Action Research

Action Research is a process in which administrators examine their education practice in a systematic way using an inquiry question and research techniques in a structured way and taking action for change in their practices in the future. Action research specifically refers to a disciplined inquiry done by an administrator with the intent that the research will inform and change his or her practices in the future. There are a few assumptions about action research. The first assumption is that administrators work best on problems they have identified for themselves. The second is that administrators are more effective when encouraged to examine and assess their own work and then consider ways of working differently. The third assumption is that administrators help each other by working collaboratively (Watts, H. 1985, When teachers are researchers, teaching improves. Journal of Staff Development, 6 (2), 118-127). The book, Leading With Passion and Knowledge: The Principal as Action Researchers, tells us that when and administrator practices Action Research, they are constantly thinking about how to go about improving their schools for the benefit of all involved. They are also ensuring that they are lifelong learners. The two books Examining What We Do To Improve Our Schools: 8 Steps From Analysis To Action and Leading With Passion and Knowledge: The Principal as Action Researchers have helped me understand what it means to be an Action Researcher. Action researchers pose questions, collect data to gain insights into their questions, analyze the data along with reading relevant literature, make changes in practice, and share their findings with others. We conduct action research for the purpose of looking and reflecting on their current practices. It allows administrators to look closely at their leadership role and their school improvement efforts.
Action Research can be used in several ways. An administrator can use action research as a professional development tool that provides effective staff development focusing on student achievement and supports reflective practices. Action research is a great tool for teachers' who are needing to reflect on why a student or class is having a learning problem. This type of research encourages the disaggregation of data from various sources, literature reviews, and dialogue with other professionals and students, formulating plans, and making changes in instruction. We can use inquiry questions to further dive into the problems that are facing our school and how to solve them. The use of Action Research will help me become a better principal because it will keep me thinking and reflecting on the practices on my campus. Action Research can be used to develop Leadership Teams who share problems and decision making, which in turn starts to create a culture of collaboration within the school. You can also use Action Research to create Professional Learning Communities with your faculty The Professional Learning Community or the staff can use action research to better their teaching techniques by engaging in studying, learning, and reflecting on effective teaching strategies that work with students. Action research can be used in many different ways. What is important is we not only conduct the research, but also implement it and make any necessary changes. Action research is the idea that administrators will begin a cycle of posing question, gathering data, reflection, and deciding on a course of action. When these changes start to change the school climate, a different inquiry question appears with different problems that need to solving and the start of the action research spiral. Many Action Research inquiries solve one problem but the solutions may lead to other areas on concern. In the end everyone in the school should work together to achieve results that will show school improvement.