Action Research
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Action ResearchData analysis would be the most difficult step in the action research process to carry out. This step requires a lot of reasoning and judgment. The data analysts have a huge workload to begin with and the analysis has to be done in a sociotechnical environment. There is also the issue of time pressure. The huge workload must be analyzed within a short period yet the quality of analysis should not be affected by this. The analyst must be aware that these data are not necessarily true. Deception might have occurred during the collection of the data or wrong inferences might have been made. The analyst has to verify the data and this will be added on to their list of challenges. There is also high pressure that the analyst should not miss anything during their analysis. They must produce timely and actionable results from their analysis.
Analysts are discouraged from making generalizations. Rules have exceptions as they do not always apply to every situation. Before drawing conclusions, they must ensure that the rubrics of the rules they are subscribing to are all met to the latter. Analysis is a highly iterative cycle that involves Requirements, collection, specification, dissemination, and production. The analyst needs to view the data from very different perspectives so that they can examine the competing hypotheses and be able to understand a complex issue. Their primary role is to add value to the raw data they presented with and make meaning of the jargons. They have to integrate disparate information and provide an interpretation that would make sense to those who will need to use their analyses.
I think it would be more feasible to conduct action research in small groups. It would be advantageous to carry out the research in small groups since more data will be collected this way as more people will be interviewed and more ground will be covered. It would however be disadvantageous since when researchers are many then information is more likely to be distorted. An advantage of conducting the research as an individual is that the information is more likely to be accurate since it does not pass through a lot hands. One disadvantage is that an individual will take a lot time to collect enough data.
The possible benefits of communicating the results of action research studies with various educational audiences are that sharing the information would help the researcher know where they went wrong. Subjecting the information to the scrutiny of the educational audiences would help bring out the errors and weaknesses of the judgments made. This will help build on the effectiveness of the solution that will be formulated based on the action research. When one communicates the results of action research studies with various educational audiences then chances are that the researcher might meet an audience that has experienced or researched on the same problem before and had come up with either a better solution or a solution that was an improvement of the current solution. This would save the researcher a lot of time and money as they will not waste these resources trying to implement a policy or solution that cannot be rated as the best. Sharing information can also result in invention of more efficient research techniques and the audience together with the researcher can gain additional information during the discussion.
Using the four-stage procedure for action research as presented in the chapter, I would systematically examine the problem as follows:
The Planning Stage
First of all, I have identified the topic of research to be low mathematics scores in the school. The next step would be to gather preliminary information about the research topic. I will conduct interviews with the students and teachers to assess their opinions on the research topic. I will then visit the library and review books that shed light on this matter. Lastly, I will come up with a research methodology.
The acting stage
In this stage I will implement the research methodology and analyze the data that I will have collected. I will decide on the type of data that I want to collect and the best ways of collecting it. I will use both qualitative and quantitative data analysis methods to analyze the data collected.
The developing stage
I will then develop an action plan that will be based on the data I would have collected and the analysis that I will have made from the data.
The reflecting stage
Lastly, I will summarize my study results, create a strategy that I will to share the results with the teachers and students, and reflect on the process of the action research. Sharing the information will help in solving the problem we have in school of low mathematics score.
Action research study that I might conduct conforming to the nine-step process as presented in the chapter is:
Identifying and Limiting the Topic
My first decision will be deciding to study the low mathematics scores in the school. I am curious to know why the students in my school have relatively lower scores in mathematics than in other subjects.
Gathering information
My next move would be to gather information on the low mathematics scores in the school. I will rely on description, self-reflection and explanation when am conducting my reconnaissance study.
Reviewing the Related Literature
I will refer to professional books, complete websites, research journals, teacher resource manuals, district or school documents, and discussions between me and my colleagues to gather additional information.
Developing a Research plan
I will focus on my research question which is low mathematics scores in the school to formulate my research methodology.
Implementing the Plan and Collecting Data
I will choose interviews and referring to books in the library as my method of data collection. I will interview the teachers, parents and students.
Analyzing the Data
I will analyze the data I have collected soon as I have finished with the collection. These data to be analyzed will be both qualitative and quantitative.
Developing an Action Plan
After interpreting the results of the analysis I will develop a plan of action. I will come up tangible ideas that could help solve the problem in hand.
Sharing and Communicating the Results
I will then share the information by posting it on the school website and inviting anyone who has an addition or subtractions to feel free to comment on my pot.
Reflecting on the Process
I will engage in a systematic reflection of the research process so that I can critically examine my practice.
