Nov. 9 ,2012

1. REVISITING EDUCATION RESEARCH WITH FOCUS ON ACTION RESEARCH Nov. 9 ,2012

5. WHAT IS RESEARCH? • As cited by Calderon and Gonzales (1993), research in general is a • systematic, refined, careful, critical and disciplined inquiry varying in method directed to the clarification and/or resolution of a problem. • RESEARCH… • starts with a problem, • collects data or facts, • analyzes and interprets these critically and • reaches a decision based on actual evidence.

6. RESEARCH IS A POWERFUL AND LOGICAL PROCESS IN DOING M & E

8. School M & E System

13. FOCUS on EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH… • American philosopher John Dewey described the scientific method as a procedure for thinking more objectively (Mertler & Charles, 2011). • He presented the procedure as a series of the following steps: • 1. Clarify the main question inherent in the problem. • 2. State a hypothesis (a possible answer to the question). • 3. Collect, analyze, and interpret information related to the question, such that it will permit you to answer the question. • 4. Form conclusions derived from your analyses. • 5. Use the conclusions to verify or reject the hypothesis. • SHARE/DISSEMINATE/PUBLISH • UTILIZE / ACT

14. Organizing the Parts of the Research Report • Title Page • Acknowledgment* • Dedication** • Abstract*** • Chapter I. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY • Rationale • Statement of the Problem • Statement of the Hypotheses • Significance/Importance of the Study • Scope and Delimitation of the Study • Definition of Terms • Chapter II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE • Chapter III. MATERIALS AND METHODS • Chapter IV. DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION • Chapter V. SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS • BIBLIOGRAPHY • APPENDICES • CURRICULUM VITAE • *The ACKNOWLEDGMENT includes words of indebtedness to persons, groups of persons or institutions for the realization of the science research project. • ** The DEDICATION includes words of thanks to people who gave inspiration to realize the project. • ***The ABSTRACT is a one-page presentation of what the science research project is all about. This is in paragraph form.

15. Simplified Research Paper • 2500 words, 10 pages, double spaced

16. FOR EPS I, DS and EPS II FOR EPS I, DS, SCHOOLS

17. Action Research

18. What is Action Research? • Action research is conducted by one or more individuals or groups for the purpose of solving a problem or obtaining information in order to inform local practice. • Such studies are seriously limited in generalizability. • Action research does not require complete mastery of the major types of research earlier discussed.

19. Basic Assumptions Underlying Action Research (Table 23.1) Assumption Teachers and other education professionals have the authority to make decisions. Teachers and other education professionals want to improve their practice. Teachers and other education professionals are committed to continual professional development. Teachers and other education professionals will and can engage in systematic research. Example A team of teachers, after discussions with the school administration, decide to meet weekly to revise the mathematics curriculum to make it more relevant to low- achieving students. A group of teachers decide to observe each other on a weekly basis and then discuss ways to improve their teaching. The entire staff—administration, teachers, counselors, and clerical staff—of an elementary school go on a retreat to plan ways to improve the attendance and discipline policies for the school. Following up on the example just listed above, the staff decides to collect data by reviewing the attendance records of chronic absentees over the past year, to interview a random sample of attendees and absentees to determine why they differ, to hold a series of after-school roundtable sessions between discipline-prone students and faculty to identify problems and discuss ways to resolve issues of contention, and to establish a mentoring system in which selected students can serve as counselors to students needing help with their assigned work.

20. Assumptions Underlying Action Research • A number of assumptions underlie action research: • Participants have the authority to make decisions • Those involved are seriously committed to improving their performance • Educators and others involved in schools want to engage in research systematically • Those performing the research will make the necessary changes and recommendations

21. Types of Action Research • There are two main types of action research: • Practical Action Research • Addresses a specific problem • Primary purpose is to improve practice and inform larger issues • Participatory Action Research • Empower individuals and groups to improve their lives and bring about a social change • Stakeholders are involved and are active in all processes (collaborative participation)

22. Stakeholders

23. The Role of the “Expert” in Action Research

24. Provide information Become informed of purpose of the study Receive findings Assist in data collection Review findings Participate in interpretation Participate in designing the project Participate in problem specification Initiate study Levels of Participation There are nine levels, as shown in Figure 24.3.

25. Participation in Action Research (Fig. 24.4)

26. Levels of Participation in Action Research (Fig. 24.3)

27. Steps in Action Research • There are four steps or stages in Action Research: • Identifying the research question • Gathering the necessary information • Analyzing and interpreting the information • Developing a plan of action

28. Advantages of Action Research • It can be performed by anyone, in any type of school or institution • It can help to improve educational practice • It can help education and other professionals to improve their craft • It can help them learn to identify problems systematically • It can build up a small community of research-oriented individuals at the local level Similarities and Differences of Types of Research are shown in Table 24.2.

29. Similarities and Differences Between Action Research & Formal Quantitative and Qualitative Research Action Research Systematic inquiry. Goal is to solve problems of local concern. Little formal training required to conduct such studies. Intent is to identify and correct problems. Carried out by teacher or other local education professional. Uses primarily teacher-developed instruments. Less rigorous. Usually value-based. Purposive samples selected. Selective opinions of researcher often considered as data. Generalizability is very limited. Formal Research Systematic inquiry. Goal is to develop and test theories and to produce knowledge generalizable to wide population. Considerable training required to conduct such studies. Intent is to investigate larger issues, of local concern. Carried out by researcher who is not usually involved in local situation. Uses primarily professionally-developed instruments. More rigorous. Frequently value-neutral. Random samples (if possible) preferred. Selective opinions of researcher never considered as data. Generalizability often appropriate.

30. RESEARCH AGENDA

31. Science Research/Investigatory Project

32. Science Research/Investigatory Project

33. III Research Paper • Title Page and Table of Contents • Introduction (including purpose, problem, hypothesis) • Materials and Methods • Results • Discussion • Conclusions • Acknowledgments • References • Abstract Science Research/Investigatory Project