What is Action Research and Why Use It

Administrative inquiry, or action research, is the process of the principal engaging in systematic, intentional study of his/her own administrative practice and taking action for change based on what he/she learns as a result of the inquiry. Inquiring professionals reflect on their practice by posing questions or “wonderings,” collecting data to gain insights into their wonderings, analyzing the data along with reading relevant literature, making changes in practice based on new understandings developed during inquiry, and sharing findings with others. Administrative inquiry is a powerful vehicle for learning and school improvement. Administrators can use it to gain deeper insights into their practice as administrators and their leadership role in the school improvement efforts.It also provides principals professional development in which they participate as members of ongoing study groups analyzing instructional issues for their schools. Action research allows the administrator to take an active role and become the “head learner” in their school.

Action research usually refers to research intended to bring about change of some kind. In action research the administrator is an insider in the process and is actively engaged in the learning and the knowledge gained from the inquiry. Action research is cyclical and is a never ending process or creating and re-creating for the purpose of constantly improving the school. It is focused on providing insight into an administrator’s own practice in an effort to make change and improve the school. Action research is an introspective process where the administrator takes an active role asking himself/herself what ways can I help facilitate the professional growth of the teachers in my building. In action research administrators are problem solvers.

I plan on using action research this upcoming school year to find out where DAEP students that come to the Mesquite Learning Center stand academically.  In order to find this out, I will need to gather appropriate. This data would show that students are either gaining, staying the same, or loosing academic ground. If they are staying the same or gaining academically then GREAT!!! However, if we are loosing academic ground then that is a major problem. After analyzing the data, if this is the case, then we would need to examine the instructional program and find out what is missing.