Assignment:
ACTION RESEARCH
TASK 1: WRITE A SHORT ESSAY (500 to 750)
Write a short piece explaining the purpose of action research. Analyse key features of the action research process and analyse the implications of a model of action research. List a number of models and choose one.
TASK 2: PLAN YOUR ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT
Begin by justifying you own choice of an area of practice for action research. Plan a clear intervention strategy, will you act as teacher-as-researcher. Justify your choice and set timescales, draw up schedules, short term targets, monitoring etc. Explain how ethical and political considerations and issues of confidentiality will be observed in practice. Begin to implement your strategy producing clear plans with achievable targets.
TASK 3: JUSTIFY YOUR METHODS
Justify the methods you will use, are they valid and reliable, what will be the motivation of those who participate? What methods will you for collecting qualitative and quantitative data e.g. qualitative, quantitative, questioning etc.?
Once you have collected you data explain how you will analyse it.
TASK 4: CONDUCT AN ACTION RESEARCH
Justify your choice of methods, show how you will minimise risk of bias, manage timescales and minimise the impact on candidates.
Collect you data in an appropriate format to allow for clear presentation, enabling comparisons and identification of trends, collecting and reviewing data using appropriate methods.
Analyse the data emphasising on statistical correlations, mean/median values, chi-squared test, coding of qualitative data, and identification of variables or relationships. Present you data in a chart or diagram form.
Write a short conclusion on what you found, did it correlate to your initial estimations, do the statistics back up you findings? Based upon your findings would you recommend any action?
How effective was the research project? List your own strengths and any areas for improvement. Plan on how you would improve your own skills e.g. CPD, CPPD, higher level qualifications etc.