What?

This book is focusing on the meaning of action research (AR) and who does the AR. As i had told you before, AR is a research in which the researcher involve himself in the project as well as the other subjects. The questions arise are 'What am i doing?', ' What do i need to improve?', 'How do i improve it?' and etc. This AR is done not because somebody told you so, but it comes upon the researcher decision himself.

Mcniff describe the process in AR as ongoing starting with problem identification by the practitioner and the observe - reflect - act - evaluate - modify - observe (new direction) cycle is known as Action-reflection cycle.

Although AR is known as to improve self perception or practices, some action researcher still maintain an exclusive self-perception as external researchers do : looking of what other people do. This has build up boundaries that separate the researcher and the others. However, when the researchers become involved it the situation, possibly they become the participants. And when this happen, the boundaries that has been separate themselves with other people dissolved, consequently the people see them as one, united in a common endeavor to improve their own situations.

Why?

AR is done to generate new knowledge, a special kind one, and in education, the AR is seen to be a methodology for real world social change. Important: AR can be done for many purposes but not for all.

Also, we can say that doing AR is to contribute to new practices and theory where we are improving our learning to improve practice.

Where?

Action research in different research paradigms:

• Technical rational (empirical) research
• Interpretive research
• Critical theoretical research
  

When?

You can use AR when you want to seek improvement to your understanding on a theory or else or to develop your learning BUT not when you want to do comparisons, show statistical correlations or to demonstrate a cause and effect relationship.

Who?

Everyone can do the AR, from a student to managers, administrators or other professions. And those who do investigations to find way to improve is become a knowledge creator. But this perception is not accept by all people. Some people said practitioner should not involve in research and generating knowledge. If you refer to the book, the figure of topology of professional landscapes show that the high ground mainly occupied by academics, who produce pure education's conceptual theory which regarded as legitimate by both academics and practitioners. In the other hand, the practitioners who occupy the swampy lowlands, involved in everyday practices and create knowledge that valuable for everyday lives should not be regarded as legitimate creator as well as the knowledge should not be regarded as a theory.

In Schon view, the knowledge created in swampy lowlands is benefited the ordinary people while the high ground is far from the practicalities of everyday life hence does not receive the ordinaries in a meaningful and relevant way. It is a must to know that practitioner's knowledge do important in contribute to new practices and theories.

All people who doing AR should regard themselves as practitioners, regardless of role or setting, who are involved in learning and influencing the learning of others.

How?

To do an AR, you must first develop an action plan. But prior to that also, identify the possible opportunities and constraints as well as do an audit around what resources you may need. You need to think about the practical aspects of each steps, the resources and consider the ethical issues related.

Suggested Questions to consider while planning the action.

• What is my concern?
• Why am i concerned?
• What experiences can i describe to show the situation as it is?
• What can i do about it?
• What will i do about it?
• How will i gather data to show the situation as it unfolds?
• How will i evaluate my potential influence?
• How will i ensure that any conclusions are reasonably fair and accurate?
• How will i evaluate the validity of the evidence-based account of my learning?
• How will i modify my concerns, ideas and practices in the light of my evaluation?
  

After develop an action plan, it's time to accomplish it. To do so, please refer to the questions or steps when you develop the action plan. This is to ensure that all are done accordingly. However, the suggested questions must be adapted to the questions that suit your own circumstances. You must use your imagination on how to do your research.

One of the important step is gathering the data. In order to get the useful and not irrelevant data, you need to decide what you are looking for, where and how you might find it. What things you want to look must be in relation with the research question. Therefore, you will focus to certain needed data and not wasting your time.

There are many techniques in gathering the data. You can use Field Notes where the notes wrote is your actions note. Notes can be written everywhere, whether in a special notebook or the back of your hand. Notes can be straight, mind maps shape, diagrams or in pictures. Researcher also can use record sheets and observation schedules to gather data as well as to maintain records. Other techniques are sociometric analysis, written accounts, personal log and diaries, questionnaires and surveys and interviews.

The data which found in the textual accounts of people practices (documented and living) can be gathered form few resource:

• Documented practices
• Living practices
• Role and play performance
• Artworks
• Video

Gathering the data is to generate evidence and to generate it involving data analysis. The more systematic you store your data, the easier it will be when you come to select the data you want to stand as evidence. The accumulated data are called data archive. The data is safer if you sort it into categories. As your research progress, the number of categories is increased as well.

There are four steps when you want to generate evidence based on the data accumulated:

1. What you are going to claim (as knowledge)
2. Establishing criteria and standard of judgement
3. Selecting the data desired
4. Generating evidence in relation to your criteria and standard of judgement

After you have turn the data to evidence, it is time to validate your claim. Validity shows the truthfulness or trustworthiness of a matter and also your confidence as the researcher. Validity can be done by arranging for critiques. Critiques may come from critical friends or validation group. Those people are come from your professional circle who are stay along the project from beginning to end. Differ from the critical friends, validation group have to meet the researcher at regular intervals to listen to the account of research.

Ethical Issues

When you are doing a research, and involving other people, you must consider the ethical issues because this is a matter of courtesy and law moreover if you involving children and vulnerable people. There are three aspects to consider:

• negotiating and securing access to do research, permission from parents or legal caregivers before you start your research
  
• protecting your participants details and do give yourself room to be trusted
  
• assuring good faith as to create a good reputation in which people willing to work with someone their trusted
  

Conclusion

Action research is a good way to improve practices and our learning. Nowadays, teacher known as the best judges of their own practice, and the best place to take main responsibility for the initial education. If you want to do AR, i suggest this book as it tells from A to Z, how you can do it and other things related to the research that you are going to do.