The goal of action research is to gain insight, develop reflective practice and effect positive changes in an organization’s environment. In an educational setting, the purpose of action research is to “provide teacher researchers with a method for solving everyday problems in schools so that they may improve both student learning and teacher effectiveness. Action research is research done by teachers, for themselves; it is not imposed on them by someone else” (Gay, Mills, & Airasian, 2009, p. 486). Action research encourages teacher researchers to reflect critically about their own practice in order to improve or enhance it. It encourages them to “examine the dynamics of their classrooms, ponder the actions and interactions of students, validate and challenge existing practices, and take risks in the process” (Gay, Mills, & Airasian, 2009, p. 486).
The following table is taken from Gay, Mills, & Airasian (2009) and outlines the key characteristics of action research:
The following table is taken from Gay, Mills, & Airasian (2009) and outlines the key characteristics of action research: