PPG

INTENSIVE

TOPIC 1
Writing an
Action
Research
Report

Writing an Action Research

Report
The context/background of the study
Literature review
Focus/ aspect of the practice to improve
The action plan
Implementation of action plan
Data collection methods
Data analysis and interpretation
Reflection and implications
Plan for further action
Citation of references :American Psychological

CONTENT

Overview of Action
Research Report Format
1.0

INTRODUCTION

2.0 FOCUS OF INVESTIGATION/ ISSUE OF

CONCERN
3.0 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES AND
QUESTIONS
4.0

TARGET GROUP/ RESEARCH

WRITING STYLE OF AN
ACTION RESEARCH
In

writing the action research report,

you are the researcher implementing an
action and you are recounting your
experience. Therefore, you may employ
the personal pronoun I in your writeup. In this way, your writer voice is
obvious.

(contd)
ensure

that your reader is able to access

data easily and understand what the
information means to your research.
use

headings, text and figures effectively.

ensure

that the language you use

reflects your voice, the source of the
finding and the actual finding.

Writing an Action
Research Report
should

be presented in an academic
writing style.

descriptions

and statements should be

impartial and supported by expert
sources and/or data.

should

include positive and negative

findings, and not dismiss the latter.

should

avoid using value statements,

emotional languages or make biased
and prejudicial judgments.

E.g. How do pictures help pupils to learn ne

w vocabulary?

Effective strategy:
From the reflection notes, it can be elicited that
the use of a combination of interesting activities
like jigsaw, structured dialogue, and group work
provided the opportunity for active and hands on
participation. The researcher (or I) found that
these opportunities for active participation
generated eagerness among the pupils to be
involved. Everybody wanted to try and they
raised their hands to come forward (Reflection
notes/070414)

Use Language of
Reporting Appropriately

Examples of structurally
appropriate reporting
The survey [source] shows that
[finding]
It can be seen [writers
voice/comment] from the survey
[source] that [finding]
From the survey [source], it was
found that [finding]
The majority [finding], as can be
seen from the responses to a
question about... [source]

FINDINGS

Reporting and Interpreting

Data

Reporting data involves more than just

presenting it. Often, you need to interpret or
analyse the data, that is, say what it means,
especially in relation to your research
Reporting Data
Interpreting Data
question.
32 students took
This indicates that
the tests. The
student
mean pre-test score
performance
was 3.16. The
showed a dramatic
lowest score was 1
improvement of
mark and the
108% after the
highest score was 4
action was
marks out of 10
implemented.
marks. This means
This finding
that all students

Table 4.1: PrePost Test Scores

Pos
Sco Pre- tre test test
1
1
0
2
6
0
3 12 1
4 13 4
5
0
3
6
0
6
7
0
6
8
0
6
9
0
4
10 0
2
Mea 3.1 6.7

32 students took the tests. The

mean pre-test score was 3.16
(Table 4.1). The lowest score
was 1 mark and the highest
score was 4 marks out of 10
marks. This means that all
students failed their pre-test.
The range for total score was 3
to 10 marks and the mean posttest score was 6.75 which was a
strong improvement of 108%.
This indicates that student
performance improved after the
action was implemented.
show other evidences to
triangulateThis finding
indicates that the reader

Some Dos and Donts in

Writing
DONT WRITE..

DO WRITE

According

According

to the
respondents,
they say that...
(Redundant
writing)

to the
respondents, the success of
the reader response
approach was due to the
variety of interesting
activities which made
learning easy and fun.

The

respondents say that...

Example: Do double-bubble maps

Before the action implementation, all the pupils found

difficulty answering the questions. They could understand
the questions but could not answer because they did not
know how to answer. They found the exercise difficult.
Respondent 11 said it was very tough.
The double-bubble map was different (Respondent 8)
and all the pupils found it easy to do the exercise. The
double-bubble map made the exercise easy to understand.
They liked using the double-bubble map because they
could write more ideas and get more knowledge.
According to respondent 13, the double bubble map was
easy to do and we can faster understand the things all.
present other evidences
The findings indicate that the double-bubble map was
effective in helping the pupils to complete their exercise

Some Dos and Donts in

Writing
DONT WRITE..

DO WRITE

Referring

Referring

to
Figure 1, only
15% of the
respondents...
(Who is
referring to
Figure 1?)

to Figure 1, we
can see that only 15% of
the respondents... (It is
you and the reader(s) who
are referring to the figure.)

Figure

1 shows that only

15% of the respondents...

As

Figure 1 shows, only 15%

of the respondents...

As

can be seen in Figure 1,

only 15% of the

TOPIC 2
Writing an
Action
Research
Article

Writing an Action
Research Article
Abstract
The context
Research focus
Action plan
Implementation of action plan
Data collection methods
Data analysis and interpretation
Reflection and implications

TOPIC 3

 Seminar

Publication

Action research network

Writing the Action

Research Abstract
Written

after writing the research

report.
Elements

in the abstract:

Brief introduction of research problem,

research focus, research
objectives/questions

Methods of data collection

Summary of results & important

conclusions that answer research
objectives/questions