Children Becoming Researchers: Empowering Individuals Through Collaborative Action Research

• In Event: Use of Collaborative Action Research to Create Change

Abstract

This paper reports the findings of two cycles of an action research study which explored how students could take on the role of researchers in relation to improvements in teaching and learning. This was part of a three-year study, funded by the European Union, which employed collaborative action research processes. Building on earlier research carried out with secondary schools, the findings reported here are based on work carried out in 30 primary schools in five countries, where children became researchers in their schools. It was found that collaborative action research approaches involving children as researchers in schools have the potential to empower the individuals that take on such roles, making them more confident, as well as more engaged in lessons.

Author

• Kyriaki Messiou, University of Southampton