Action research is a process that allows teachers and administrators to effectively problem solve a situation. It involves “wonderings” (Dana, 2007) about a problem and how it might be solved. First, an issue or problem is defined. It must be an open-ended, focused question about how why a problem is occurring or how it can be solved. The inquirer must look at the data available to help formulate the question. The next step is to review professional literature available in the focus area. Data must be reviewed, organized, analyzed and interpreted to help refine the area of research. The next step is to make an action plan and to implement it over a specific period of time. At the end of the time period, the inquirer will evaluate the results of the action plan to. The question is “Did it solve or help the problem?” If not, the action plan would need to be revised and re-implemented. Once the process is complete, the last step is to share the results with others.
I feel that this could be a very useful tool to enable problem solving. There is a question that I have wondered about for a few months. This process will enable me to come up with an action plan and implement it, to review the results and share my results with others. If I can solve a problem using this method, it will result in much greater job satisfaction.
Fichman, Nancy Dana (2009). Leading with passion and knowledge: the principal as action Researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA. Corwin Press.
Ringler, MC. (2007). Action research an effective instructional leadership skill for future public school leaders. AASA Journal of Scholarship and Practice, 4(1), 27-42
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