Phase 3: Collecting and Analyzing Data

“Schools are naturally data-rich environments, and simply opening our eyes to some of the most frequently used and easily obtainable sources of data can make planning the data collection process much easier.”
~Sagor, 1994

Meaningful action research should not depart from the daily work of classroom teachers, but become “a part of” their daily work. Hence, selecting the data collection strategies to use for study simply means thinking about life in the classroom/school and the ways life in the classroom/school can be naturally captured as data (Dana & Yendol-Silva, 2003). When conducting action research, teachers are continuously gathering and using data from their classrooms throughout each phase of the process. When considering data collection strategies, think about what assessments are already in place in the classroom and school. Before deciding on the specific tools, reflect on the following questions:
• What are three different sources of data that I can collect?
• What information do I need to collect to measure student learning aligned to my instructional focus?
• What data collection sources will provide me with the needed information?
• Are the data collection sources easy to administer, gather, and analyze?