Download - Action Research AE

05/03/2023 lwf/action research/epjj/edu650 1

Taklimat EDU650 Academic Exercise

E-PJJ20th March 2014

(Edited - 23rd March 2014)


Research methods for primary schools course (March2014)

• Lecturers will start with an introduction to the various kinds of research, various research designs, various instruments, etc

• Then when students have a background to doing research in education especially primary education students will then be guided towards understanding action research and writing the action research proposal (collaborative action research)according to a suggested format.


N.B.

• The next few slides are taken from a contents page (PJK) from edu575 action research in education course taught in 2012 to Perdagangan, PJK & PSV (post-graduate diploma ss)


Edu575 Action Research in Education

• SAMPLE CONTENT PAGE (PJK)

• Title: The impact of facebook as learning platform in physical and health education• (SS did ONLY ONE CYCLE of the

AR)


Table of contents

• Acknowledgement• Abstract• 1.0 Introduction• Personal observation (Reflection of • previous teaching & learning)• (the purpose if to show that the research

problem is real/exists; justification/evidence is required)


(Cont’d)

2.0 Research Objective(s)/Research Questions/Hypothesis (?) 3.0 Literature Review ( previous studies & relevant theories)4.0 Limitations of Research (before research is carried out)5.0 Methodology Research Design Sample Size (& School) Instrument/ Measurement


(Cont’d)

Intervention/treatment Data collection (procedure – flow chart if applicable) Data analysis (graphs, etc) 6.0 Findings and Discussion Findings Discussion


(cont’d)

7.0 Reflection of Research Review about the research conducted Limitations of research (after conducting the research) Suggestions for future research8.0 Conclusion9.0 References (APA style)Appendices - lesson plan, teaching aids for intervention, pictures, etc


Action Research for e-PJJ• PART 7 (March2014)• Edu650 - Supervisor will be

assigned at the end of part 7; the individuals of each group will be supervised individually even though they completed the proposal as a *group; we will attempt to assign ONE same supervisor to all the * group members for supervision in part 8.

• Part 8 (Sept 2014)• Individual students with the

action research proposal done as group work will proceed to collect data, analyze, etc individually and complete writing their own action research. However, some changes will hv to be made to some sections as research settings, sample, etc may differ; what will be similar may be the research problem, intervention, etc. In other words, in part 8 each student will conduct their own research and hand in a complete action research report.


Main concern of action research

• Action research looks for answers to the question:

• ‘how do I improve my work’? • (Whitehead, 1989)


What is Action Research?

• Action research is a process in which participants examine their own educational practice, systematically and carefully using the techniques of research.

• It is conducted usually by teachers to improve their own students’ performance.

• It is concerned with changing (improving) situations not just interpreting them.


Answer Three questions

1. Is the focus on your own work?2. Are you empowered to make

changes?3. Is improvement possible?

• YES, YES & YES then you’re conducting ACTION RESEARCH.


Differences between action research and traditional research

What? Traditional/Basic Research Action Research

Who? Conducted by university professors and scholars

Conducted by teachers and principals

Where? In environment where variables can be controlled

In schools & classrooms

How? Using rigorous research design to show a cause-effect relationship, etc; attention is given to reducing error and bias

Using less controlled procedures to understand the effects of some educational intervention. Changes are made during the study as in cycle 2 in action research cycle

Why? To obtain knowledge that is generalizable and to develop and test educational theories

To obtain knowledge that can be applied directly to the local classroom situation and to give the participating teachers in service training


Examples of action research cycles/phases in the next 2 slides

• For an example of 5 phases of action research.• Please read the following:• https://www.nctm.org/uploadedFiles/Lessons_and_Resources/Grants_and_Awards/How

https://www.nctm.org/uploadedFiles/Lessons_and_Resources/Grants_and_Awards/How

Kemmis Action Research Cycle


Bullough & Gitlin’s 3-phase process (1995: p.181)

Phase 1: Identify and write up an issue/problem; collect baseline data. In light of the data, reconsider and reformulate the issue and write a question.

Phase 2: Write and implement an action plan; gather data and analyze data

Phase 3: Assess the plan in light of the data analysis. Make recommendations for future study and practice.


N.B.

• The next slide is a suggested format but it has to be modified if it doesn’t suit the students’ individual action research

• Therefore, the EDU 650 academic exercise supervisor will have to use discretion when supervising the writing of the thesis.


Suggested AR proposal format (APA style)

1. Title Page 2. Abstract3. Introduction a. Statement of the research problem b. Statement of the importance of the study c. Summary of prior literature and/or related theory/theories


(cont’d) Suggested AR proposal format

d. Purpose of the study b. Research Question(s) for qualitative study (?) c. Research hypotheses for quantitative study (?)(Mixed Method – QUAL/quant or qual/QUANT)



• 4. Method• a. Research site - school• b. Participants• c. Research Design – to explain whether • quantitative/ qualitative or mixed method • d. Instruments – for data collection as well • for the treatment; perhaps a suggested • teaching aid to try out • e. Procedure – usually in the form of a flow • chart



• 5. Data analysis• 6. References

• Appendices


The following slides are info you can share with your students

• Show students good samples of action research and use them to explain the action research process and write-up of the action research proposal

• Local samples may be obtained from Jurnal Penyelidikan Tindakan. Just google and there are many samples available.


The next slides are notes selected from various sources about classroom action research (CAR)

• CAR is an approach to improve the quality of education through making changes in the teaching & learning process

• CAR is participatory which involves the teacher doing actions to improve his/her practice

• CAR is developed through a spiral of cycles of planning, acting, observing, reflecting (1st cycle) then revised planning to begin another cycle (2nd cycle)


Cont’d

• A very specific characteristic of CAR is that it is conducted in the classroom; that the focus of the study is the interaction between the researcher(teacher) and the participants (students) and the researcher is involved as much as possible in the process and experience of the participants


Cont’d• CAR starts from problems faced by the teacher during the

teaching-learning process.• In CAR, a teacher is committed to changing the way

she/he teaches to ensure that her/his students learn• Based on the teacher’s self-constructed knowledge learnt

from CAR, the teacher will systematically learn to figure out alternative solution(s) for her/his teaching problems

• The solution is a priority in CAR; therefore, the problem being diagnosed should have a real impact towards the success of teaching & learning


Factors to consider when conducting CAR

• The teacher’s primary role is to teach and the research plan must not interfere with or disrupt the T & L process

• In conducting CAR, there will be a possibility of the failure of the intervention/treatment so the teacher/researcher should have an alternative back-up plan to solve the teaching problem (perhaps, 2nd cycle??) The implication is that the teacher is committed to solving his/her teaching problem. The intervention will go through as many cycles as needed until there is a definite solution.


(cont’d) Factors to consider when conducting CAR

• The method of data collection should not be too demanding on the researcher’s/teacher’s time.

• In conducting CAR, the teacher usually does not need a special allocation for the research; it should be integrated into the T&L process as the stages of the usual learning & research process (planning, action, observation & reflection) can occur simultaneously.

• Data can be collected as the T & L is going on. All processes of learning and the result of the students’ achievements are recorded and reported systematically, logically and objectively.



• The methodology used should be reliable research methodology and conducted in a scientific manner.

• The research should begin with (1) justification with accompanying evidence of the existence of a real teaching problem followed by (2)logical selection of actions/intervention (possible solutions) to be taken.

• The next stage is (3) the formulation of appropriate hypothesis (except for a purely qualitative research design). However from my reading, it is quite rare for an action research to be purely qualitative. They are usually mixed method in nature or a purely quantitative research design)



• The fourth stage is preparing teaching scenario(s)/intervention as in teaching aids to be used as well as the planning of the research procedure or teaching steps of the lesson

• The fifth stage is data collection and data analysis; the reliability & validity of the data collection and analysis should be explained & justified clearly.

• Lastly, is the reflection & discussion of findings stage. Included is the recommendations for further study which will constitute the 2nd cycle; i.e the weaknesses of the research (1st cycle) will be minimized in the next cycle and so on until there is a solution


Possible Questions

• How many cycles should the students conduct?

• How many pages is the proposal and final AR report?

• Rubrics for assessing the AR proposal & AR report?

• To be discussed as there are no answers for the questions yet.


The end • Thank You• Lim Wai Fun (Dr)• [email protected]/

[email protected]• Office: Block T 203/03-55227363• 0122823716

mailto:[email protected]/

mailto:[email protected]