Action Research Project Format

Your project, like the proposal, must be written in a style similar to research articles in journals such as Science and Children, Science 
Scope or School Science and Mathematics. References should be in APA style . Submit your project electronically as a component of your Science Electronic Portfolio (http://www.umd.umich.edu/sep). 

As part of the project, you need to include a cover page that gives the topic of the research, your name, and the collaborating classroom teacher’s name and school.  Be sure to keep at least one backup copy of your project. 

Your project will be at least 5 pages long, and should be divided into 
sections similar to those included in your proposal:

I. Abstract

A.   Summarize your research project in 3 to 5 sentences 

II. Introduction

A.    Statement of problem and its significance

1.     The problem must be related to the capstone 
“big idea”

B.     Relevant research and how it applies to your problem

1.    Use your references to describe what others have 
done to investigate this question or problem and 
how your research builds upon existing research

C.    Carefully worded research question or problem

1.    The question or problem addressed must be 
related to the scientific “big idea” of the capstone 
course 

III. Methods

A.    Subjects

1.    Describe the students that you are working with 
(i.e., demographics, achievement level, what science 
concepts they have addressed this term)

B.     Procedures

1.    Outline your step by step plan for investigating 
the problem or question

2.    Be sure and describe what data you collected, 
how you collected it and why you decided upon 
your particular method of collection

3.    Describe what you did and what the collaborating teacher did 

IV. Results/findings (Data analysis)

A.   Describe how you interpreted the data that you collected

B.   What are your overall conclusions? (Relate this back to 
your research question/problem and to the relevant 
research)

C.   Include raw data (can be numbers in table format, quotes, 
etc.) that illustrates how you reached your conclusion 

V. Discussion

A.   Describe your feelings about the project (i.e., were you 
surprised at the results, was the project more difficult 
than you anticipated)

B.   How will the project impact your teaching of the science 
concept that you addressed?

C.   Describe additional projects on related topics that you 
might do in the future. 

VI. References

                  A.  Must include a minimum of five print references in APA 
                        format, at least two from educational journals or books 

VII. Appendix

A.   Interview questions, questionnaires, observation 
checklists, etc.

**  You might want to include photographs of the students or yourself 
engaged in activities related to your study.  If you do, be sure that 
pseudonyms are used for student names. 

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