Action research at the school level: possibilities and problems

Abstract

In this paper it is argued that it is necessary to understand the improvement of the quality of education as a responsibility for school communities as a whole. It is not sufficient to regard such improvement as simply the aggregate improvement of the work of individual teachers. It is further argued that action research offers a set of principles upon which the work of improving the learning environment of a school can proceed. Some examples of whole school action research initiatives are examined and some possibilities and problems associated with school level action research are explored, particularly those associated with state initiated action research projects.