Lesson Introduction

Now you have completed your action research project. If you are used to traditional research, you may think you are done. Hold on, there is one more thing that you need to do. Let’s take one more look at our action research model. Notice where we are and you can see that discussing and interpreting your findings is not the last step. Action research is reflective. Reflection takes much more important role in action research than that is in other research types. A cycle of action research ends with reflection instead of sharing and disseminating findings. Only through reflection, can the action researchers diagnose in preparation for further action research intervention. The action research cycle can continue, whether the action proved successful or not, to develop further knowledge about identified focus.

 

 

Reflection

E1-Dib (2007) suggested that a person will always operate reflection but at deferent level, and the importance should put on the level of reflection. Van Manuen (1977) defined three levels of reflection. The first level primarily concerns with applying knowledge. The second level emphasizes on investigating questioning and clarifying the end objectives and the assumptions behind teaching activities. On the third level, critical reflection, teachers reflect upon the context where education exists.

 

Based on a synthesis of the conceptualization of reflection, E1-Dib (2007) suggested four levels of reflection. The first level of reflection, the lower level, involves technical, habitual, subjective, rigid thoughts, feelings, and/or views. From The low-medium to high-medium, the higher a persons’ reflective thinking develops the more he/she starts to realize the subjectivity of knowledge, the relativity of truth, the multiplicity of sources of knowledge and the importance of context in determining meaning. The fourth level of reflection involves questioning ones’ own assumptions and beliefs, the impact of the societal and cultural values over educational practices, and the moral/ethical considerations behind these practices.