A Short Guide to Action Research
4th Edition
Andrew P. Johnson, Ph.D.
Minnesota State University, Mankato
www.OPDT-Johnson.com
Chapter 14: Action Research as
Master’s Thesis
BEFORE YOU START
1. The culminating experience of a graduate program
2. You must demonstrate that you are able to utilize academic sources
to come to a conclusion
3. Move the field forward
Nine Tips for Writing Your Master’s Thesis
1. See your advisor before beginning your graduate paper
2. Decide on a topic or area of research first, then put it in the form of a
question
3. Keep your thesis proposal short and flexible
4. Do not expect your advisor to be an editor
5. Start collecting journal articles for your literature review as soon as
possible
6. Create a preliminary outline for your literature review
7. Begin to plan how you will collect data.
8. Plan on revising each chapter at least four times
9. Assume the reader knows nothing
6. Describe your results or what you found.
7. Include your recommendations, practical application, or plan of
action.
8. Be clear and concise.
9. Use a visual aid of some kind (overhead, poster, PowerPoint, video
clip, or handouts).
10. Include 5 to 10 minutes for questions at the end.
ACTION RESEARCH PROPOSAL
I. Topic or Problem
II. Question
III. Methodology
IV.
Advisor’s Signature
V.
Sources
VI.
One Empirical Study
VII. Initial Literature Review
THE ACTION RESEARCH THESIS
Abstract
CHAPTER I – INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER II - REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE
CHAPTER III – METHODOLOGY
CHAPTER IV – FINDINGS
CHAPTER V - DISCUSSION