Comparative Look at Action Research Essay Example
Comparative Look at Action Research: Application 1
Lona Burch
Walden University
Dr. Cindee Easton
Action Research for Educators (EDUC - 6733R - 1) January 9, 2011
Comparative Look at Action Research Based on my prior knowledge and this week’s resource, I see a little clear why action research can help me address the needs of my students better. This week I have learned the difference between action research/teacher inquiry and education traditional research. Also, I have learned the relationship between action research and teacher professional growth and decision making. Last, I have been able to see what teacher inquiry/action research look like, how they are similar and different. I have discovered this week that the traditional model of educational research differs from teacher inquiry. Traditional research is conducted by researchers. It looks at what others are doing and strives not to get personally involved (Schmuck, 1997). However, our textbook states, that teacher inquiry is the “systematic, intentional study of one’s own professional practice” (Dana and Yendol-Hoppey, 2009, p. 6). After studying my completed comparison chart, I discovered some ways that action research is the same and different as traditional educational research studies. They are the same in that their main purpose is to collect data, to inquire, or problem solve in the classroom (Schmuck, 1997). However, they are also different. Traditional research is looking at what others are doing and action research is the teacher looking at what they are doing (Schmuck, 1997). I feel that they both have weaknesses and strengths. One weakness would be that the traditional research is not in the actual everyday classroom. It may not always focus on the individual needs of my students, whereas action research occurs in the classroom with my students and the teacher is personally involved (Schmuck, 1997). A strength of traditional research is that a teacher may not
Lona Burch
Walden University
Dr. Cindee Easton
Action Research for Educators (EDUC - 6733R - 1) January 9, 2011
Comparative Look at Action Research Based on my prior knowledge and this week’s resource, I see a little clear why action research can help me address the needs of my students better. This week I have learned the difference between action research/teacher inquiry and education traditional research. Also, I have learned the relationship between action research and teacher professional growth and decision making. Last, I have been able to see what teacher inquiry/action research look like, how they are similar and different. I have discovered this week that the traditional model of educational research differs from teacher inquiry. Traditional research is conducted by researchers. It looks at what others are doing and strives not to get personally involved (Schmuck, 1997). However, our textbook states, that teacher inquiry is the “systematic, intentional study of one’s own professional practice” (Dana and Yendol-Hoppey, 2009, p. 6). After studying my completed comparison chart, I discovered some ways that action research is the same and different as traditional educational research studies. They are the same in that their main purpose is to collect data, to inquire, or problem solve in the classroom (Schmuck, 1997). However, they are also different. Traditional research is looking at what others are doing and action research is the teacher looking at what they are doing (Schmuck, 1997). I feel that they both have weaknesses and strengths. One weakness would be that the traditional research is not in the actual everyday classroom. It may not always focus on the individual needs of my students, whereas action research occurs in the classroom with my students and the teacher is personally involved (Schmuck, 1997). A strength of traditional research is that a teacher may not