What is action research?

Action research, as defined by Ringler (2007), is the following process an educator utilizes when there is a concern.

1.     Definition of the problem

2.     Review of professional literature

3.     Take action.

4.     Use and share results.

1.  Definition of the problem

Suppose you are a teacher.  You realize that your entire class has failed the last math test, which covered prime and composite numbers. You decide that this is unacceptable, and something must be done.  Congratulations…you have defined the problem! Problem= everyone failed the math test over prime and composite numbers.

2. Review of professional literature

Well, now comes the time to figure out why everyone failed. You look over results from your class.  Those results are (obviously!) failing, so you decide to do a data disaggregation so you can figure out exactly what problems on the test were causing the most problems.  Hmmm…it appears everything that has to do with prime numbers is the issue.  With that in mind, you decide to ask your co-teacher if you can look over their results, and compare. You perform the same disaggregation, and discover that your co-teacher has significantly higher results than you did.  You ask how they taught that particular skill, and decide to use that lesson yourself, with a re-test.

3. Take action

You re-teach the information, with sufficient guided and independent practice.  The class retakes the test (with different questions over the same topic) and scores are much improved.

4. Use and share results

You record the higher grades, with much rejoicing.  You consign the lesson that didn’t work to the circular file, and bookmark the one that did work for use again next year.  You also decide to write a quick blurb to the person in charge of math curriculum (or as it is called in my district, CScope coordinator) to put into the “Common misconceptions” section on the district math plans so that another teacher will not run into the same problem you did.

Bibliography
Ringler, M. (2007). Action Research an Effective Instructional Leadership Skill for Future Public School Leaders. AASA Journal of Scholarship and Practice, 4(1), p. 30.