What I have learned about action research

Before starting this course I did not know much about research. I thought all research was the same, and it was the process of finding information about a specific topic. After reading the text for this course I was introduced to the idea of action research or administrator inquiry. Action research is the process of studying your habits and finding more effective ways in which to operate. This type of research allows for administrators and teachers to study what is going on at their campus, and find real solutions to these problems. Action research is different from traditional research because it does not utilize an outside expert to diagnose problems and generate generic solutions to those problems. Action research involves those individuals that are dealing with the everyday situations that occur on a particular campus, and allows them to diagnose the problems that are plaguing them, and work towards a solution to those problems. With traditional research an outside person finds issues that they perceive as problems, and direct staff towards a solution that may or may not work. Every school campus is different, and what may solve a problem at one campus may not solve the exact same problem at another. In my opinion action research is the equivalent of purchasing a handmade tailored suit versus purchasing a suit from a store rack. When purchasing a suit from a store rack it may fit you perfectly or it may not, but the handmade tailored suit will definitely fit you perfectly because it was made specifically for you.