LC4-What+is+Action+Research?


 * This is our working page. Please look over all the entries that were posted at Virtcamp regarding what action research means, post the sections that speak to you, and we'll collectively combine our postings to create one paragraph that defines action research. Also, if you come across any useful data crunching tools, please make a note on this page as well... see the space at the bottom. Also, feel free to alter this page any way you want :)**

Cherilyn
I think Allen's stab at a paragraph is good. I merely corrected typos, and added some punctuation. Allen, please be sure I didn't change the meaning of the next to the last sentence when I corrected it. Action research is a recognized form of experimental research that focuses on the effects of the researcher's direct actions of practice within a participatory community with the goal to improve the performance quality of the community or an area of concern. Action research involves utilizing a systematic cyclical method of planning, action, observation, and self-evaluation or critical reflection to plan for the next cycle of actions with a set goal addressing an identified problem. It is a collaborative method to test new ideas and implement action for change through direct participation in a dynamic research process, while monitoring and evaluating the effects of the researcher's actions with the aim to further improve development. At it's core, it is a way to understand how one can improve one's actions or practices to mutually benefit a community of practitioners.

Josh
I have been working to create a presentation of our paragraph and the process in Flash. This has been an interesting challenge, and has produced some great results. The various versions have been emailed directly to the Learning Circle: the presentation is so amazing we're keeping it under wraps! The color-coded paragraph, described below, was used, but not color coded. Allen and I consulted on this choice. I expect to finish the presentation today, Sunday, and submit it for bug testing.

I envision having the full paragraph change to Allen's highlighted copy, with the following terms then breaking out:



The colors need to be defined for the user as part of the presentation (yellow is research in general, blue are words/concepts specific to Action Research). Clicking on one of these groupings (experimental research for example) would then bring up a list of every "bullet point" under this "category." Does that make sense?

Allen marked up the paragraph for us, an image of which is below. This was the work he was trying to do with a web of associations. He broke out particular phrases and color-coded them, as he explains below. We'll be building upon this for our presentation.



Allen explained in an email to me:

//Here is the color-coded paragraph. As I was looking at the bigger ideas I began highlighting in two word pairings. Then I noticed a trend or a pattern of sorts so I broke those two words up, one being the descripter. The yellow highlights could be words that associate with research in general and the blue are words that make them specific to Action Research. Hope this makes sense. Let me know if there is more I can do to help you.//

Here are my revisions to the paragraph, which by now has been written by Allen, reviewed by Katrin, Cherilyn, and myself.

//Action research is a recognized form of experimental research that focuses on the effects of the researcher's direct actions of practice within a participatory community with the goal of improving the performance quality of the community or an area of concern. Action research involves utilizing a systematic cyclical method of planning, action, observation, and self-evaluation or critical reflection to plan for the next cycle of actions with a set goal of addressing an identified problem. It is a collaborative method to test new ideas and implement action for change through direct participation in a dynamic research process, while monitoring and evaluating the effects of the researcher's actions with the aim of further improving development. At its core, it is a way to understand how one can improve one's actions or practices to mutually benefit a community of practitioners.//

Below is a list of "bullet points" that I extracted from each of the Action Research definition quotes. As you know, some repeat but I did not repeat them in the list. We ought to be able to use this list as well as information that you might generate to come up with a more precise definition.

acting researching Act -> Review action and research combination of theory and practice reflection researchers and practitioners working together cycles problem diagnosis action intervention reflective learning real-world situations improve acquire knowledge self-reflective enquiry improving rationality and justice of own practice improving understanding of one's practices improving understanding of situations in which practices are carried out focused efforts to improve the quality of an organization and its performance analysis of data to improve practice organized, systematic, and reflective method observation of practice addressing areas of concern reflection solving an issue commitment to social justice giving voice to those who are silenced challenging structures of oppression social change participatory method reflecting on one's own work making sure one's work is what one wants it to be self-reflective practice iterative process problem diagnosis action intervention reflective learning cyclic process pursuit of change and understanding cycle of action and critical reflection planning based on review of previous action collaborative critical enquiry into one's practice direct participation in a dynamic research process cycles of planning, action, observing, and critical reflection testing new ideas through action in practice evaluation reflection critical analysis of new approaches insights gained in each cycle used to develop new ideas dialogue action for change rigorous reflection on practice careful gathering and analysis of data Improving one's actions for mutual benefit participatory combination of action and reflection systematic development of knowing and knowledge improving rationality and justice practitioners and researchers acting together on a cycle of activities problem diagnosis action intervention reflective learning improving student learning improving one's own practice contributing to the development of one's profession overcoming isolation examination of educational practice through systematic and careful research identifying problems examining and assessing own work and considering different ways to work working collaboratively professional development acting and researching concurrently act, assess, analyze, consider alternatives, repeat as necessary redescribing inquiry practical knowing democracy and participation ways of knowing human and ecological flourishing emergent form finding a new language to describe one's work practical problem-solving expanding scientific knowledge contribute to the practical concerns of people direct involvement in organizational change increase in knowledge framework for thinking systematically about social situations implementing action for change monitoring and evaluating the effects of action with an aim of further development improving what one does improving one's understanding of one's actions ideas-in-action improving the quality of action empowerment emancipation giving voice action (change, improvement) and research (understanding, knowledge) achieved at the same time informed change informed by change creative and critical dialogue within a community learning from mistakes detailed criticism of one's positions ever-narrowing spiral of problem-posing and problem-solving exploration of a dilemma devising a solution studying with the aid of learners determination of change through action taking previous mistakes into account improving practice with each round supposition emerging from observation, knowledge, and experience draws from and shapes new theory real-world problem situation improving the situation declaring a framework and methodology so reflection yields research

Allen
Action research is a recognized form of experimental research that focuses on the effects of the researcher's direct actions of practice within a participatory community with the goal to improve the performance quality of the community or an area of concern. Action research involves utilizing a systematic cyclical method of planning, action, observation, and self-evaluation or critical reflection to plan for the next cycle of actions with a set goal addressing an identified problem. It is a collaborative method to test new ideas and implement action for change through direct paticipation in a dynamic research process while monitoring and evaluating the the effects the research's actions with the aim to further improve development. At it's core it is a way to understand how one can improve one's actions or practices to mutually benefit a community of practitioners.

Katrin
I took what Josh had, and tried to group common terms and ideas, in hopes of identifying major categories that encompass Action Research, and also taking a stab at data analysis/collection/evaluation in pursuit of the purpose of this assignment. Please look it over, and let’s see if we can identify other categories or aspects of action research that I may have omitted. We can then use that information to compare against the definition Allen has, and make sure it's reflective of all the main ideas, so that we can deliver the collective definition derived from the data. (01/08/07)

Reflection self-reflective inquiry making sure one's work is what one wants it to be reflecting on one's own work self-reflective practice collaborative critical inquiry into one's practice improving understanding of one's practices Improving one's actions for mutual benefit improving rationality and justice of own practice improving one's own practice contributing to the development of one's profession examining and assessing own work and considering different ways to work finding a new language to describe one's work detailed criticism of one's positions improving what one does improving one's understanding of one's actions professional development
 * Self Improvement and growth**

action and research Acting,Act -> Review researching Cycles cyclic process analysis of data to improve practice researchers and practitioners working together organized, systematic, and reflective method observation of practice cycles of planning, action, observing, and critical reflection testing new ideas through action in practice evaluation combination of action and reflection systematic development of knowing and knowledge combination of theory and practice planning based on review of previous action cycle of action and critical reflection careful gathering and analysis of data direct participation in a dynamic research process critical analysis of new approaches insights gained in each cycle used to develop new ideas acting and researching concurrently act, assess, analyze, consider alternatives, repeat as necessary redescribing inquiry draws from and shapes new theory expanding scientific knowledge action intervention rigorous reflection on practice practitioners and researchers acting together on a cycle of activities declaring a framework and methodology so reflection yields research taking previous mistakes into account ideas-in-action
 * Science based research**

researchers and practitioners working together improving understanding of situations in which practices are carried out focused efforts to improve the quality of an organization and its performance real-world situations social change commitment to social justice giving voice to those who are silenced challenging structures of oppression improving rationality and justice action for change dialogue improving student learning overcoming isolation human and ecological flourishing examination of educational practice through systematic and careful research empowerment emancipation giving voice participatory working collaboratively contribute to the practical concerns of people creative and critical dialogue within a community democracy and participation direct involvement in organizational change framework for thinking systematically about social situations implementing action for change monitoring and evaluating the effects of action with an aim of further development participatory method action (change, improvement) and research (understanding, knowledge) achieved at the same time improving practice with each round determination of change through action emergent form improving the quality of action
 * Social Impact and motivator for change**

solving an issue problem diagnosis real-world problem situation improving the situation problem diagnosis addressing areas of concern improve problem diagnosis identifying problems practical problem-solving ever-narrowing spiral of problem-posing and problem-solving exploration of a dilemma devising a solution informed change
 * Problem Solving**

practical knowing ways of knowing increase in knowledge pursuit of change and understanding studying with the aid of learners informed by change supposition emerging from observation, knowledge, and experience reflective learning acquire knowledge learning from mistakes
 * Pursuit of knowledge**

=Collective Definition=

**Steps we followed in our process:**
1. The four of us met together and discussed how we would approach the assignment. 2. We made the decision to have a wiki to document our process 3. Josh pulled together a list of key terms from the definitions Madre posted 4. We met as a LC and discussed the list Josh had made and decided on our next step. 5. Allen took the list of terms, grouped them into topics so that he could write a paragraph that was inclusive of all terms used in definitions 6. Katrin took list of terms, grouped them into topics with headings and published those groupings 7. Cherilyn proofed and edited paragraph and list of terms 8. We met as a LC and discussed paragraph and Katrin's groupings 9. Cherilyn documented steps we had taken 10. Josh review where we are: minor corrections to the paragraph, which I posted under my section of the wiki 11. Allen is going to come up with an associative chart of some sort that shows that each comment originally posted overlaps on many different categories. So what we create is a web of associations and in the middle is the paragraph. 12. Allen experimented with some software to display this information and found one that is a demo with time expiration. Josh suggested in Learning Circle that we attempt to display the information using an interactive Flash application. Josh will spearhead the assembly of the Flash project. 13. Cherilyn suggested that we use both Allen and Katrin's groupings. She then organized and grouped the list so that they were easier for Josh to organize in Flash. 13. Josh build multiple versions of the Flash project and emailed them for review and debugging to the rest of the Learning Circle. 14. Josh asked the rest of the Learning Circle to help determine under which Creative Commons License they wanted to release the project. 15. The Learning Circle needs to determine how they want to present the material in FL.