Complete thesis - Murdoch University

Figure 4.1: Lewin’s spiral of Action Research (Kemmis and McTaggert, 1988)from the four-step process of Perry-Sheldon and Allain (1987) (reconnaissance, plan, act,reflect) or Wood (1988) (plan, act, observe, reflect) to a more comprehensive seven-stepprocess of Borg et al (1993).A definition of educational Action Research was formulated by the Australian National InvitationalConference on Action-Research (ERDC, 1981, p 159):Educational action-research is a term used to describe a family of activities in curriculumdevelopment, professional development, school improvement programmes,and systems planning and policy development. These activities have in commonthe identification of strategies of planned action which are implemented, and thensystematically submitted to observation, reflection and change. Participants inthe action being considered are intricately involved with all of these activities.This definition makes it explicit that a systematic discipline of strategic inquiry must befollowed, while at the same time recognising the diversity of approaches that fall under itsmethodological banner.Kemmis (1993) concludes that the task of educational researchers involves taking concreteand explicit steps towards changing the theory, policy and practice of educational research,and participating in the work of changing education theory, policy and practice. ActionResearch places the teacher in the dual position of producer of education theory/policy anduser of that theory/policy through practice.192