Selecting my Action Research Topic

My studies this week have focused on selecting appropriate action research topics. I have been inundated with the many viewpoints that I can take when identifying action research when I become an administrator. This week I have discovered that, just as action research itself is a process, just selecting the topic is a process.

There are so many aspects of the educational organization that it's quite easy to identify issues and conflicts. Some are more severe than others and some effect productivity more than others. The first step in the selection process is to identify the issue.

When the issue is identified, next the administrator must determine how deep the problem is and who is involved. Selecting the research topic is much more than just identifying the problem. By determining the degree of the issue within the organization, the administrator can better understand how in depth the action research must be. Those topics which are most severe will most likely require more time, consideration, and commitment from staff.

Finally, the action research topic must be individualized. It's not sufficient to simply state the issue as the research topic. You must identify how the issue has affected or will affect the organization. The same issue will affect different campuses in different ways. The administrator must determine if the action research topic is an appropriate use of time and resources and if the topic fits with the campus vision.

Through this process, the administrator can easily select an action research topic that is appropriate for their campus. This is just the first step that they must take to create an effective learning organization. If this step is not taken then the whole action research process becomes less productive.