Virginia Tech
Using action research to address the underachievement of middle school students
Abstract
dc:description.abstractSeveral decades of study have shown that school reform is a difficult process. Sharing the decision-making in a school and changing a school’s culture appear to be areas that promise some hope for making school reform a reality. It was the intent of this study to examine the use of action research in one school setting in addressing a school problem and its effectiveness in bringing about school reform or renewal. Data for the study were obtained from the investigator’s field notes and from participants’ journal entries, anonymous reflections, surveys, transcripts of meetings, and documents produced during the study. The investigator assumed both a participant and observer role in the study thus allowing an insider’s view of the process. Multiple sources of evidence and triangulation of data assured reasonable validity to the study. The results of this study indicated that action research is a vehicle to use to cross the disciplines in addressing a school problem. Action research 1s an effective route to increased collegiality, and professional and personal growth. It is a means of sharing leadership within a school. Although action research does not necessarily mean immediate student outcomes will be realized, it does have the potential for long-term change. This form of examining a school’s values and beliefs has implications for changing a school’s culture and thus leading to more long lasting reform.
Degree
thesis:*- Name thesis:degree_name
- Doctor of Education
- Level thesis:degree_level
- doctoral
- Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
- Educational Administration
- Department dc:contributor.department
- Educational Administration
- Grantor dc:publisher
- Virginia Tech
- Year dc:date.issued
- 1997
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- Montgomery, Joan B.
- Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
-
- Parson, Stephen R.
- Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
-
- Vaught, Claire C.
- Oliveira, Anthony J.
- Yardley, Dianne W.
- Salmon, Richard
Subjects
dc:subject × 4Rights
dc:rights- Statement dc:rights
-
- In Copyright
- Licence dc:rights.uri
- Language dc:language.iso
- en
Identifiers
dc:identifier.*- Dc Identifier Other
- etd-10052007-143727
- OAI identifier oai:identifier
- oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/39671