What I have learned about action research

Honestly, up until this course I have never heard or used the term "action research."  That obviously does not mean that I have never heard of administration or staff investigating or researching different school issues.  I think action research is the correct way to get data and information about your school.  There is nothing wrong with traditional research and you can learn many things from what it says.  However, to truly reach your school, you must do specific research at your school and on your school's issues.  I have learned that action research can be done on a small scale as well as a large scale.  Not all research has to be 40 pages of data and charts.  It can be as simple as asking questions or giving surveys.  I think I can use action research in my school in many different areas.  One area specifically is in student discipline and behavior.  My school has recently started a new behavior program in which positive reinforcement is stressed.  We are trying to get students to behave and want to learn by rewarding them with different incentives and prizes.  I think I can research and compare our old way of disciplining and managing behavior to our new behavior program.  By comparing test scores, office referrals, and suspensions from previous years to the past two years, I can see what is working and what needs to be tweaked.  This new behavior program has never been researched thoroughly at my school and would definitely benefit from someone doing research on it.