Action Research in Education Third Lecture

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Action Research in Education (Third Lecture)

• Azimi Hamzah UPM

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Action Research Tools

• Action Research is more of a holistic approach to
  problem-solving, rather than a single method for
  collecting and analyzing data.  Thus, it allows
  for several different research tools
  (triangulation), generally common to the
  qualitative research paradigm, include
• structured and unstructured interviews
• participant observation recordings
• keeping a research journal/field note
• document collection and analysis

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The principle of triangulation

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Tools for Gathering Data

• Interviews with students, parents, teachers
• Portfolios of a range of work from students of
  different abilities around a particular topic a
  representation of a total experience a
  collection of documents for analysis
• Individual files of students' work (e.g., tapes,
  samples of work, art work, memos, photos of
  models/projects, reports), of students' opinions
  of student attitudes, of students' experiences
• Diaries/journals written by teachers, students,
  parents, class groups, teachers
• Field notes/observation records - informal notes
  written by a teacher
• Logs of meetings, lessons, excursions, school
  expectations, material used

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More Tools for Gathering Data

• Student-teacher discussion/interaction - records
  of comments and thoughts generated by students
• Questionnaires of attitudes, opinions,
  preferences, information
• Audiotapes of meetings, discussions in class or
  about data gathered, games, group work,
  interviews, whole class groups, monologues,
  readings, lectures, demonstrations
• Videotapes of classrooms, lessons, groups,
  demonstrations, a day in a school, lunch times
• Still photography of groups working, classrooms,
  faces, particular students over time, at fixed
  intervals in a lesson
• Time-on-task analysis of students, teachers over
  a lesson, a day, a week

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Considerations in choosing tools for data
collection

• Does the method give a form of data which relates
  to my question?
• Is it feasible in the available time?
• Have I made myself aware of its strengths and
  limitations?
• Will it be an acceptable method for the other
  people involved?
• Will it disrupt normal routines? (If the data
  gathering method presents as much change as the
  planned action, then how will I know what is
  having an effect?!)

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On Using Interview for data collection
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Types of topics/questions suitable for using
interview

• Behaviours what a person has done or doing
• Opinions/values what a person thinks
• Feelings what a person feels than what a person
  thinks
• Knowledge to get facts about a topic
• Sensory what a people have seen, touched,
  heard, tasted or smelled

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Guide to effective interview

• Establish rapport with subjects - be sensitive
• Order of questioning generalgtspecific
• Free to probe
• Follow their interest
• Open ended not close
• Neutral not leading

• Interview is interaction, sensitive to reactions
• With sensitive issue introduce gradually
• Prompt discussion- How did that make you feel?
• Tell me more about that?

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Example of Interview Protocol

• Share with me about your life before returning to
  school? (major roles, spending time)
• Why did you return to school? (probe for
  psychological motivation, self actualization,
  personal enrichment)
• Among your experiences in the university, what
  are your favorites? (4 Ws and 1 H)
• How has returning to school affected you
  personally? (probe for positive/negative changes
  with examples)
• What are some of the activities that you would
  like be involved in? (4Ws and 1H)

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Quality issues in interview

• Ability to quickly develop relationship
• Encourage good communication
• Ability to modify behaviour to suit the subject
  in getting at maximum co-operation
• Empathize with other people
• Be objective immersed and discipline
• Not projecting own subjective views
• Create non-threatening atmospheres

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Kinds of sharing questions for interviews

• Descriptive Please could you tell me what do
  you do in the library?
• Narrative Can you tell about how you came to
  get the assignments?
• Structural So what are all the stages involved
  in the process of completing the task?
• Contrast What are the differences that
  distinguish good day at the university from a bad
  day?

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Kinds of sharing questions for interviews

• Evaluative How do you feel after a bad day at
  doing lab work?
• Systematic How do you think your study would
  be different if you had another instructor?
• Prompts and probes Can you tell me a bit more
  about that? What do you mean by unfair?

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Using observation as tool for data collection
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Phases of Observation

• Selecting of setting
• Definition of what to be documented
• Training of observers to standardize focus
• Descriptive observations to provide initial
  general presentation of the field
• Focused observation to concentrate more on
  aspects relevant to research questions
• Selective observations to purposely grab the
  central aspects
• End the observations when saturation reached

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Practical advice on doing observation

•  What to look at -- Initially clothing,
  furniture arrangement then about time spent,
  physical movement of players, handling of
  equipment/resources and recording verbatim
  speech later With thought focus
• How to observe -- Selective and what matters,
  wait and see what jumps out for paradox and
  problems
• Where and when to look -- Individually, small
  group, large group in corridors and rooms
• What to record -- With flow of thought and not
  forgetting verbatim speech or at least some key
  words/phrases while constantly analyse and
  interpret data to make for making additional
  observation

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Observation Summary

• Date, time, place, actors, activities
• What were the main incidents that you observed
  indicate misbehaviors?
• What could be asked concerning the actors you
  observed?
• What could be asked concerning the activities you
  observed?
• What could be asked concerning the arrangement of
  setting?

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Using Focus Group Discussion for data collection
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Focus Group Discussion

• Collect information from group of people
• Useful to obtain certain types of information or
  when difficult to get using other method
• Collecting views from a number of people who
  share a common factor
• Group interaction among participants provide
  greater insights

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Characteristics of Focus Group

• 6-10 people per group
• Dont limit to a single group a few of 3-4
• Members must have something common with regard to
  the study
• Participants might not know each other
• Can use pre formed group

• Make use of informant feelings, perceptions, and
  opinion
• May be time consuming
• Need group skills in facilitating, moderating,
  listening, observation, and analyzing

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Guidelines for Data Collection

• Formulate good questions that relate to the
  specific information needs of the project.
• Use multiple tools for data collection and
  sources of data.
• Consider multiple realities
• Go for data saturation
• Be aware that how you set up the situation
  influences the results.
• Analyse and reflect on the data immediately