EDLD 5301: Action Research

I have to be honest; before I began reading the text I had no idea what action research was much less how it could be used. After beginning to read Leading With Passion and Knowledge by Nancy Fichtman Dana, I began to embark on a comprehension of action research and its purpose. Everyone, no matter what business in which they work, should constantly strive to do the best job possible for all involved. Action research can facilitate in professional development in order to continue or modify a course of action. “Inquiring professionals seek out change and reflect on their practice by posing questions or “wonderings,” collecting data to gain insights into their wonderings, analyzing the data along with reading relevant literature, making changes in practice based on new understandings developed during inquiry, and sharing findings with others” (Dana, 2009). There are typically three types of research currently used in education. The major difference when comparing action research to the other two methods is the person(s) presenting the questions are the ones following through with the research rather than the research being conducted by an outsider.  This allows those working within the day-to-day functions of the profession to be best equipped to make certain the best job is being performed.

Dana, N. (2009). Leading with passion and knowledge: The principal as action researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.