What is Action Research?

What is Action Research?

Dr. Greg Waddell

Copyright © Greg Waddell 2014-

According to the experts . . .

it is . . .

“a cycle

“a cycle of posing questions,

“a cycle of posing questions,

gathering data,

“a cycle of posing questions,

gathering data,reflection,

Eileen Ferrance, "Action Research," Providence, RI: The Education Alliance, 2000, available from www.alliance.brown.edu/pubs/themes_ed/act_research.pdf

“a cycle of posing questions,

gathering data,reflection,

& deciding on a course of action.”

Kurt Lewin, "Action Research & Minority Problems," Journal of Social Issues 2, no. 4 (1946): 34-46.

Kurt Lewin described it as a process of ...

Planning

Kurt Lewin, "Action Research & Minority Problems," Journal of Social Issues 2, no. 4 (1946): 34-46.

Kurt Lewin described it as a process of ...

Planning

Action,

Kurt Lewin, "Action Research & Minority Problems," Journal of Social Issues 2, no. 4 (1946): 34-46.

Kurt Lewin described it as a process of ...

Planning

Action,

and Searching

Learning Point Associates (http://www.learningpt.org/) define it as . . .

“Inquiry or research in the context of focused efforts to improve the quality of an organization and its performance.”

It is a cyclical process …

P

Problem

You start out with a problem.

DesignD

P

Problem

You design a potential solution.

DesignD A

P

Problem

Action

You take action on your solution.

DesignD

R

A

P

Problem

Reflection

Action

You reflect on the results.

C

DesignD

R

A

P

Problem

Reflection

Action

Capture

You capture the learning.

C

DesignD

R

A

P

P

D A

R

C

Problem

Reflection

Action

Capture

Then, you repeat the process.

C

DesignD

R

A

P

P

D A

R

C

ProblemP

Reflection

Action

Capture

D A

R

C

P

Again and again …

First,you need

a goodproblem

A Good Problem is ...

important

A Good Problem is ...

complex

A Good Problem is ...

multi-functional

difficult

A Good Problem is ...

A Good Problem Demands

action

A Good Problem Resists

structure

A Good Problem Leads To . . .

surprise

s

A Good Problem Leads To . . .

Action Research requires that we

REFRAMEthe problem

by looking at it in different

contexts

from different perspective

s

as a part of a larger

system

by making comparisons

by applying the problem to different groups

As You Implement the Plan . . .

Control the progress

As You Implement the Plan . . .

Control the progress

Collect the data (evidence)

As You Implement the Plan . . .

Control the progress

Collect the data (evidence)

Present periodic reports

Another essential element of Action Research is . . .

“A cycle of action and reflection is the heart of

action learning.”

Tom Bourner, Alan Cooper and Linda France, "Action Learning Across a University Community," Innovations in Education & Training International 37, no. 1 (2000): 2-9. available from Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed December 20, 2006).

Reflection is . . .A process of entering into “dialogue based on the data collected and [being] guided by a systemic framework to discover the root causes of the organization's problems.”

Michael Beer, Russell A. Eisenstat and Burt Spector, "Why Change Programs Don't Produce Change," Harvard Business Review, November-December, 1990, 158-66; available from EBSCOhost.

What did we intend to do?

These questions are used by the U.S. Army for their After-Action Reviews. Garvin, 2000, p. 107.

What actually happened?

Why did this happen?

What are we going to do the next time?

Lastly, we need to capture the learning

Information must be captured and then made institutional--

Information must be captured and then made institutional--

a process that involves recording and storing the learning in a way that is accessible to others.

Information must be captured and then made institutional--

In a nutshell . . .

Action Research seeks to accomplish two goals:

In a nutshell . . .

1.Stimulate Learning and

Action Research seeks to accomplish two goals:

In a nutshell . . .

1.Stimulate Learning and

2.Make a Difference.

Action Research seeks to accomplish two goals:

For more information contact Dr. Waddell at . . .

Greg.Waddell@macuniversity.ed

u

901.581.5735

www.macuniversity.edu

Credits

• Grate Dane and Chihuahua by unknown photographer (unknown to me) http://www.bloggyaward.com/pets/great-dane/

• Texture water: _MG_1662bi.jpg by somadjinn http://www.morguefile.com/archive/?display=170527&

• Beautiful Spider Web http://www.eglobe1.com/index.php/2006/11/12/spider-web-after-rain/

• Window photos are my own

• All other photos from Microsoft Clip art Office Online