Action Research

I have learned in my first week of class that action research is not about what I thought research was. It is about finding a unique question or problem that affects your school directly and doing on-site research to find an answer or a solution. This is for the benefit of the students at your school and is tailored to them. It can be used as a tool in school improvement and as a way for an administrator to grow professionally. The research can involve all staff or may just include a few. I think one of the best ways to do an action research study is in the school PLC's. There is something meaningful for the staff to examine for the benefit of the students in the school. If an administrator never looks over issues at the school and decisions that are made, she runs the risk of becoming complacent. An administrator can use information that was found in other research studies and this is all well and good, but when it is studied and made exclusive to that school in particular it becomes so much more meaningful and the people involved feel a sense of ownership and buy-in. When there is buy-in from the stake-holders, the students will benefit and that is the goal of all good action research.