Action research is the means by which the school can examine its practices to measure their effectiveness. Schools are filled with programs. Both teachers and principals rely too much on their gut instinct to decide whether their programs are effective. All too often we, as professionals, lose perspective. Teachers only see the school from their classroom perspective while principals see it from a school-wide perspective.
Action research is a tool to quantify what they believe to be true or to discover that programs are less effective than perceived. Teachers are often convinced that their way is the best way without any external evidence to prove their view.
Action research is an opportunity for teachers and principals to really get involved with the larger vision of the school. This self-examination forces them to get out of the "classroom in isolation" to larger concepts of teacher collaboration, vertical teaming, and school-wide culture. Action research is a way for the teachers and administration to work together to work towards the school vision. Rather than bringing in some outside theory based on an academic study at a distant university, action research is observation based on the campus for the campus. It is the most pertinent examination of school practice possible. Teachers will have more buy-in because it's a study about them for them.
Effective action research can show whether programs or teaching strategies are worth while which can help the school pursue and remain within a continuing cycle of improvement.
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