1. Chapter 20 Action Research Gay, Mills, and Airasian
Educational Research
Chapter 20
Action Research
Gay, Mills, and Airasian

2. Topics Discussed in this Chapter
Purposes of action research
Benefits of action research
Steps in conducting action research
Data collection sources and strategies for action research

3. Purposes of Action Research
Increasing knowledge
Improving practice
Integrates theory, practice, and meaningful application of results

4. Action Research Defined
A structured process in which teachers
Identify,
Examine, and
Improve their own practice

5. Benefits of Action Research
Teachers investigate their own actions
Teachers develop deeper understanding of students
Teachers are equal partners in improving practice
Teachers work cooperatively to identify problems and solutions

6. Benefits of Action Research (cont.)
Teachers are more committed to the research because it addresses problems they identify
Strategies can be widely applied
Teachers develop professionally
Schools improve
Can be conducted individually or in groups

7. Who Conducts Action Research
Individual teachers
Groups of teachers with similar concerns
Whole school

8. Components of Involvement in Action Research
Commitment
Collaboration
Concern
Consideration
Change

9. Rationale for Action Research
Everyone needs professional growth opportunity
All professionals want to improve
All professionals can assume responsibility for their own growth
People need and want information about their performance
Collaboration enriches professional development

10. Steps in Conducting Action Research
Identify topic
Collect data
Analyze and interpret data
Plan and implement action based on results

11. Components of Critical Action Research
Participatory and democratic
Socially responsive
Based on everyday practice
Liberating and improvement-oriented

12. Qualities of Action Research Topics
Useful
Substantive
Directly related to problem
Information is obtainable
Researcher has necessary skills
Answer questions
Why
How
what

13. Data Sources Observation Interview/ Recorded conversation Portfolios
Self-reflection/ journals
Questionnaires/ surveys
Student tests, projects, writings
Readily available data

14. Data Analysis Redundancy/ data saturation Organizing techniques
Categories and themes
Summarizing

15. Sharing Findings Informal Formal Writing Furthers insight
Useful to others
Supports grantsmanship

16. Action Research Spiral
Look
Think
Act
Repeat