Coalface Reflective Practice Framework - Action Research

Reflective Practioners

Researching in school and classroom settings requires a responsive and familiar reflective research methodology. Action Research is arguably the best fit as it provides a reflective practice model which can accommodate mixed methods research (quantitative and qualitative) and supports professional development.

Teachers are familiar with this style of research and Action Research is about bringing change though actions (interventions) and measuring success by collecting a variety of data over time.

There are many flavours but two categories action research are appropriate for our purpose:

• Teacher Action Research, and 
• Participatory Action Research

Action Research can be compromised because the research questions are forced or ill-conceived. The application of a Reconnaissance phase can be used to reduce this and provide a platform/link to make informed research decisions. For example