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outside researchers; secondly, that is collaborative; thirdly, that is aimed at changing things.
They said further, action research is agroup of activity and a piece of descriptive research carried out by a teacher in his or her own classroom, without
changing the phenomenon under investigation, would not be considered to be action research.
From all definitions above, I concluded that action research is an action in a research, which can be done by teacher, researcher, and teacher with his or her
collegue, etc, which involves a group of students to improve teaching and learning process or enhance the understanding of the students to the lesson.
2.8.1 The Aims of Conducting Action Research
Now days, the new information, knoledge and technology in Indonesia grow very fast. It causes the demand on educational service must be increased by the
teacher as an operator of education. Theachers have toi solve the problems they face properly. And to solve it, they could an appropriate method such as action
research. Elliot 1991: 49 said that, fundamental aim of action research is to improve practice rather than to produce knowledge.
The action research is a good method that can be used in teaching learning process. There are many benefits of conducting an action research. The benefits of
conducting an action research are: 1
Im proving the teachers confidence because they have more knowledge experience to solve problems.
2 Helping the teachers to understand the essence of education
empirically not theoretically. 3
More effective when compare with other training, and 4
Improve the research tradition among teachers.
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2.8.2 Characteristics of Action Research
According to Priyono and Djunaedi 2001: 6, some characteristics of action research are:
1 On the job problem oriented. It means that the subject of action
research study is the daily problems faced in everyday life. If a teacher carries out action research, the problems to be
investigated are the teaching and learning problems as his main duty and responsibility.
2 Problem solving oriented. Unlike empirical studies, action
research is always held with the main aim of solving certain problems.
3 Improvement oriented. Action research is always meant to
make changes and improvement by making use of the element involved in the process of development.
4 Multiple data collection. To fulfill the principal of critical
approaches several method of data collecting are used, like: observation, test, interview, questionnaire, etc.
5 Cyclic. Actions are implemented with certain order as
planning, observing, action, and reflecting which shows critical and reflective thinking.
6 Participatory collaborative. The researcher cooperates with
other people. This way is used to heighten the validity of observation.
2.8.3 Steps in Doing Action Research
