Action Research Factors and Tips

   As an administrator, when someone comes to you with a problem there are two key questions you need to ask:

(1)   What is the problem?

(2)   What is the source of the problem?

You should then proceed with looking at the facts, collecting data, and looking at the qualitative perspective of things.  Never shy away from a problem. Read up on the issue and do your best to find out how others have been successful in solving it. Why re-invent the wheel if you do not have to? It is important to use your resources to help answer your questions. Find out what others in the same or a similar situation have done to help solve the problem and make comparisons with your findings. It is also vital that educators communicate with one another and collaborate to solve the problem and to better the school. Another important aspect of action research is that the research needs to be practical ( not just theoretical) for your situation and environment so that you will be interested, focused on the outcome, and so that your students will benefit from it. is working for your students and that it is relevant and helps them connect to the material. Lastly, it is important in action research to be able to extract, analyze, and apply data to find out if what you are doing is effective or not and what areas you are strong in and what areas need to be assessed further and revised.