What is

Action Research

Action research encompasses research methods used to evaluate, investigate and analyze weaknesses within academia. Research is then used to help instructors address issues that arise. This type of research may be applied to programs or educational techniques that instructors want to learn about and improve. The goal is to design a repeatable, iterative process to see better results for schools, instructors or programs.

Action research refers to addressing practical problems through the use of theory-driven research methods. This form of research may also be referred to as a cycle of action. Steps involved in action research include:

-Identify a problem
-Collect data
-Organize, analyze, and interpret data
-Develop a plan to address the problem
-Implement the plan
-Evaluate the resultsĀ 
-Identify a new problem
-Repeat the process