Gathering information about an identified issue/problem in order to better understand and affect change. Action research is conducted to experiment with and refine new practices. (Teacher identifies problem in his/her own classroom or school, initiates course of action, collects data, and evaluates changes.)

research, usually informal, designed for direct application to behavior or to a situation, as research by teachers in their classrooms.

A (usually cyclic) process by which change and understanding can be pursued at the one time, with action and critical reflection taking place in turn. The reflection is used to review the previous action and plan the next one. (Dick 1997)

An informal, qualitative, interpretive, reflective and experimental methodology that requires all the participants to be collaborative researchers. Action research is carried out by people who usually recognise a problem or limitation in their workplace situation and, together, devise a plan to counteract the problem, implement the plan, observe what happens, reflect on these outcomes, revise the plan, implement it, reflect, revise and so on. Action research can be thought of as a spiral of planning, acting, observing and reflecting, occurring through time until the most desirable outcomes for all participants are achieved.

informal research design for a behavior or a situation

"Investigation designed to facilitate change in real settings" (Mason & Bramble, 1989, p.427).

aims to address both the practical concerns of people (in a community, organisation etc) and the goals of research through people working together on projects. Using methods such as workshops, action research is a flexible method of integrating research into projects, involving community participants, and generating action. This is essential for good planning and development. Effective action research depends on the agreement and commitment of participants. It is very useful for working on complex social problems or issues that need systematic planning and analysis - for example, a lack of training opportunities in a rural area. Action research involves an ongoing cycle of planning -- acting -- observing -- reflecting (and then -- planning etc). Critical reflection is an important step in each cycle. ( back)

Practice-based research, which seeks to end the dislocation of research from practice and enhance the position of research as a direct mechanism for change and improvement. Action research projects usually have the following characteristics: investigation of practices in terms of strategic actions with potential for improvement; collaborative working between evaluators and stakeholders; a methodology involving a series of interrelated cycles of planning, action, observation and reflection; those responsible for the practice are at the heart of these cycles and are the key participants in each stage. Related Terms: Participatory Evaluation BACK

is the process by which practitioners study a problem systematically so that they can make changes, reflect on these changes, and act on the reflections. It is a methodical form of action learning, the results of which are often made public.

A cyclic research process where an identified problem or question is systematically investigated within a specific context and the findings are utilised to improve and/or change practice, and to formulate further questions for investigation.

Action research is a family of research methodologies which pursue action (or change) and research (or understanding) at the same time. In most of its forms it does this by: using a cyclic or spiral process which alternates between action and critical reflection in the later cycles, continuously refining methods, data and interpretation in the light of the understanding developed in the earlier cycles. In most of its forms it is also participative and qualitative.(Action Research Resources, 2002)

research conducted by classroom teachers, often concurrent with their teaching.

A systematic process that teachers and others can use by to carefully study their actions and problems. Systematic self reflection can guide, correct, and evaluate future professional decisions and actions. In essence professionals research their own practice in their professional setting. ( 0-16)

or collaborative research with people, is a means of overcoming the limitations of classic research in a chaotic or unpredictable research situation. These limitations are the assumptions that: a) the researcher does not influence subjects b) variables be controlled, and c) validity be statistically assessed. Action Research addresses these shortcomings in the existing model and provides best results in unpredictable environments. Action Research has been used in curriculum development, professional development, systems planning and qualitative research by organisations.

Inquiry-based research conducted by teachers that follows a process of examining existing practices, implementing new practices, and evaluating the results, leading to an improvement cycle that benefits both students and teachers. Synonyms include" practitioner research, teacher research, site-based research, and action science.

Action research is inquiry or research in the context of focused efforts to improve the quality of an organization and its performance. It is typically designed and conducted by practitioners who analyze the data to improve their own practice.

action research involves participants in enquiring into their own activity. Although there are different definitions of action research, for example, in community arts practice, it is commonly understood in academic contexts as a process of setting up interventions and monitoring the results. Action research is common in education (i.e. teachers researching their own practice), but much practice-led research in art, design and media can also be considered as action research.

Also called practitioner inquiry, action research is a process in which instructors engage in reflection and systematic examination of their practices and investigate implications of these practices to learning.

The collecting of information to bring about social change, eg. to get data to expose environmental dangers and recommend actions for change

A method of research that addresses a particular problem rather than a narrow hypothesis. A variety of methods are often used, from the analysis of reports to observations to interviews and questionnaires.

Recurring cycles of planning, acting, observing or monitoring and critical reflection that support teachers to actively research their own practice to affirm use of approaches and/or facilitate change.

In its simplest form, action research is a way of generating research about a social system while simultaneously attempting to change that system. While conventional social science aims at producing knowledge about social systems (some of which may eventually prove useful to those wishing to effect change), action research seeks both to understand and to alter the problems generated by social systems.

A research methodology designed to have subjects, in particular teachers, to investigate an element of a particular activity which the aim of determining whether the changes can produce effective and positive improvements, especially student learning.

action research involves identifying a question or problem and then collecting and analyzing relevant data. It is called action research because the participants are studying an aspect of their own work and they intend to use the results themselves.

SRU34.html Action research is research that each of us can do on our own practice, that “we” (any team or family or informal community of practice) can do to improve its practice, or that larger organizations or institutions can conduct on themselves, assisted or guided by professional researchers, with the aim of improving their strategies, practices, and knowledge of the environments within which they practice.