Educational Theory

Running Head : Education Theory

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Part I : Action Research

Action research uses reflective techniques to solve the persisting problems . The main difference between action research and other methodologies is that objectives are hereby accomplished in teams as opposed to individual researchers . Cooke and Kothari (2001 ,

. 154 refers to the group of individuals achieving research objectives together as a team of practice . The group of individuals working together aim at addressing concerns affecting respective community Members are therefore tasked to make contribution in the

understanding of helping respective community overcome challenges . This methodology is thus more useful when dealing with more complex issues that require different viewpoints that are represented by the participating researchers

Action research finds its roots in 1944 when Kurt Lewin , MIT professor , described it as system of studying the effects various conditions on social actions (Wendell Cecil , 2003 ,

. 36 . Action research is undertaken in three steps that are discussed later . The three stages go through three cycles : planning , action , and understanding result of action . The planning cycle regards how researchers will carry out the process , with each team member being allocated the respective duties and responsibilities in accordance to abilities . The second part of the cycle involves taking actions in accordance to the plans made previously . Each team member takes necessary measures , which are combined to reach group goals . The third part of the cycle involves finding out the results of the actions undertaken in the previous stage . The three stages of action research (unfreezing , changing refreezing ) are discussed below in detail

Unfreezing

This stage involves creating awareness of the persisting research problem . The collaborating researchers embark on familiarizing themselves with the problem individually and collectively . At the individual level , researchers embark on understanding the possible connections between respective perceptions on the problem and reality on the ground . These matters are then discussed at the group level . The unfreezing stage thus helps researchers to get in touch with matters on the ground before starting to study the affecting factors and effects on societal actions . Failing to undertake the process could end up affecting later stages and therefore complicate the possibility of delivering fruitful results

Changing

This second stage involves diagnosing the situation and consequently coming-up with models of behavior . Individual researchers embark on exploring and testing various behavior models that could be affecting actions in society . Individual researchers thus make observations regarding behaviors in allocated areas . It is upon presenting findings to the entire group that the entire picture comes out . After testing various behaviors , leaders embark on understanding the ones that best represent what is going on in the society . Each of the participating researchers thus embarks on presenting the chosen model to colleagues and consequently express reasons for dropping other models

Refreezing

This last stage of action research involves evaluating , reinforcing and adopting the new behavioral model . Undertaking these measures helps in weighing the possibility of applying the new behavioral model in the society . The evaluation process is undertaken by...