Action Research in Education

Action Research

• Action Research enhances teaching and learning inside the classroom
• Teachers can identify problems and the process flow of doing an action research
• An introduction to action research can be based on a conceptualized problem or classroom observation
• Action Research enhances teachers' ability to make action researches more useful
• The term "action research" was first used by Kurt Levin, a German American social psychologist, in the 19th Century

Action Research in Education

• Action Research was first utilized in the field of education
• Teachers found that classes become better with evaluation
• Teachers can directly teach to their learners inside their classrooms with Action Research
• Action research is a process of self-evaluation of how one teaches
• The objective of action research is to improve the quality of teaching
• Action Research, also called Teacher Research in the field of education connects "Action" with "Doing" and "Research" with "Search"

Characteristics of Action Research

• Action Research focuses on a classroom problem
• Teacher involvement is important, so they encounter the problems
• The primary objective of Action Research is to make teaching better
• Writing an action research involves steps, recommends a solution, is participatory, and the whole class will be part of the undertaking

Teacher's Role in Action Research

• Teachers think of what is occurring and studies how and why things happen
• Teachers can start to question why students are behaving a certain way
• After documenting the process, teachers think of how to improve classroom teaching
• Teachers may include multi-media instruction materials to improve lessons
• Teachers will find that students are more interested, creative, and happier, improving student performance

Action Research vs. Academic Research

• In Action Research, instructors must ask themselves how they can improve their teaching or class
• Teachers should consider what new trends are occurring in their classroom including challenges that need to be addressed in the next six months
• Academic Research answers the question of "what," while Action Research addresses "how."
• Academic Research is given a long-time frame while Action Research is given a quick timeframe
• Academic Research uses quantitative research measures to describe the statistical significance and relationship of variables
• Action Research uses qualitative methods to discuss or show the effects of the interventions used

Significance of Research Types

• Academic Research contributes to the theoretical significance, so the results could be used by a wider group
• Action Research contributes to the practical significance, so the results may not be applicable to all audiences but rather only to the group who are part of the research

Four Parts of Action Research

• Action Research involves inquiring, acting, observing, and reflecting
• Inquiring: The teacher identifies the problem that will be the theme for the study, gathering data
• Acting: Teachers implement what is in the action plan and what they intend to search
• Observing: Teachers document reactions and feedback from students, compiling feedback and utilizing data gathering methods like classroom observations, notes, surveys, questionnaires, recordings, & interviews
• Reflecting: Teachers evaluate based on the results of the research, reflecting on findings and implementing them

Parts of an Action Research Paper

• Part 1: Introduction Includes the purpose of the study, main research problem, objectives, and the significance of the study.
• Part 2: Literature Review and Methodology Includes related models or literatures, involved people, as well as where the study is conducted.
• Part 3: Findings Includes Data collected and analysis, strengthening the findings of the study, making note of all interventions and reflections.
• Part 4: Conclusion This section states the outcomes, implications of the study, and further recommendations
• Part 5: References Includes all the literature that helped to formulate ideas and became the bases of the study, using reliable authors and avoiding plagiarism

Basic Education Research Fund (BERF)

• Public-school teachers can get funding from the Basic Education Research Fund (BERF) to do their action research
• The budget is intended for the teachers, heads, and staff so research can improve academic performance and facilities
• The research is about improving learners and giving them effective strategies to enrich their knowledge

Four Categories for Action Research

• Teaching and Learning: Strategies teaching and learning will fall into, with the purpose of improving academic performance and behavior of the students in the classroom
• Child Protection: Strategies intended for the welfare of the learners
• Human Resource: Strategies intended for the teaching staff and non-teaching staff
• Governance: Strategies intended for the welfare of all the school heads and principals

Making a research proposal

• A minimum requirement for a research proposal requires teachers to ask themselves: 'why do you like to do this research?', 'what is the problem?', 'why did you think of doing this research', 'what are those strategies you like to implement in order to improve the academic performance of your learners?'

Key questions for Action Research

• Action Research Question: What possible questions have you encountered in the conduct of your study?
• Proposed Innovation, Intervention and Strategy: What methods you intend to use in your research study, the strategies you plan to use, and improvements to learners' academic performance

Key steps for Action Research

• Action Research Method includes participants, resources, data, data gathering methods, and a data analysis plan
• Data Gathering Methods outlines the different stages on how you will develop your research study and the ways on how you do it
• Data Analysis Plan identifies the variables you can get from the study; identify which is the dependent and which is the independent variable in the study

Data Collection

• Variables include pretest, posttest, feedback from the students, and observations.
• Action Research includes a work plan and timelines
• Cost estimates are needed for materials in your research
• A budget is allotted like php 6,000.00 in module writing and an estimation of expenses for a research activity is needed
• Plans are needed for dissemination and utilization
• References are needed that follow the American Psychological Association or APA format

Complete Research Format

• In Action Research, each element is included in sequential order:
• Part 1. Title Page
  • Come up with a relevant, related, and catchy title
• Part 2. Abstract

  • Write an abstract of not more than 200 to 250 words
    

  • Give the main parts of your research, study namely, an introduction, methods, and the results
    

  • Write the numeric value for the results
    

• Part 3. Context and Rationale
• Part 4. Action Research Question
• Part 5. Proposed Innovation, Intervention, and Strategy
• Part 6. Action Research Methods
• Part 7. Discussions, Results, and Reflections
• Part 8. References
• Part 9. Financial Report