Lecture 1 Types of Action Research

Individual Teacher Research

1. Focuses on a single issue in the classroom

2. Seeking solutions to problems of classroom management, instructional strategies, use of materials, or student learning

3. The problem is one that the teacher believes is evident in the classroom and that can be addressed on an individual basis.

4. Research may involves data collection and students’ participation

5. May not be shared with others


Collaborative Action Research

1. Includes few or a group of teacher interested in addressing a classroom or department issue

2. Involve one classroom or a common problem shared by many classrooms


School-wide Research

1. Focuses on issues common to all

2. Teams of staff from the school work together to narrow the question, gather and analyze the data, and decide on a plan of action.

3. Team work and individual contributions to the whole are very important

District-wide Research

1. Issues can be organizational, community-based, performance-based, or processes for decision-making

2. Focusing on problems common to several schools or one of organizational management

3. Collecting data from all participants needs a commitment from staff to do their fair share and to meet agreed-upon deadlines for assignments

4. Real school reform and change can take hold based on a common understanding through inquiry

5. The involvement of multiple constituent groups can lend energy to the process and create an environment of genuine stakeholders