Academic Writing Essentials for

Action Research
Diosdado M. San Antonio
DepEd CALABARZON

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 Our Agenda
• Clarify the concepts
– Academic Writing
– Research
– Action Research
• Ensuring compliance with standards for high quality
research report
– Tips in writing action research report
– Factors journals consider in determining publication-
worthy articles
– DepEd criteria in selecting projects to be given funding
(BERF)
• APA Style guide

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 Academic Writing
• refers to the forms of expository and
argumentative prose used by university
students, faculty, and researchers to convey a
body of information about a particular subject.
(Richard Nordquist, 2017)

• is writing that shows evidence of learning;

considers a subject in its different aspects,
relations and implications; reviews a subject
with a sense of sceptical enquiry; re-examines a
subject in order to test and develop ideas or
theories. (The Royal Lieterary Fund, UK)

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 Types of academic writing
• Descriptive
• Analytical
• Persuasive
• Critical

University of Sydney
https://sydney.edu.au/students/writing/types-of-academic-writing.html
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 Types of academic writing
• Descriptive
– purpose is to provide facts or information. An example
would be a summary of an article or a report of the
results of an experiment.
– instructions for a purely descriptive assignment
include: identify, report, record, summarize and
define.
• Analytical
• Persuasive
• Critical
University of Sydney
https://sydney.edu.au/students/writing/types-of-academic-writing.html
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 Types of academic writing
• Descriptive
• Analytical
– includes descriptive writing, but you also re-organize
the facts and information you describe into
categories, groups, parts, types or relationships.
– instructions for an analytical assignment include:
analyze, compare, contrast, relate, examine.
• Persuasive
• Critical
University of Sydney
https://sydney.edu.au/students/writing/types-of-academic-writing.html
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 Types of academic writing
• Descriptive
• Analytical
• Persuasive
– has all the features of analytical writing (that is,
information plus re-organizing the information),
with the addition of your own point of view.
– instructions for a persuasive assignment include:
argue, evaluate, discuss, take a position.
• Critical
University of Sydney
https://sydney.edu.au/students/writing/types-of-academic-writing.html
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 Types of academic writing
• Descriptive
• Analytical
• Persuasive
• Critical
– While persuasive writing requires you to have your
own point of view on an issue or topic, critical writing
requires you to consider at least two points of view,
including your own.
– instructions for critical writing include: critique,
debate, disagree, evaluate.
University of Sydney
https://sydney.edu.au/students/writing/types-of-academic-writing.html
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 Research
• process of finding out which is
Systematic conducted not on a random or
arbitrary basis but in the light of
Inquiry some theoretical perspective.

• perceptions, interpretations,
Critical explanations and conclusions
are subject to questioning which
Inquiry challenges them both logically
and ethically.

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 Two Categories of Research Workers
• trying to describe, interpret or explain what is
happening without inducing any change
• giving a theoretical account which links with
Understand existing theoretical ideas

• trying to induce some change which they see as

beneficial
• using systematic and critical enquiry in attempts
Change to improve the practical situation

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 Improving the future evidence base
• Randomly controlled trials –
• Interrogating large databases e.g. on educational
outcomes & longer term employment, health etc
• Longitudinal studies –
• Mixed methods – to inform us of ‘what’ and ‘how’
• Quality assurance, synthesis and scaling up of practitioner
inquiry.

Maximising research use in policy and practice in education

Judy Sebba Professor of Fostering and Education University of Oxford
Department of Education
judy.sebba@education.ox.ac.uk

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 Action Research
NSW, Australia, 2010

• the term which describes the integration of

action (implementing a plan) with research
(developing an understanding of the
effectiveness of this implementation).

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 Educational Action Research...
• “refers to taking a systematic look at some
educational practice and recording what was
done, why it was done, collecting data,
analyzing the data and reflecting on how the
results might influence future teaching
endeavors.”
• (http://actionresearch.altec.org/)

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 Action Research…..
• is a disciplined process of inquiry
conducted by and for those taking the action.
• The primary reason for engaging in action
research is to assist the “actor” in improving
and/or refining his or her actions.
• Institute for the Study of Inquiry in
Education

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 3 Purposes for Action Research
• Building the reflective practitioner
• Making progress on school-wide priorities
• Building professional cultures

Richard Sagor, 2000 (Guiding School Improvement with Action Research)

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 Kemmis and McTaggart’s
Action Research Model
Plan

Reflect Act

Observe
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 Structural Elements
for an Action Research Report
Suggestions for Writing the Action Research Report
Allan Feldman and Tarin Weiss
University of Massachusetts Amherst

Statement of
Context Research Methods
Focus

Findings Implications

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 The Context

Classroom

School

School District

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 Statement and Origin
of Research Focus
• What did you • How did the idea
investigate? originate?
• What have you • How and why did it
accomplished or change through the
attempted to year?
accomplish in this • What impact did your
study? research group have on
• What have been your the development of
goals? your starting point?
Research Literature

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 Methods
• Describe what you did and why.

• What sort of data did you collect?

• How did you collect the data?

• What successes or difficulties did you have in

carrying out this action research?

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 The Findings
• what was accomplished and/or found out.
• effects of the actions.
• new understanding of a teacher’s own
educational situation.
• description of what it was that was learned.
• events, circumstances or data that contradict
what was hoped to be found out.

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 Further tips in analyzing data Sagor,2000

• Review the relevant research literature.

• Report accurate and adequate descriptive
accounts about the context we are reporting
on.
• Share or make all the raw data available for
analysis by others, if and when desired.

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 Implications
• a statement of how participation in the
research has affected the ways in which one
looks at teaching, the students, or the school.
• Do you see the educational world differently
now, and how will that affect what it is that
you will do next?

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 Implications
• Include a paragraph describing the next step
of this research.
• Is it complete?
• Is there another scenario to research?
• Explain how to continue action research
following up on this study or developing a new
idea.

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 Discussion Section Contents

Explanation of results

References to previous research

Deduction

Hypothesis
http://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/discussion
University of Southern California

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 Discussion section attempts to…
Reiterate the Research Problem/State the
Major Findings

Explain the Meaning of the Findings and

Why They are Important

Relate the Findings to Similar Studies

Consider Alternative Explanations of the

Findings

Acknowledge the Study’s Limitations

http://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/discussion
University of Southern California
Make Suggestions for Further Research
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 Reporting Action Research
• You may feel free to write in the first person
and to use a narrative style -- to tell a
validated story.
• You may also feel free to write in the formal
style of scientific research.
• The choice is yours.

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 Statements to use…..in which part?
• Our analysis of the interviews led us to
believe……..
• Based upon our data, we feel comfortable in
asserting that…….
• Therefore, we conclude that our students had,
in fact, succeeded…….

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 DepEd’s Criteria for Research Quality
• relevant and researchable inquiry
• Appropriate methods
Excellence • Logical, coherent finding, supported by data

• No harm on participants
• Informed consent
Integrity • Honest and accurate data collection and analysis

• More partners engaged

• Multidisciplinary perspective encouraged
Openness • Truthful and timely dissemination of findings

DepEd Order No. 39, s. 2016

Adopting the Basic Education Research Agenda

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 Features of high quality research:

clear questions (that address a need)

methods selected that are ‘fit for purpose’
methods executed properly e.g. reliability
use multiple sources of data (integration of
quantitative & qualitative?)
multidisciplinary research needed for complex
questions

Maximising research use in policy and practice in education

Judy Sebba Professor of Fostering and Education University of Oxford Department of Education
judy.sebba@education.ox.ac.uk
31
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 Another list of research quality
indicators…
• intellectual rigor,
• accurate recording and honest reporting of
results, and
• integrity in recognizing the work of other
researchers.

• Research Information Network, UK

(http://www.rin.ac.uk/system/files/attachments/Quality_Assurance_screen_0.pdf)

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 Research Paper Evaluation Criteria
Kelley, Bennett and Moore, 2002

• How well does the Title introduce the study?

• How well does the Abstract describe the research
study?
• Are the Research Questions adequately defined?
• Does the Rationale justify the purpose for the study
and/or place it within the context of current theory
and practice?

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 Evaluation Criteria cont.
• Is the Methodology clearly described and well
matched to the research questions?
• Is the Analysis of Data adequately described?
• Are the Findings clearly identified?
• Are the Implications for future research,
classroom practices, or policy discussed?

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 From a recent email sent by Tony Bush
• Is the article relevant to the journal you wish to publish?

• Is the purpose of the article stated clearly?

• Are the methods (for empirical articles) or the approach (for other articles) clearly
stated and appropriate?

• Does the author demonstrate familiarity with recent relevant literature, including
articles previously published in the journal?

• Does the discussion make appropriate links between data (where relevant) and
literature?

• Does the article make a significant, or marginal, contribution to new knowledge, in

terms of theory, practice, policy and/or research?

• Is the paper well-written and free from grammatical and typographical errors?

Editor-in-chief, Educational Management, Administration and Leadership

Publication of the British Educational Leadership, Management & Administration Society
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 Evaluating Quality of Writing

University of Southern California

http://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/academicwriting

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 Guide for Appraising Action
Research Proposals (DepEd Order 4, s 2016)

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 Guide for Appraising Action
Research Proposals (DepEd Order 4, s 2016)

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 Guide for Appraising Action
Research Proposals (DepEd Order 4, s 2016)

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 The Proper Perspective
on Research
Jeffrey R. Henig, EL 2008

• No single research study can ever provide the

kind of definitive and universal answers that
policymakers and citizens seem to yearn for.
• Reason why this is so.....
– fundamental limitations of data;
• measures, no matter how precise, are always one step
or more removed from the concepts that we really are
interested in

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 The Proper Perspective
on Research
Jeffrey R. Henig, EL 2008

• Although individual studies cannot carry the

weight of contemporary expectations,
research as a collective enterprise......can
enrich our knowledge base.
– comprising multiple studies,
– attacking questions from different angles, and
exposed to the checks and balance of studies in
different settings and
– using different methodologies

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 The Proper Perspective
on Research
Jeffrey R. Henig, EL 2008

• But sifting through accumulated studies to

discern the weight of the evidence requires at
some point the application of judgment.
• Research can inform decisions but cannot, in
itself, displace the need for judgment.

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 APA Style

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 APA Style

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 APA Style

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 APA Style Reference List

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 Final Words
Academic Writing skills allow us to write in scholarly
ways

Researchers are systematic and critical in their ways

Action Research provides an opportunity for

educators to understand the challenges they face
and try out effective ways of addressing them

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 Final Words
• There are certain tips and factors to consider
in producing research reports that comply
with standards for high quality outputs
• Observing DepEd criteria in selecting projects
to be given funding (BERF) will allow you to
have access to funds
• The APA Style guide ensures consistency in
referencing your research report

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 Thank you and Mabuhay!!!
• diosdado.sanantonio@deped.gov.ph
• 09176271163

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