LRN0210 - Action Research

Course Description

Action research is a form of investigation designed to attempt to solve problems and improve professional practices. It involves systematic observations and data collection which can be then used by the practitioner-researcher in reflection and decision-making.

Discover the features of action research and how it can be directly applied to answer questions and solve problems in collaboration with others in your specific professional context.

Come away with the ability to develop an action research plan to partner with your key stakeholders to collect data, analyze data, and determine findings to address this curiosity or solve the problem.

Course Outline

Unit 1

The uniqueness of Action Research

• What is action research?
• How is it different from other types of research?
• Identifying a problem and study purpose
• Discussion Topic: Drafting and sharing the above components of an action research plan

Unit 2

Identifying Key Stakeholders

• Characteristics of key stakeholders
• How to communicate with key stakeholders on an action research plan
• Issues of ethics in Action Research
• Discussion Topic: Drafting and sharing the above components of an action research plan

Data Collection Procedures

• Identifying data sources
• Identifying data collection procedures
• Planning collaborative meetings with key stakeholders
• Discussion Topic: Drafting and sharing the above components of an action research plan

Unit 4

The Final Action Research Plan

• Identifying data analysis procedures
• Constructing plans to inform key stakeholders of the results
• Applying results to help ensure solution(s) to identified problem(s) from Unit 1
• Discussion Topic: Drafting and sharing final action research plan containing Unit 4 components and any revisions from first three weeks

Learner Outcomes

After successfully completing this course, you will:

1. Be able to describe the unique features of action research and how it differs from other forms of research.

2. Understand the potential of action research to address a curiosity or solve a problem in your specific professional context.

3. Know how to identify a specific curiosity or problem in your professional setting that would benefit from application of action research concepts.

4. Be able to identify other interested parties (‘key stakeholders’) in the above-identified curiosity or problem.

5. Have the knowledge to develop an action research plan to partner with these key stakeholders to collect data, analyze data, and determine findings to address this curiosity or solve this problem.

Notes

Course objectives

1. To explore the nature of action research, including its guiding principles and an understanding of who conducts action research.

2. To explain the benefits of action research as compared to other design methodologies.

3. To show how to plan an action research project, including searching the literature for contextual information pertinent to your proposed study.

4. To explain how to implement an action research plan (data collection procedures); and

Illustrate how to interpret the results, including assessing their validity.

5. To prepare students on how to prepare a final action research report containing the results of your study.