What term refers to classroom-based research conducted by teachers to address their own local teaching questions?

What term refers to classroom-based research conducted by teachers to address their own local teaching questions?

• A. Action research
• B. Case study
• C. Ethnography
• D. Experimental study

Answer: (A)

Action research is classroom-based inquiry conducted by teachers to address their own local teaching questions, using cycles of planning, acting, observing, and reflecting to improve practice within their own context. This approach centers on practitioner-led change and often involves collaboration with colleagues to explore how changes affect student learning in the teacher’s own classroom.

Case studies look at a single case in depth to understand a phenomenon, but aren’t necessarily aimed at improving a teacher’s practice in their own setting. Ethnography involves long-term, immersive study of cultures and social interactions, typically from the researcher’s perspective, not a structured cycle of classroom improvement. Experimental studies test hypotheses through controlled manipulation of variables, usually under conditions outside everyday teaching practice, rather than addressing a teacher’s specific local questions.