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ACTION RESEARCH
What is action research?
Action research is a process of asking important questions and looking for answers in a methodical way. The questions are meaningful; that is, the researcher wants or needs to know the answers to the question, and the questions are closely connected to real work. Action research is very practical and is grounded in the day-to-day work of the researcher. One way it is different from traditional or scientific research is that the researcher is not removed from what is being studied, but rather is a part of it. Teacher researchers are researching their own problems or new practises. The research is modest, manageable, and, again, directly related to daily work.
Why use action research?
For teachers, principals, and division office personnel, action research promises progress in professionalization. The process allows them to experience problem solving and to model it for their students. They carefully collect data to diagnose problems, search for solutions, take action on promising possibilities, and monitor whether and how well the action worked. The cycle can repeat itself many times, focussing on the same problem or on another. The process can help develop a professional problem solving ethos.
Action research can revitalize the entire learning community, as well as helping teachers change or reflect on their classroom practises. It can support initiatives by individual teachers, schools, and divisions. In addition, more than one type of action research can be used in a given setting at the same time.
What Do Teacher Researchers Do?
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