Action Research
Supplementary Materials for LSI 580 Evaluation and Research
Department of Library Science and Instructional Technology
Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven CT

LSI 580-70
Fall 1999

CONTENTS:
1. Context for action research
2. Major concepts and principles of action research
3. Techniques of action research
4. The research notebook
5. Analyzing action research data
6. Ethical criteria for action researchers
7. The written action research report

Action Research

Theoretical study of and practice in designing, conducting and evaluating action research. Action research is a form of self-reflective inquiry undertaken in order to improve social situations, including the classroom, and practices carried out in the situations. Action research is receiving increasing attention, especially in the education and the information professions. Funding opportunities for collaborative action research have also recently increased.

Welcome to our self-study in Action Research!

The aim of action research is to solve the immediate and pressing day-to-day problems in social situations. For example, in the classroom or other educational setting, the aim might be to deliver an effective and efficient curriculum. Two premises underlie action research: 1) social situations (for example, curriculum) can be improved through action research and 2) those involved in the social situation (for example, teachers) are best placed to conduct such inquiry.

The benefits of action research include participants improving their understanding of events, situations and problems, and increasing the effectiveness of their role in the social situation.

The methodology of action research is a small-scale intervention in the functioning of the real world...and the close examination of the effects of these interventions.

We believe you will find that action research can be an effective tool when applied to your professional as well as to your personal life. While studying the methods of action research, we will seek out opportunities to practice what we have learned.

This self-study module is divided into seven parts: Context for action research; Major concepts and principles of action research; Techniques of action research; The research notebook; Analyzing action research data; Ethical criteria for action researchers; and The written action research report. Access to each part is through the menu on the left of the screen.

This module was written for teacher and school media specialists. Therefore examples will be from schools and teaching. For additional examples (from outside of education) the following book is recommended: Greenwood, D. J. & Levin, M. (1998). Introduction to action research: Social research for social change. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publishing.