A handbook for Exploratory Action Research

 
Where do I go from here? | 
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A. Plan
to explore
B. Explore
C. Analyse 
and reflect
1. Plan
(to change)
2. Act
3. Observe
4. Reflect
?
exploration
action
9.5 Continuing your research
In this book, we have used a staircase to illustrate the key steps of Exploratory Action Research. But action research
can also be visualised in other ways.
Task 9.8 @
Type the words ‘action research’ into an Internet search engine, and then look at the image results provided. 
1. What is the most common diagram type shown?
2. How many stages are usually involved?
3. Why do you think that they show a circle or spiral instead of a straight line?
We have represented Exploratory Action Research as a staircase which includes the stages from the action research
cycle that you probably found in the internet, but those stages (1. to 4.) are preceded by exploration steps (A. to C.)
in the staircase diagram:
We decided to use a staircase representation in this book in order to highlight the need (in our view) for an exploratory 
stage before entering action research but also to show how the whole process promotes learning and professional growth 
through an ‘upward’ series of steps. Nonetheless, the process can certainly be viewed as cyclical – or as a spiral – because 
it may begin again. 
Observations and reflections may throw up new questions to answer and therefore another cycle of exploration and action 
may start again – the more we learn, the more curious we may become!

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| Where do I go from here?
Many teachers who have completed an (exploratory) action research project seem to go on to do more research, either 
informally in their own classrooms, or more formally as part of a qualification. You can do this research alone or with 
colleagues. If you do go on, our EAR staircase may get taller and taller! For example: