Action Research for Principals

Action research can be an integral part of a principal’s arsenal to create change on their campus.  In previous years, the methodology of change came from outside resources, paid by a district, to give examples of ideas and plans to create change.  This plan however, did not always work because not every district or school faced the same challenges or issues.  The outside resources, whether done at research centers or universities, offered a “cookie cutter” approach to learning.  They developed plans that worked in a generic school system and in a somewhat perfect world.  This technique did not always work.

Action research has now become the method of choice for implementing changes in a school. It allows the administrator to use their own style of research to find what works for their campus.  They have the opportunity to share the load of responsibility with the teachers who are in the classrooms with the students and observing their challenges.  The administrator can take the data and results and use a series of spiraling steps to make the best decisions for their campus and implement the desired changes.  By using action research the principal can select the best course of action from the gathered data and make the appropriate corrective actions to enhance their school.   Action research does not use the “cookie cutter” approach because the results are based on the unique dynamics of their campus and allows for the individual tailoring to fit each campus uniqueness. 

Using action research allows the principal or administrator to develop ideas and strategies that will better fit their leadership style and make the desired changes accordingly.  No longer does a principal have to take a method of change from an outside source where the researchers do not have a clue about the uniqueness of a specific campus.  Action research allows the principal to make the changes that best fit their campus.