EPISODE 2 : AN ACTION RESEARCH BOOK REVIEW

REFERENCE:

Norton L. S. 2009. Action Research in teaching and learning : a practical guide to conducting pedagogical research in universities. New York : Taylor and Francis Groups.


WHAT IS THE CONCEPT USED BY THE AUTHOR..?

.:: Many definitions of action research in the literature usually involve reference to the twin purpose of action with research and to it being carried out by practitioners rather than by outside researchers. Some of the definitions include references to action research being cyclical, collaborative and constructivist, depending of which particular school of action research the author owes allegiance.

.:: None of this, in author views, has to be overly complicated. In this book, the author were using pedagogical action research concept. The principle of pedagogical action research is very clear that is to improve some aspect of the student learning experience. Put more formally, the fundamental purpose of pedagogical action is to systematically investigate one's own teaching / learning facilitation practice with the dual aim of modifying practice and contributing to theoretical knowledge.

WHY TEACHERS NEED TO IMPLEMENT IT..?

.:: The book is practical as guidance for teachers, who need to carry out action research by their own practice. The accessible text illustrates what might be done to improve teaching or supporting learning by carrying out action research to address questions such as:

~~ What the teachers can do to help their own students..?
~~ What they can do to help their students become more analytical..?
~~ How can they help their students to link theory with the practice..?
~~ What can they do to make their lecturing style more flexible..?
~~ What is going wrong in their seminars when the students fall asleep..?

WHAT DESIGN HAS BEEN USED BY THE AUTHOR..?

Model

.:: The author has used a framework basis model proposed by Fanghanel (2007), which she based on an interview study with 18 lecturers from 15 different institutions. The framework is an useful shorthand device for thinking about the difficulties that colleagues sometimes face when doing a pedagogical action research study.

Sample / Participant

.:: In the book, there were five cases that have been considered and identified as pedagogical issues. All participants are university lecturers with different background.

1) Angela : Inspired to improve feedback
2) Berit : Concerned by innumeracy
3) Charles : Confronted with an under performing module
4) Delyth : Adapting to needs of dyslexic students
5) Eric : Bridging the gap between theory and practice

Research Settings

.:: The author has drawn on the literature and also on five hypothetical vignettes showing how individual academics keen to take some action to address a pedagogical issue. Dilemma or challenge are also faced with pressures specific to the higher education context.

WHAT ARE THE PROCEDURES..?

.:: In the book, the author's view of the action research cycle is

1 - Observed or notice that something is not as it should be and / or could be improved
~~ OBSERVED
2 - Plan a course of action which involves changing something in your practice
~~ PLAN
3 - Carry out the change
~~ ACT
4 - See what effect your change has made
~~ REFLECT

.:: There are also FIVE simple process steps remembered by the acronym ITDEM that will help the readers to get started.

Step 1 : Identifying a problem / paradox / issue / difficulty
Step 2 : Thinking of ways to tackle the problem
Step 3 : Doing it
Step 4 : Evaluating it (actual action research)
Step 5 : Modifying future practice

DATA PROCESSING IN THE BOOK..?

Research Instruments

.:: There are several instruments highlighted by the author in the book that I found, which are

1 - Questionaire-based research tools
2 - The Essay Feedback Checklist (EFC)
3 - Approaches Studying Inventory (ASI)
4 - The Reflections on Learning Inventory (RoLI)
5 - Adapting interview methodology
6 - Further reading and resources

Data Collection Technics

1 - Questionaire research
2 - Interviews
3 - Observational research
4 - Correlational studies
5 - Further reading and resources

Data Analysis Technics

1 - Descriptive statistics
2 - Inferential statistics
3 - Test of difference for repeated measures (paired variables)
4 - Test of difference for independent groups
5 - Test of goodness of fit

WHAT ARE THE RESEARCH ETHICS THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED IN THE BOOK..?

Fundamental Principles of Ethical Research

.:: The author has discussed ethical issues in carrying out educational research from the perspective of the pedagogical action researcher. In the section on fundamental principles, the author has described on

1 - Informed consent
2 - Privacy and confidentiality
3 - Protection from harm

Pedagogical Action Research

.:: In the section on the pedagogical action research context, the author has briefly discussed its political aspect and ethical implications.