IDENTIFYING THE DIFFICULTIES IN CONDUCTING ACTION RESEARCH AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS IN SELANGOR

Abstract

The value of educational research has become evident that research is very useful in Malaysian educational system. Teachers should improve their knowledge and skills in teaching and learning through new inventions by conducting action research. However, the number of teachers, conducting action research in schools still low as they have some difficulties in conducting action research. The teachers are not that equipped with the necessary research knowledge and competence to conduct action research. Much of the past research focuses on teachers’ perception about the research activity but fails to consider what are their difficulties to conduct research. Hence, this study aims to identify the difficulties faced by the teachers in conducting action research. This study uses a quantitative methodology, and teachers were given questionnaire forms to get their viewpoints on research knowledge, research competence and barriers in conducting action research. The data showed that teachers have difficulties in conducting action research as they are lack of research knowledge and skills that necessary for conducting action research. Further research need to use other research methods to identify difficulties in action research among teachers.