Action Research

The Field-based Graduate Program in Education requires an action research practicum in the place of a traditional graduate thesis. We believe that action research provides a hands-on process for professional educators in the front lines of local school communities to continually improve their practice and, as a result, become more accountable for the on-going learning of their students.

Action Research is an inquiry-based process that provides a ‘blend’ of some components of traditional research models and ‘hands-on’ connections with real students or real professionals in real classrooms! The process itself is of major importance, since it has the capacity to be individualized to any situation, whether that is specific to the teaching and/or student behaviors in a classroom to multi-year planning for an entire school.

Action research begins with the identification of a particular challenge or ‘problem’ and then focuses upon specific questions which need to be answered. These questions then guide the type of literature and/or expertise that needs to be ‘tapped.’ That increased knowledge then translates into the creation and use of assessments or ‘data collectors’ to gather information from one’s own culture or direct environment in order to continue the effort at answering those initial questions! Data is then objectively reflected upon and analyzed to determine the action steps required for improvement. The process constantly asks the action researcher, “Why am I doing this? What assessment or data supports my actions? What else do I need to know?” As a result, change becomes much more intentional and purposeful instead of a cyclical ‘fad.’

Those having experienced the action research process have consistently commented on its strength as a vehicle for both personal and professional change.