Page 39 - The Inquiry into the Development and Implementation of a Multimedia Resource to Help Improve Parental Involvement in Their Child’s Reading Literacy During the Primary School Years.

methodology is the research approach that outlines the way in which research is to

be undertaken and identifies the methods to be used.

For the purpose of this study, I have chosen to employ an Action Research
methodology to undertake my research. I will incorporate an Educational

Entrepreneurial Approach to action research (Crotty, 2014). Throughout this process

I identify my educational values and explore the motivation behind my desire to use
technology to support and enhance parental involvement in their child’s education

and reading development.

3.2.1 What is Action Research?

Kurt Lewin, the social psychologist, is regarded as the originator of action research.
He believed that research was detached from practical issues and solutions and rarely

changed the social situation of the people or the participants. He argued that

“research that produces nothing but books will not suffice” (Lewin 1946, pg. 35). To
make research more practical and effective he proposed ‘action research’ and

developed a cyclical model to capture the essence of process of change.

In its most simplistic form, action research can be explained using two things: action

(what the researcher does) and research (how the researcher learns about and
explains what they do) McNiff & Whitehead (2010). It is about finding ways to

improve your practice or workplace by acquiring and creating knowledge. It
involves the researcher’s quest to improve their skills and strategies in order to

further their understanding and learning. Lewin (1946) defines it as learning by
doing that develops through a cycle of planning, action, observing and reflecting.

Since then many different models and approaches to action research have been

created (Figure 3.1). Mc Niff (2001) refers to action research as a form of
practitioner based research; involving the practitioner to self-reflect and think about

their own work.

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