Mills, G. E. (2003). Action Research: A guide for the teacher researcher, 2nd ed. Columbus, Ohio: Merrill Prentice Hall.

… is systematic inquiry done by teachers (or other individuals in the teaching/learning environment) to gather information about- and subsequently improve- how their particular schools operate, how they teach, and how well their students learn.

Chapter 1: Understanding Action Research

Action Research TeachingFocus Area Objectives

Data CollectionImplement lesson

Reflect on whether students achieved objectives

Data Analysis & Interpretation

Reflect on Lesson

Action Planning Reflect on how today’s lesson affects tomorrow’s lesson

The Dialectic Action Research PlanMills, G. E. (2003). Action Research: A guide for the teacher researcher, 2nd ed. Columbus, Ohio: Merrill

Prentice Hall.

Develop an Action Plan

Collect Data

Identify an Area of Focus

Analyze and Interpret Data

To Do:

1. Select an appropriate area of focus.

2. Do reconnaissance.

3. Review related literature.

4. Write and research plan to guide your work.

Steps to Planning anAction Research Project

1. Criteria for Selecting a General Idea/Area of Focus:

• Involve teaching and learning and should focus on your own practice

• Be something within your locus of control

• Be something you feel passionate about

• Be something you would like to change or improve

Take a statement/observation and turn it into a Research Question. It should…

Steps to create a good Area of Focus

• Identify a problem or situation you would like to change or improve.Example: My ESL students don’t like to read in English.

• Turn that problem into a question.*Example: What reading strategies can a ESL teacher use

to motivate her students to enjoy reading in English?

* This question will guide your reconnaissance and eventually your development of final research questions.

2. Reconnaissance

3. Review of Related Literature

Explore your own understanding of your Area of Focus.

Write a Reflective Memo

Search for others’ theories and research on your topic.

• Write a Theoretical Framework of theories that support your study.

• Write a Literature Review of research studies that pertain to your study.

4. Create a Research Plan:

A research plan summarizes your action research thoughts in a plan that will guide you through your classroom research work.

1. Write (re-write) an area-of-focus statement2. Define variables3. Develop research questions4. Describe the intervention or innovations5. Describe the membership of the action

research group6. Describe negotiations that need to be

undertaken7. Develop a timeline8. Develop a statement of resources9. Develop data collection ideas10.Develop a triangulation matrix

Steps for writing a goodResearch Plan

Step 1: Area of Focus Statement

An Area of Focus Statement …

• Defines the purpose of your study

• Identifies the variables that you will study

* In the following samples of Area of Focus Statements, try to identify…1.The structure and key words2.The variables

Samples: Area of Focus Statements

1. The purpose of this study is to describe the effects of an integrated problem-solving mathematics curriculum on student transfer of problem-solving skills and the retention of basic math facts and functions.

2. The purpose of this study is to describe the impact of bringing audience members into an interactive relationship with teen theater productions on participants’ abilities to identify issues and incorporate solutions to similar problems in their own lives.

3. The purpose of this study is to describe the effects of student-led conferences on parent and student satisfaction with the conferencing process.

What do these have in common?

Area of Focus Statement

“The purpose of this study is to…”

… describe the effects of… on…

… describe the impact of… on…

Key words

A Variable…

• Is a characteristic of your study that is subject to change.

Step 2: Define the Variables

In the following samples of Area of Focus Statements, try to…1. Identify the variables2.Notice how specifically they are written

What are the variables?1. The purpose of this study is to describe the effects of

an integrated problem-solving mathematics curriculum on student transfer of problem-solving skills and the retention of basic math facts and functions.

2. The purpose of this study is to describe the impact of bringing audience members into an interactive relationship with teen theater productions on participants’ abilities to identify issues and incorporate solutions to similar problems in their own lives.

3. The purpose of this study is to describe the effects of student-led conferences on parent and student satisfaction with the conferencing process.

Samples: Area of Focus Statements/Variables

Write definitions of what you will really focus on in the study.

Define the Variables

Make definitions clear and specific to your study. Think….

• What does the variable LOOK like?• How will I know it when I see it?

TITLE:__________________________ AUTHOR: __________________

Educational Problem: It is not known if the software program students use in the lab is actually effective in improving the pronunciation skills of basic level ESL students.

Research Question: Are the CALL program Tell Me More effective in improving the pronunciation skills of Basic ESL students?

1. Area-of-focus statement: The purpose of this study is…to find out the effectiveness of the program Tell Me More in improving the pronunciation skills of basic level ESL students.

2.

Variable Definition (within study)

Effectiveness of program

If the students’ pronunciation improves after they use the software, according to the software’s analysis and students’ own opinions of their improvement.

Tell Me More program

Software program designed to help ESL students individually improve their English pronunciation through….

Pronunciation skills improvement

The ability to create the sounds of words in English gets better (according to the software’s analysis and student opinion).

The problem is…

…turned into a question and

…turned into an Area of Focus statement.

Variables are determined and

defined according to the study.

Step 3: Develop Research Questions

Research Questions are…

• Specific questions that guide and focus your research.

* In the following sample of a Research Plan try to identify…1.How variable definitions are turned into specific research questions2.How the research questions will guide the research and gather the answers needed.

3. Research Questions:

1.How does the CALL program Tell Me More help improve the pronunciation skills of basic level ESL students?

2.How do the students feel about the improvement (or not) of their pronunciation?

3.Does the students’ pronunciation improve after using the CALL software Tell Me More?

4. Intervention or innovation: I will… observe and keep a record of the students’ performance to see if their pronunciation improves after using the software. I will survey and hold informal talks with the students to find out how they feel about using the software and if they feel that their pronunciation improves after using it. This information will help the institute and lab choose appropriate pronunciation software and shed light onto how to make the best use of the software.

Variable Definition (within study)

Effectiveness If the students’ pronunciation improves after they use the software, according to the software’s analysis and the students’ own opinion

Tell Me More program

Software program designed to help ESL students improve heir English pronunciation individually.

Pronunciation skills improvement

The ability to create the sounds of words in English gets better (according to the software’s analysis and student opinion).

Variables turn into research

questions…

…which then determine the intervention or innovation that

will occur.

Develop Research Questions

What are your specific questions?

What are you really going to focus on?

• Help focus the data collection plan• Help validate that you have a workable way to proceed with your investigation

Step 4: Intervention/Innovation

An Intervention/Innovation is…

• What you will do*, change, or introduce in your study to improve the educational problem mentioned.

* Note: It is also possible to do a descriptive research project whose intervention is in the action plan for the future.

“I will…”… implement…… include…… incorporate…

Step 5: Membership

The members of your study are…

• Anyone who plays a part in your research.

• Yourself• Students• Administrator• Parents

Describe the Membership of the Action Research Group

Who will you be working with?

Why are they important?

What will be each person’s roles/responsibilities?

5. Membership

6. Negotiations

1. I will need to ask the permission of the CCA to do observations in the Computer lab.

2. I will need to ask the students to take surveys about their practice with the software in the lab. …leads to determining

negotiations that must be made in order to get the

information you need.

Clarifying the members of the

study…

Member Why important Roles and responsibilites

Basic level ESL students

They use the software

Use the software, take a survey, converse with me

Me I work in the lab to observe the students and help them if they need help

Observe, gather data, take notes, give surveys, have conversations with students

Step 6: Negotiations

Negotiations are...

• Conversations and/or permission that needs take place before you can gather your data…

– Permission to gather information, hold interviews, do observations, audiotape, videotape, use workspace, etc.

– Confirmation of cooperation from others in any aspect of the study

Describe Negotiations that Need to be Taken

What negotiations do you have to undertake with others to implement

your action research plan?

How will you get access to the site?

Do you need permission? From whom? How will you get it?

Step 7: Timeline

A timeline...

• Guides and organizes your research

• Keeps you on track

Develop a Timeline

Who will be doing what and when?**Hint: Work backwards in time!

Phase 1 (July-Nov): Identity area focus, review literature develop research questions, reconnaissance.

Phase 2 (date-date)…

Phase 3 (date-date)…

(July-Nov) (date) (date)

Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3

Step 8: Resources

Resources are...

• Materials you will need in order to perform your research study.

– All researchers need a journal and pencil!– Technology- video camera, tape recorder,

computer, etc. (Don’t forget batteries!)– Graphic organizers, class documents, etc.

Step 9: Data Collection Ideas

Data that…

• Answers your research questions

• Provides evidence for your reflections on what you are researching

• Can be supported by other sources of data (triangulation of data)

Develop Data Collection Ideas

What kind of data will provide you the evidence you need?

From what source will you get it?

Naturally occurring data:test scores, attendance records, writing samples, portfolios, anecdotal records,...

Other types of data: interviews, surveys, questionnaires, videotapes, audiotapes, maps, photos, observations,…

Date Action

Feb 23 Start gathering dataFeb-May Gather data and analyze itMay 18 Draw conclustions and

write up paperJun 2 Create powerpointJun 12 Presentation

Information needed How get it

How does pronunciation improve with TMM?

Observation and fieldnotes of improvement as analyzed by the program and through surveys and informal conversations with students.

Students feelings about pronunciation improvement

Surveys and informal conversations with the students.

Does pronunciation improve with TMM?

Observation and fieldnotes of improvement as analyzed by the program.

7. Timeline

8. Statement of Resources:

• Notebook/pencil for fieldnotes & journal• Survey• Questions for informal conversations

9. Data Collection Ideas:

All this work requires…

…a timeline for completion…

(Hint: count backwards)

…a list of what you’ll need…

…and ideas on how to

best get the information you need to answer your

research questions.

Information needed How get it

How does pronunciation improve with TMM?

Observation and fieldnotes of improvement as analyzed by the program and through surveys and informal conversations with students.

Students feelings about pronunciation improvement

Surveys and informal conversations with the students.

Does pronunciation improve with TMM?

Observation and fieldnotes of improvement as analyzed by the program.

9. Data Collection Ideas:

…the data collection

ideas

3. Research Questions:

1.How does the CALL program Tell Me More help improve the pronunciation skills of basic level ESL students?

2. How do the students feel about the improvement (or not) of their pronunciation?

3. Does the students’ pronunciation improve after using the CALL software Tell Me More?

Research questions should be directly related to…

…and the data sources from

which data are gathered

Step 10: Develop Triangulation Matrix

A Triangulation Matrix…

• Shows various data sources that will be used to answer each research question.

• Assures that your findings will be supported by multiple sources

* In the following samples of a Triangulation Matrix, try to identify…

1.The variables which became research questions2.The data sources that will answer those questions

Methods of Data Collection

Sample 1: Triangulation Matrix

Methods of Data Collection

Sample 2: Triangulation Matrix

Research Questions

Source 1 Source 2 Source 3

How does pronunciation improve with

TMM?

Direct observations and

field notes

Participant observations and

field notes

Students feelings about

pronunciation improvement

Direct observations and

field notes

Participant observations and

field notes

Surveys and informal

interviews

Does pronunciation improve with

TMM?

Direct observations and

field notes

Participant observations and

field notes

Surveys and informal

interviews

PUT THE

INTO

PUT THE

INTO

Don’t stop there… Write an Action Research

Paper! Why?

• The process of writing requires the writer to clarify meaning.

• The act of putting information on paper for your peers and teachers necessitates honesty, accuracy, clarity, and thought.

• Research, once written, can be shared with a wider audience.