A Look at Action Research

Action research or administrative inquiry is a very effective way of taking everyday issues within the school setting and turning them into topics of research to foster campus improvement.  Research in the educational setting no longer refers to improvement plans based on areas found to be lacking by university researchers or “outside” experts.  This outdated way of doing things has been found to be less effective and often failed to address campuses' actual needs.  Action research is a skill that administrators can effectively fit into their schedules by making it a part of their daily structure and choosing topics applicable to areas that must be addressed anyway (Dana, 2009).  Action research is not meant to add extra stress to administrators, but rather to create a road map of how to more effectively focus on continuous campus improvement.  Dana suggests that the best way to make time for action research is to make it a part of your daily practice by reshaping existing structures in your work. As an administrator I would use this method of inquiry to address every day issues in education such as getting parents more involved in their child’s education, improving teaching strategies to heighten student performance,  boosting the morale of my teachers and endless other studies that can lead toward a better atmosphere at my campus.

Why share your action research through blogging?

Blogs are great tools that can be used by educational leaders to share their action research and findings while encouraging collaboration among educators about important scholastic topics.  In having a blog you allow a wide range of experts to share even further insight and ideas about how to improve in the areas you are studying.  Most schools face very similar challenges on a daily basis and could benefit by learning from each other!   





Dana, N.F. (2009). Leading with Passion and Knowledge: The Principal as Action Researcher. California: Corwin.