Action Research

Action research allows administrators to be thinkers and pose questions that are specific to their campuses needs. The process informs administrators and gives them the power to make educated decisions that best fit their campuses. First administrators pose a specific question that they feel is worth investigating, they then gather data, analyze that data, and decide how to use their findings to make changes to teaching and/or leading practices. Administrators are encouraged to work in collaborative groups made up of other administrators, faculty, and/or staff as this process is pursued. Collaboration allows for all involved to feel a sense of ownership and buy in when change is called for. This differs from traditional research which relies on an outside source to do the research and then tell a campus what would be best practice. Many educators don't buy in to this type of leadership because they see that change as not realistic because it stems from someone or group that is not directly involved on the campus day-to-day.


Dana Fichman, Nancy (2009). Leading with Passion and Knowledge: The Principal as Action Researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.