Action Research Proposal
A Study of a Homework Intervention with One Student
Introduction
The purpose of this study is to see how one student benefits from completing homework. Homework is beneficial to students, because it gives an opportunity to review the work learned that day and provides an opportunity to practice independent study skills.
The idea of this action research can inspire teachers to make changes by seeing how successful a student can be when she has completed all required homework assignments. Action research is attractive as a research methodology “because it is done by teachers for themselves; it is not imposed on them by someone else” (Mills, 2014, p. 8). This intervention, therefore, will help lead a student (my daughter) through the current stage of her educational journey. The hypothesis of the study is that at the end of the six week project, homework will be completed more often because of the intervention strategy.
“Students need to be actively involved in their education. Interested and enthusiastic students are more willing learners” (Hollis, 1995, p. 2).
Materials and Methods
There will be three forms of data collected. Using multiple data collection tools will provide context for the data. The use of multiple tools will also give clarification and help the teacher know whether or not homework completed is beneficial in more than one area. The data will be collected in the form of interviews, reward charts, and grade verification. These three data collection tools will give a broad scope, a bigger picture, about the advantages of completing homework.
Study Results
The study results are supported by the data shown below, which display progress in independent homework (figure 1) and increasing weekly spelling test scores (figure 2).
Figure 1. Progress in Independent Homework From Week 1 to Week 5 (Panel A)
Figure 1. Progress in Independent Homework From Week 1 to Week 5 (Panel B)
Figure 2. Progress in Weekly Spelling Test Score From Week 1 Through Week 5
Conclusions
References
Mills, G. E. (2014). Action research: A guide for the teacher researcher (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
Hollis, J. L. (1995). Sample action research report 1: Effect of technology in enthusiasm for learning science. Retrieved from http://www.sagepub.com/mertler3study/resources/reports/88896_sr1.pdf