What is action research and how might you use it?

What is action research and how might you use it?

Through research and informative texts, I have learned that action research are analysis used by professionals to increase their performance levels as administrators and teachers. Administrators use various methods of appraisals among themselves and their staff . Action research has many components similar to a school improvement plan. Action research is performed by people carrying out their professional actions from day to day and its purpose is to understand and to improve those actions. It is about trying to understand professional action from the inside. It is research that is carried out by practitioners on their own practice and not by someone on somebody else’s practice. To sum it up action research is the improvement of practice, understanding of practice, and the situation in which the practice takes place.

One of the benefits of action research is to enhance the lives of administrators, students, and teachers through educational change. Through the Dana readings she states administrators and teachers who conduct action research are directly responsible for making decisions. They determine the issues or problems to be researched and they develop and implement the inquiry. Action research allows for the improvement of student learning and the enhancement of teaching and campus goals. Collaboration helps to improve working relationships amongst teachers. Through action research administrators and teachers gain a greater understanding of their own practice. Through action research teachers and principals are empowered to make informed decisions about what to change and what not to change. Action research can increase teamwork, student achievement and morale among all stakeholders of a school.