Action Research Proposal

1.  Problem statement (100 words)

  1. Who is affected?
  2. Who/what is suspected of causing the problem?
  3. What kind of problem is it?
  4. What is your goal for improvement?
  5. What do you propose to do about it?

2.  Data Collection (you need at least three sources of data)

(“The credibility of any research effort lives or des onn the quality of the data used to support its conclusion.” – Sagor) This includes information from a variety of sources including interviewing, observing, review of artifacts.

Some common sources:

Existing sources: student work (portfolios), archival evidence (records maintained by the school, for example)

Tools for capturing everyday life: diaries, logs, journals, videos, photographs, shadowing, observational checklists and rating scales.

Tools for questioning: interviews, written surveys, texts

3.  Data Analysis – looking systematically at all the data collected to see what trends or patterns emerge and what conclusions, if any, can be drawn. What method(s) will you use to analyze your data? What type of graphic representations will you use to show your results?

4.  Action Planning – You have analyzed the data, now you need to create a plan for solving the problem you have investigated. What will you do? What will you change? How can classroom practices be altered or enhanced? Is curriculum development required? How will the school, the family and the community be affected?


Action Research Project*

Of

______

(student)

(Use this form to outline your project)

1.  The question:

2.  The problem statement:

3.  Data Collection (list and give specific examples)

a. Existing sources

b. Tools to capture information

c. Tools for questioning

4.  Data Analysis (how/what I expect to find and how I will analyze and present the findings)

5.  Plan for change/implementation (include those which are applicable to your topic)

  1. Classroom
  2. School
  3. Curriculum
  4. Parental/community

6. Appendix: Include all forms that you will use for the project