to explore the following research question: How do teachers narrate their experience of understanding and usage of questioning in relation to mathematics pedagogy? Subscribing to a narrative inquiry for meaning-making, my study foregrounds the six mathematics teachers voices and experiences, power relationship about whose experiences are valued and whose voice can be heard in their mathematics classroom while questioning the students. In keeping with narrative inquiry approaches, I use a more personal voice to reflect on mathematics teachers' understanding and uses of questioning which is an ethical challenge involved in the research process, namely: Issues of representation, as well as struggles relating to voice, is at the core of the study and reflexively considered throughout. Near to final, in conclusion of my study, the majority of the mathematics teachers seem to be conformist mathematics teacher at the beginning of their teaching career but later on, they were nonconformist by being flexible enough in questioning. Further, the majority of my research participants asked more questions within the simple to complex level and highly focusing on simple (low level) questioning, claiming to encourage students in mathematical discussion. Finally, it attempts to be an example of ethical and respectful research and claims to increase understanding of how mathematics teacher understanding and uses of questioning in the mathematics classrooms in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.

Assessment of student learning for qualifications has long been contentious, particularly the reliability and validity of various assessment methods and the impact of assessment on the nature of student learning. There is, for example, controversy about norm-referencing versus standards-based assessment of student learning with different stakeholders holding different political agenda. In this study these issues are investigated by research into a recently implemented qualification for secondary school students in New Zealand - the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA). Proponents of NCEA suggest this regime acknowledges a wider range of student achievements than previous qualifications. Opponents of NCEA lament the &#39;fragmented&#39;, &#39;atomistic&#39; approach to learning, and the lack of incentive for students to compete and strive for excellence. While other New Zealand research reports on national trends in the way school programmes are responding to the ch...

Kimberly Lenters

English Scholarship Beyond Borders, Volume 5, Issue 1

Roger C Nunn

Roger Nunn Department of Writing Studies American University of Sharjah In editing this fifth edition of English Scholarship Beyond Borders, I feel privileged to be able to present what I believe is a landmark issue for our journal. When I look back on the many issues I have edited for several journals, I cannot remember editing so many papers in one issue that not only claim to be breaking new ground. They actually do so, and each one in a very different way. These are not papers by authors playing the publish or perish game. They all contribute ideas, research and practices that can inspire beneficial change. In our first paper, Adamson et al. adopt an approach that is both novel and insightful; “a collaborative autoethnography” that examines the publication experiences of a varied group of Japan-based scholars. I believe this approach could be translated easily to other contexts, but each author already has a different profile and unique, relatable and shareable experience. The study is ground-breaking in that it creates a collaborative and supportive environment that allows the co-authors to reveal real experience in a systematic and productive way. At the same time, by focusing on lived-experience, it presents real insights into publication practices that we can all both learn from and empathize with. This study reflects a long-term collaboration in a very diverse group of scholars. A different type of long-term collaboration is reported in Unger and Olifer. When a linguistic and a mathematician work so closely together, previous views of both language and learning are challenged. They point out that mathematics is also a ‘language’ and that maths, visual representation and word-based languages all contribute to our understanding of meaning creation. Unger and Olifer make excellent use of a theory that arguably has not received the recognition it deserves, Tomasello’s usage-based theory of language acquisition. They also take us across theoretical borders in that they provide a kind of interpretive comparison between usage-based theory and other alternative theories. It may be the norm to stay within one school of thought. However, I have believed for some time that a holistic approach to research would require us to cross beyond one narrow theoretical area into another, based on the assumption that valid theories of acquisition can be expected to reach comparable conclusions through different means. Unger and Olifer help us move between and across theories. This paper is both detailed in its analysis of data and original in its approach to interpreting the data, data which is made available to the researcher interested in counter analysis. Tanju Deveci, a specialist in both ESL and lifelong learning, considers literacy development from the angle of students’ perceptions in our third contribution. Using his specialized knowledge of lifelong learning, he is able to present a persuasive argument in favour of home learning. As former students, fellow sufferers, do we not all tend to lend a negative connotation to ‘homework’? When we became teachers, what did we do about this? On the other hand, ‘home learning’ is self-motivated and we can understand how the students in this sample view home learning as something positive. The key appears to be that it stands more chance of meeting real learning needs of students. Homework is a punishment for the innocent, home learning is life enhancing. A simple message perhaps, but potentially so powerful that it can transform the way we help students learn. Msukisi Howard Kepe takes us across the border into yet another world in his study on translanguaging in a South African school. This study shows us again that any concept must take on a new shades of meaning whenever it is reapplied to a new context. English is characterized as an additional language, not as a foreign language, in this context. Kepe’s study shows us how translingualism is a reality that cannot be ignored. It should be exploited as a benefit rather than as a deficit. While this study has a very specific geographical location, the kind of impasse in language policy it describes is by no means unique in a world that is still having difficulty throwing off its colonial heritage. Kepe is an enthusiastic and energetic presenter and teacher and his proposed solutions to this impasse often refer to a passion for teaching in contexts that could easily demotivate. Overall a fascinating glimpse into the real world of South Africa. We can only admire the courage of the teacher-researchers who engage in the search for solutions to inherited problems. I hope by now you will have agreed that I did not exaggerate when claiming this was a very special journal issue for an organization that aims or even claims to cross borders of all types without losing track of specific local issues. We have not quite finished yet in this argument. In a final paper, Ahmet Acar, in the Turkish context, takes a critical look at the Common European Framework both in itself and in the way it is being applied in the Turkish education system. He proposes an action-oriented, project-based approach, contrasting this with a task-based or communicative approach. He adopts Puren’s theories from a Francophone perspective in contrast to dominant Anglophone communicative paradigms. In this way, as the host of our next 2020 conference, Acar takes us into a literature many of us never access. He announces a new gateway to research in his own context and paves the way for interesting cross border discussions, debates and challenges between and beyond anglophone and non-anglophone worlds. All of these papers deserve a careful reading given the time and effort that went into their creation of truly new knowledge. The non-blind review I personally observed between three of the researchers, Adamson, Kepe and Deveci, generated many hundreds of exchanges on google-docs, regularly announced in my own inbox throughout the non-blind review process. As a long term end of career editor, I doubt if there has even been a more creative, thorough interactive review process. The interactive data between three researchers from very different worlds embodies what ESBB attempts to achieve. It is available for a follow up to ESBB study into non-blind review. Could it be not only more transparent and interactive but also more demanding and rigorous than blind review? A question for future investigation.

Amanda Gulla

This article discusses the importance of teacher candidates writing poetry in their education methods classes in order to reflect upon and examine their beliefs about teaching and learning. Writing poetry in a teacher education context is also important because it prepares teachers to use these techniques with their own students. By writing poetry in the context of academic study, learners can see metaphorical connections between events and ideas. This stands in contrast to the idea put forth in the Common Core Standards that college and career readiness is best developed through reading and writing informational and argumentative texts.

Terry Loerts

Enacting self-study as methodology for professional inquiry captures our individual and collective quests to deepen our understanding of the complex practices of teaching about teaching. Self-study methodology has transcended political and cultural boundaries to enhance understanding of “other”, crossed table and coffee conversations to deepen appreciation within institutions, supported teachers transitioning from classrooms to university, sustained mid-career academics to achieve new appreciation for the complexity of their roles, and enthused experienced academics to reflect on their expertise and question anew what it is to be a self-studying professional. In this edited collection, the Self-Study of Teacher Education Practices (S-STEP) community share how they have explored and probed their own understanding of how they might better teach student teachers to teach. The chapters are loosely grouped around the themes of enactment, discovery, inclusivity, and application. Enacting self-study as methodology for professional inquiry is a text written by international scholars to enhance the conversations and understandings associated with this methodology and to support the 11th International Conference on Self-Study of Teacher Education Practices held at Herstmonceux Castle, East Sussex, England in July-August 2016.​

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21 Action Research Examples (In Education)

21 Action Research Examples (In Education)

Dave Cornell (PhD)

Dr. Cornell has worked in education for more than 20 years. His work has involved designing teacher certification for Trinity College in London and in-service training for state governments in the United States. He has trained kindergarten teachers in 8 countries and helped businessmen and women open baby centers and kindergartens in 3 countries.

Learn about our Editorial Process

21 Action Research Examples (In Education)

Chris Drew (PhD)

This article was peer-reviewed and edited by Chris Drew (PhD). The review process on Helpful Professor involves having a PhD level expert fact check, edit, and contribute to articles. Reviewers ensure all content reflects expert academic consensus and is backed up with reference to academic studies. Dr. Drew has published over 20 academic articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education and holds a PhD in Education from ACU.

action research paper template

Action research is an example of qualitative research . It refers to a wide range of evaluative or investigative methods designed to analyze professional practices and take action for improvement.

Commonly used in education, those practices could be related to instructional methods, classroom practices, or school organizational matters.

The creation of action research is attributed to Kurt Lewin , a German-American psychologist also considered to be the father of social psychology.

Gillis and Jackson (2002) offer a very concise definition of action research: “systematic collection and analysis of data for the purpose of taking action and making change” (p.264).

The methods of action research in education include:

  • conducting in-class observations
  • taking field notes
  • surveying or interviewing teachers, administrators, or parents
  • using audio and video recordings.

The goal is to identify problematic issues, test possible solutions, or simply carry-out continuous improvement.

There are several steps in action research : identify a problem, design a plan to resolve, implement the plan, evaluate effectiveness, reflect on results, make necessary adjustment and repeat the process.

Action Research Examples

  • Digital literacy assessment and training: The school’s IT department conducts a survey on students’ digital literacy skills. Based on the results, a tailored training program is designed for different age groups.
  • Library resources utilization study: The school librarian tracks the frequency and type of books checked out by students. The data is then used to curate a more relevant collection and organize reading programs.
  • Extracurricular activities and student well-being: A team of teachers and counselors assess the impact of extracurricular activities on student mental health through surveys and interviews. Adjustments are made based on findings.
  • Parent-teacher communication channels: The school evaluates the effectiveness of current communication tools (e.g., newsletters, apps) between teachers and parents. Feedback is used to implement a more streamlined system.
  • Homework load evaluation: Teachers across grade levels assess the amount and effectiveness of homework given. Adjustments are made to ensure a balance between academic rigor and student well-being.
  • Classroom environment and learning: A group of teachers collaborates to study the impact of classroom layouts and decorations on student engagement and comprehension. Changes are made based on the findings.
  • Student feedback on curriculum content: High school students are surveyed about the relevance and applicability of their current curriculum. The feedback is then used to make necessary curriculum adjustments.
  • Teacher mentoring and support: New teachers are paired with experienced mentors. Both parties provide feedback on the effectiveness of the mentoring program, leading to continuous improvements.
  • Assessment of school transportation: The school board evaluates the efficiency and safety of school buses through surveys with students and parents. Necessary changes are implemented based on the results.
  • Cultural sensitivity training: After conducting a survey on students’ cultural backgrounds and experiences, the school organizes workshops for teachers to promote a more inclusive classroom environment.
  • Environmental initiatives and student involvement: The school’s eco-club assesses the school’s carbon footprint and waste management. They then collaborate with the administration to implement greener practices and raise environmental awareness.
  • Working with parents through research: A school’s admin staff conduct focus group sessions with parents to identify top concerns.Those concerns will then be addressed and another session conducted at the end of the school year.
  • Peer teaching observations and improvements: Kindergarten teachers observe other teachers handling class transition techniques to share best practices.
  • PTA surveys and resultant action: The PTA of a district conducts a survey of members regarding their satisfaction with remote learning classes.The results will be presented to the school board for further action.
  • Recording and reflecting: A school administrator takes video recordings of playground behavior and then plays them for the teachers. The teachers work together to formulate a list of 10 playground safety guidelines.
  • Pre/post testing of interventions: A school board conducts a district wide evaluation of a STEM program by conducting a pre/post-test of students’ skills in computer programming.
  • Focus groups of practitioners : The professional development needs of teachers are determined from structured focus group sessions with teachers and admin.
  • School lunch research and intervention: A nutrition expert is hired to evaluate and improve the quality of school lunches.
  • School nurse systematic checklist and improvements: The school nurse implements a bathroom cleaning checklist to monitor cleanliness after the results of a recent teacher survey revealed several issues.
  • Wearable technologies for pedagogical improvements; Students wear accelerometers attached to their hips to gain a baseline measure of physical activity.The results will identify if any issues exist.
  • School counselor reflective practice : The school counselor conducts a student survey on antisocial behavior and then plans a series of workshops for both teachers and parents.

Detailed Examples

1. cooperation and leadership.

A science teacher has noticed that her 9 th grade students do not cooperate with each other when doing group projects. There is a lot of arguing and battles over whose ideas will be followed.

So, she decides to implement a simple action research project on the matter. First, she conducts a structured observation of the students’ behavior during meetings. She also has the students respond to a short questionnaire regarding their notions of leadership.

She then designs a two-week course on group dynamics and leadership styles. The course involves learning about leadership concepts and practices . In another element of the short course, students randomly select a leadership style and then engage in a role-play with other students.

At the end of the two weeks, she has the students work on a group project and conducts the same structured observation as before. She also gives the students a slightly different questionnaire on leadership as it relates to the group.

She plans to analyze the results and present the findings at a teachers’ meeting at the end of the term.

2. Professional Development Needs

Two high-school teachers have been selected to participate in a 1-year project in a third-world country. The project goal is to improve the classroom effectiveness of local teachers. 

The two teachers arrive in the country and begin to plan their action research. First, they decide to conduct a survey of teachers in the nearby communities of the school they are assigned to.

The survey will assess their professional development needs by directly asking the teachers and administrators. After collecting the surveys, they analyze the results by grouping the teachers based on subject matter.

They discover that history and social science teachers would like professional development on integrating smartboards into classroom instruction. Math teachers would like to attend workshops on project-based learning, while chemistry teachers feel that they need equipment more than training.

The two teachers then get started on finding the necessary training experts for the workshops and applying for equipment grants for the science teachers.

3. Playground Accidents

The school nurse has noticed a lot of students coming in after having mild accidents on the playground. She’s not sure if this is just her perception or if there really is an unusual increase this year.  So, she starts pulling data from the records over the last two years. She chooses the months carefully and only selects data from the first three months of each school year.

She creates a chart to make the data more easily understood. Sure enough, there seems to have been a dramatic increase in accidents this year compared to the same period of time from the previous two years.

She shows the data to the principal and teachers at the next meeting. They all agree that a field observation of the playground is needed.

Those observations reveal that the kids are not having accidents on the playground equipment as originally suspected. It turns out that the kids are tripping on the new sod that was installed over the summer.

They examine the sod and observe small gaps between the slabs. Each gap is approximately 1.5 inches wide and nearly two inches deep. The kids are tripping on this gap as they run.

They then discuss possible solutions.

4. Differentiated Learning

Trying to use the same content, methods, and processes for all students is a recipe for failure. This is why modifying each lesson to be flexible is highly recommended. Differentiated learning allows the teacher to adjust their teaching strategy based on all the different personalities and learning styles they see in their classroom.

Of course, differentiated learning should undergo the same rigorous assessment that all teaching techniques go through. So, a third-grade social science teacher asks his students to take a simple quiz on the industrial revolution. Then, he applies differentiated learning to the lesson.

By creating several different learning stations in his classroom, he gives his students a chance to learn about the industrial revolution in a way that captures their interests. The different stations contain: short videos, fact cards, PowerPoints, mini-chapters, and role-plays.

At the end of the lesson, students get to choose how they demonstrate their knowledge. They can take a test, construct a PPT, give an oral presentation, or conduct a simulated TV interview with different characters.

During this last phase of the lesson, the teacher is able to assess if they demonstrate the necessary knowledge and have achieved the defined learning outcomes. This analysis will allow him to make further adjustments to future lessons.

5. Healthy Habits Program

While looking at obesity rates of students, the school board of a large city is shocked by the dramatic increase in the weight of their students over the last five years. After consulting with three companies that specialize in student physical health, they offer the companies an opportunity to prove their value.

So, the board randomly assigns each company to a group of schools. Starting in the next academic year, each company will implement their healthy habits program in 5 middle schools.

Preliminary data is collected at each school at the beginning of the school year. Each and every student is weighed, their resting heart rate, blood pressure and cholesterol are also measured.

After analyzing the data, it is found that the schools assigned to each of the three companies are relatively similar on all of these measures.

At the end of the year, data for students at each school will be collected again. A simple comparison of pre- and post-program measurements will be conducted. The company with the best outcomes will be selected to implement their program city-wide.

Action research is a great way to collect data on a specific issue, implement a change, and then evaluate the effects of that change. It is perhaps the most practical of all types of primary research .

Most likely, the results will be mixed. Some aspects of the change were effective, while other elements were not. That’s okay. This just means that additional modifications to the change plan need to be made, which is usually quite easy to do.

There are many methods that can be utilized, such as surveys, field observations , and program evaluations.

The beauty of action research is based in its utility and flexibility. Just about anyone in a school setting is capable of conducting action research and the information can be incredibly useful.

Aronson, E., & Patnoe, S. (1997). The jigsaw classroom: Building cooperation in the classroom (2nd ed.). New York: Addison Wesley Longman.

Gillis, A., & Jackson, W. (2002). Research Methods for Nurses: Methods and Interpretation . Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Company.

Lewin, K. (1946). Action research and minority problems. Journal of SocialIssues, 2 (4), 34-46.

Macdonald, C. (2012). Understanding participatory action research: A qualitative research methodology option. Canadian Journal of Action Research, 13 , 34-50. https://doi.org/10.33524/cjar.v13i2.37 Mertler, C. A. (2008). Action Research: Teachers as Researchers in the Classroom . London: Sage.

Dave

  • Dave Cornell (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/dave-cornell-phd/ 23 Achieved Status Examples
  • Dave Cornell (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/dave-cornell-phd/ 25 Defense Mechanisms Examples
  • Dave Cornell (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/dave-cornell-phd/ 15 Theory of Planned Behavior Examples
  • Dave Cornell (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/dave-cornell-phd/ 18 Adaptive Behavior Examples

Chris

  • Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 23 Achieved Status Examples
  • Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 15 Ableism Examples
  • Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 25 Defense Mechanisms Examples
  • Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 15 Theory of Planned Behavior Examples

2 thoughts on “21 Action Research Examples (In Education)”

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Where can I capture this article in a better user-friendly format, since I would like to provide it to my students in a Qualitative Methods course at the University of Prince Edward Island? It is a good article, however, it is visually disjointed in its current format. Thanks, Dr. Frank T. Lavandier

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Hi Dr. Lavandier,

I’ve emailed you a word doc copy that you can use and edit with your class.

Best, Chris.

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Examples

Action Research

Ai generator.

action research paper template

Understanding and analyzing your actions is vital for self-improvement. It would help if you recognized how your actions affect your future. Examining your progress is called action research. This method applies to psychology, marketing, and education. Action research is used by teachers to find solutions to problem areas or formulate research plans for factors that need improvement. The results of action research are useful to the participants since it helps them better themselves for the next tasks. This research has guaranteed relevance because the researchers get to decide what the focus of the study is. They are also the ones who will make use of the results.

Every action someone makes has a ripple effect on the future. One small act of kindness can lead to great fortunes. Likewise, any lousy act can turn into something terrible. A person’s mistakes are what makes him who he is today. Ziad K. Abdelnour even said, “Never erase your past. It shapes who you are today and will help you to be the person you’ll be tomorrow.” For one to grow as a person, one needs to be able to recognize one’s mistakes and learn from them. Perhaps you need to create an action plan or conduct action research to help yourself out.

The Power of Three

Not all types of research are useful for all fields; some are effective only on specific studies. Luckily, action research can serve many disciplines. Although most applicable to educational research settings, the action research design works for an endless variation of studies. This research approach can also be used by individuals or by groups of researchers. The difference in researchers also signifies a difference in purpose.

Reflective Practitioner When an individual practitioner decides to look into his way of teaching, he unconsciously analyzes his actions to improve the instruction. The more he studies himself, the more he masters the science and process of it all.

Large-Scale Progress In education, as the school progresses, the students progress with it. That is why many schools continuously seek ways to strengthen their instruction to build schoolwide improvement. When instructors come together to fix a single issue, organizational growth is bound to occur.

Professional Culture Medical and educational professionals don’t always agree on particular methods. Sometimes they need to do what they think is appropriate. The only important thing is that they lean towards the same organizational goal . With their differing approaches, they can share their own discoveries to their colleagues, making for more holistic improvement.

13+ Action Research Examples

The best way to improve yourself is by analyzing your actions and making adjustments along the way. This is a research method called action research. To help you further understand what action research is, here are multiple action research examples you can check out.

1. Research Action Plan Template

Research Action Plan Template

  • Google Docs
  • Apple Pages

Size: 63 KB

2. Research Corrective Action Plan Template

Research Corrective Action Plan Template

Size: 26 KB

3. Research Project Action Plan Template

Research Project Action Plan Template

Size: 32 KB

4. Sample Action Research Example

Sample Action Research Example

Size: 260 KB

5. Action Orientation Research Example

Action Orientation Research Example

Size: 296 KB

6. Art Article Action Research Example

Art Article ActionResearch Example

Size: 179 KB

7. Basic Action Research Example

Basic Action Research Example

Size: 327 KB

8. Five Phases of Action Research Example

Five Phases of Action Research

Size: 61 KB

9. Standard Action Research Example

Standard Action Research Example

Size: 182 KB

10. Action Research in Teacher Education Example

Action Reseach in Teacher Education Example

Size: 263 KB

11. Action Research Support Notes Example

Action Research Support Notes

Size: 441 KB

12. Handbook for Action Research Example

Handbook for Action Research

13. Action Research in PDF

Action Research in PDF

Size: 52 KB

14. Action Research for Professional Development Example

Action Research for Professional Development

Size: 25 KB

Segments of a Cycle

Action research is an approach that lets an individual study one’s action to help enhance their basic skills and knowledge of a given task or topic. There is a cycle that this research follows to make continuous improvements to a group or individual. As with any research projects, there are steps you need to follow to accomplish your project goals.

1. Selecting Focus

The action research cycle begins with identifying an area that you think needs improvement. Only the researcher can assess if the research focus is worth the time. The outcome of the focus should be the betterment of a practitioner’s work. Thus, picking the right center is extremely important.

2. Clarifying Theories

The next step is figuring out what approach works best for the problem area. You can try out different methods to solve your problem. This way, you can identify what process flow you are going to follow for the duration of the research. Studying various methods, beliefs, and theories can help you decide what you feel is most effective.

3. Collecting data

Your data should be valid and reliable to guarantee improvement. That is why it would be wrong to just stick to one source of data. If you can find various academic references to answer any of your questions, you should utilize them. This way, you can match the right technique with the unique qualities your research holds.

4. Analyzing Data

When conducting data analysis , you need not use complex calculations and statistical methods; you just need to examine the data you have collected. In studying the patterns and trends in your research data, you just need to answer two questions. What story does the data tell? Why is the story executed this way?

In a day, teachers face more students than fellow teachers. That’s why, given a chance to speak with their colleagues, teachers make share their discoveries from their research. This way, they get to express organizational knowledge they think is useful for other teachers while gaining insight as well.

The last step of the research action plan is, of course, to take action. This part is where teachers make their lesson plans . This part is satisfying to teachers because they feel they have gotten wiser with every piece of knowledge they have uncovered.

Everyone should learn from their mistakes. With every trial and error is a new way of looking at things. You just need to be vigilant with all your actions and know that there is always a better way of doing things. Once you’ve refined your skills, you are sure to become a master.

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  2. Action Research Paper Definition

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  3. Research Paper Template

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  4. 13+ Action Report Templates

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  5. Research Paper Outline Template

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  6. Research Timeline Template

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COMMENTS

  1. (Pdf) Action Research Proposal Template

    PDF | On May 16, 2021, Mercedita Dampog and others published ACTION RESEARCH PROPOSAL TEMPLATE | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate

  2. (PDF) A Practical Guide in Writing Your Action Research

    Action research (AR) is a methodical process of self-inquiry accomplished by practitioners to unravel work-related problems. This paper analyzed the action research reports (ARRs) in terms of ...

  3. Action Research Proposal Template: A Comprehensive Guide + Free

    Action Research Proposal Template: A Guide for Real-World Problem Solving. As a researcher dedicated to making a real impact in the world, I understand the importance of developing an action research proposal that goes beyond the standard academic proposal.Action research is a powerful tool for bringing about meaningful change in a specific context, and a well-crafted proposal is essential for ...

  4. PDF TITLE OF THE STUDY A Dissertation Presented to The Faculty of the

    Brief Description of the Action Research Intervention . Begin the text in a new paragraph being sure to address the following: • Describe the needs that the action research study is intended to address in the school(s) or school district. • Describe the action research model that will guide the steps in the study. Provide a

  5. PDF A Practical Guide to Action Research for Literacy Educators

    Specific goals of this handbook are to help educators do the following: Define and explain Action Research. Demonstrate an understanding of how to use the recursive nature of Action Research to improve their teaching of instructional literacy. Provide examples of the Action Research process in action.

  6. Action Research Proposal Template

    An action research proposal is a document written to explain the problems faced in a particular field such as education or medicine and the actions that can be taken to solve those problems. ... Completing this type of research proposal is made easier by using an action research proposal template because the latter explains the format one is ...

  7. PDF How to Do Actionresearch

    ACTION RESEARCH. is a rather simple set of ideas and techniques that can introduce you to the power of systematic reflection on your practice. Our basic assumption is that you have within you the power to meet all the challenges of the teaching profession. Furthermore, you can meet these challenges without wearing yourself down to a nub.

  8. PDF A Guide to Action Research Project

    6 Action Research Project Components EDCC 551 EDPC 611 APA 6.0 Format/Organization: X X Approval for Action Research X Title Page X X Acknowledgements optional

  9. Linking Research to Action: A Simple Guide to Writing an Action

    This brings us back to the essential steps of action research: identifying the problem, devising an action plan, implementing the plan, and finally, observing and reflecting upon the process. Your action research report should comprise all of these essential steps. Feldman and Weiss (n.d.) summarized them as five structural elements, which do ...

  10. What Is Action Research?

    Action research is a research method that aims to simultaneously investigate and solve an issue. In other words, as its name suggests, action research conducts research and takes action at the same time. It was first coined as a term in 1944 by MIT professor Kurt Lewin.A highly interactive method, action research is often used in the social ...

  11. Action Research Resource

    Action research is a qualitative method that focuses on solving problems in social systems, such as schools and other organizations. The emphasis is on solving the presenting problem by generating knowledge and taking action within the social system in which the problem is located. The goal is to generate shared knowledge of how to address the ...

  12. PDF Introduction to Action Research

    etc.) whose effects need to be better understood. The researchers develop a viable plan for collecting the. The researchers develop a viable plan for collecting the data. necessary data. needed to illuminate the implementation of the operative theory. The researchers implement the new theory of action and.

  13. Action Research

    Your Options. Action Research Is…. Action research is a three-step spiral process of (1) planning which involves fact-finding, (2) taking action, and (3) fact-finding about the results of the action. (Lewin, 1947) Action research is a process by which practitioners attempt to study their problems scientifically in order to guide, correct, and ...

  14. Q: What is an action research report and how is it written?

    Thus, action research is often a cyclical process. The action research report that you write is based on this process. Typically, an action research report is written in the same way as you would write an original research article. However, you need to ensure that your report has the following components: The context or background.

  15. PDF Action Research Dissertation Outline

    Dissertation Outline. i.e., research questions and design)What is your study about - i.e., what problem(s) is your. tudy going to address, how, and why? (This should include both a brief identification of the problem that motivates the study, and the goals of the study -. i.e., what you hope to accomplish) What is action research and what ...

  16. Action Research

    Action Research (AR) is an ideal methodology to enable practical and emancipatory outcomes, as well as to generate relevant and authentic theory. Consequently, it has gained popularity worldwide. However, this emerging paradigm of AR in the Social Sciences has been widely misunderstood and misused by researchers, educators and practitioners. ...

  17. (PDF) Sample Action Research Proposal

    View PDF. Andrew Johnson. Action research is a type of research related to one's professional practice. In the field of education, it can be defined as the process of studying a school, classroom, or teaching-learning situation with the purpose of understanding and improving the quality of actions or instruction.

  18. PDF Sample Action Research Report

    Students were asked to rate their answers to each question using a scale of 1 to 5. The scale was represented by (1) a very unenthusiastic response, (2) an unenthusiastic response, (3) indifference, (4) an enthusiastic response, and (5) a very enthusiastic response. Additionally, I sent home parent surveys with each student in order to solicit ...

  19. Action Research Activities Templates

    An Action Research Workbook with all of the templates can also be downloaded in both pdf (print) or doc (for an online workbook). This can be used as either a printed workbook or downloaded to use as a computer workbook as you move through the tutorials.

  20. (PDF) Action Research Writing Template

    The Story of My Action Research Project The goal of this section is to illustrate what you have learned as related to your critical question. Use your data to tell the story of your research and support your conclusions and emerging theories. This section is the heart and soul of your action research paper. This is where you tell your story.

  21. 21 Action Research Examples (In Education) (2024)

    The methods of action research in education include: conducting in-class observations. taking field notes. surveying or interviewing teachers, administrators, or parents. using audio and video recordings. The goal is to identify problematic issues, test possible solutions, or simply carry-out continuous improvement.

  22. PDF Developing a Research Action Plan for Your Organization

    Introduction. The Action Plan is a guide to planning for change, and it describes: A clear picture of where you are currently, where you are going, and where you want to be in 3-5 years. How you are going to get there. Who and what are involved. Elements of the Action Plan. Goal(s)

  23. Action Research

    This is a research method called action research. To help you further understand what action research is, here are multiple action research examples you can check out. 1. Research Action Plan Template. Details. File Format. MS Word. Google Docs. Apple Pages.