Action Research

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Overview

Action research (AR) entails a teacher setting out to investigate and solve a particular challenge or problem by following a cyclical series of stages. These can be described simply as:

• identify and analyse a problem;
• develop an action plan to improve the situation;
• implement the plan;
• observe the effects of your action;
• reflect on these effects;
• repeat the cycle for further improvement.

AR has been widely used in the schools sector for some years, and much of the literature on it is aimed at this context. However, as an approach that entails teachers identifying, and acting on, aspects of their classroom practice that are problematic (poorly motivated students, lack of evidence that deep learning is taking place, students not preparing for seminars etc) it is one that fits equally well in the HE sector, especially since it can lead to publishable work when conducted in a rigorous and disciplined manner.

For a good, short article explaining AR in a bit more detail, and giving more follow-up references, see http://www.infed.org/research/b-actres.htm

BERA - British Educational Research Association is also a useful source of information.