Action Research

Action Research

Action research is much different than traditional academic research. It requires much more work, but in the end a more relevant, useful, and well-rounded product is created.

The inquiry is much more than just asking a question, though that's exactly where it must begin. The whole process is based around a question. According to Harris et al., there are eight steps to administrative inquiry:

• Set the foundation (literature review/research)
• Analyzing Data
• Develop deeper understanding
• Self-reflection
• Exploring patterns
• Determine a direction
• Taking action for improvement
• Sustaining improvement (maintenance) (p. 5-7)

According to Dana, administrator inquiry is a systematic way of questioning

and researching, then using the findings to make an improvement.

In essence, action research requires asking a question, finding a solution, and taking action to make a solution. Then, a maintenance plan must be created in order to maintain the improvements made.

The benefit to action research is that anyone can do it. Rather than some academic in an office writing about the teachers “in the trenches,” those teachers are getting their hands dirty and doing the research themselves. (Dana, p. 5) They find real problems that need to be solved and find realistic ways of solving them. They create maintenance plans that are realistic and that work with their particular school environments.

Fichman, Nancy Dana (2009). Leading with passion and knowledge: The principal as action Researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Harris, S., Edmonson, S., and Combs, J. (2010). Examining what we do to improve our schools: 8 steps to improve our schools. Eye on Education Press.