Introduction to Action Research

14 Grade 10 Community Service Learning questions on Introduction to Action Research, with worked marking schemes. 14 questions are available on this topic in full.

1. Question 1

   1 mark

   Before interviewing households about how they store harvested green grams, a group should FIRST

   A. collect the names and identity card numbers of all the respondents.

   B. promise each household a share of the project funds.

   C. write the report, so that the interviews only confirm what has been written.

   D. explain the purpose of the study and ask each household for permission to take part.

   (1 mark)

   Marking scheme for this question

   Create a free account to see it

2. Question 2

   1 mark

   A group studying litter in their school compound has planned, acted, observed and reflected. What should they do NEXT?

   A. Repeat exactly the same action in order to confirm the results.

   B. Use what they learnt to plan a better action and start a new cycle.

   C. Hand the problem over to the school administration for action.

   D. File the report and end the study, because the cycle is now complete.

   (1 mark)

   Marking scheme for this question

   Create a free account to see it

3. Question 3

   4 marks

   Distinguish between action research and conventional (basic) research.

   (4 marks)

   Marking scheme

   Award 2 marks for each complete contrast (1 mark per side). Any 2 contrasts. - Purpose: action research seeks to solve a practical problem and improve practice in one setting (1), while conventional research seeks to add to general knowledge or test theory (1). - Who carries it out: action research is done by the practitioners themselves, such as the learners and their teacher (1), while conventional research is usually done by outsiders studying other people (1). - Scale and setting: action research is small and tied to one particular place (1), while conventional research uses larger samples and aims at findings that apply widely (1). - Outcome: action research ends in a change being made and tried again (1), while conventional research ends in a report or publication of findings (1). Max 4 marks.

4. Question 4

   6 marks

   Identify three methods a group could use to collect information on why few farmers in a Bungoma village treat their maize seed, and for each give one reason why the method is suitable.

   (6 marks)

   Marking scheme

   Award 1 mark for the method and 1 mark for a reason that fits it. Any 3 methods, 2 marks each. - Interview with farmers (1) - allows follow-up questions, so the group learns the reasons behind the practice, including reasons it had not thought of (1). - Questionnaire (1) - reaches many farmers quickly and gives figures that can be counted and compared (1). - Observation at planting time or at a farm store (1) - shows what farmers actually do rather than what they say they do (1). - Focus group discussion with a farmers' group (1) - members build on one another's views, so common obstacles surface quickly (1). - Study of records kept by the agricultural extension officer or an agrovet (1) - gives existing evidence on how much treated seed is bought locally (1). Max 6 marks.

5. Question 5

   1 mark

   Why should a group count the learners who wash their hands BEFORE it installs a new hand-washing station?

   A. To fill the research report with figures.

   B. To obtain a starting point against which any later change can be judged.

   C. Because data in action research can only be collected at the start of a project.

   D. To identify the learners who should be punished for poor hygiene.

   (1 mark)

   Marking scheme for this question

   Create a free account to see it

6. Question 6

   4 marks

   Outline the four stages of one action research cycle.

   (4 marks)

   Marking scheme for this question

   Create a free account to see it

7. Question 7

   1 mark

   A group in Kakamega wants to find out how households store their maize, but the village has about 400 households and the group has only two afternoons. What should the group do?

   A. Interview a sample of households drawn from every part of the village.

   B. Interview only the households of the group members, since they are easy to reach.

   C. Drop the question and write the report from the group members' own opinions.

   D. Ask the village elder to answer on behalf of all the households.

   (1 mark)

   Marking scheme for this question

   Create a free account to see it

8. Question 8

   5 marks

   Learners in a Murang'a school find that many of the avocado seedlings they planted last term have dried up. Describe how they would carry out an action research on this problem.

   (5 marks)

   Marking scheme

   Award 1 mark for each correct point, to a maximum of 5. - State the problem and turn it into a question, for example: how can we raise the number of avocado seedlings that survive the dry season? - Collect baseline information - count the seedlings that survived and those that dried, and record how each was watered, mulched and shaded. - Establish the likely causes from those who tended the seedlings and from the agriculture teacher or extension officer. - Plan an action that addresses the likely cause, such as mulching, a watering rota and shade for each seedling. - Carry out the planned action on the new seedlings. - Observe and record survival over an agreed period, for example a weekly count for one term. - Reflect on the results, report them to the school and the community, and plan an improved second cycle. Max 5 marks.

9. Question 9

   1 mark

   Which statement correctly describes who carries out action research?

   A. Only trained researchers from a university are allowed to carry it out.

   B. It is carried out by the people working within the situation, who study their own practice.

   C. It is carried out by the county government on behalf of communities.

   D. It must be carried out by people outside the situation, so as to keep it fair.

   (1 mark)

   Marking scheme for this question

   Create a free account to see it

10. Question 10

    1 mark

    Which of the following is the MOST suitable action research question for a Grade 10 group working with a nearby open-air market?

    A. Who is to blame for the dirt found in the market?

    B. Why is solid waste a problem in Kenya?

    C. What is the meaning of solid waste management?

    D. How can we reduce the waste left on the market ground on market days?

    (1 mark)

    Marking scheme for this question

    Create a free account to see it

11. Question 11

    1 mark

    What is the MAIN purpose of action research in a community service learning project?

    A. To collect as much information as possible about the community.

    B. To produce findings that can be applied in every county in Kenya.

    C. To prove a theory that has already been published by other researchers.

    D. To solve a practical problem in the learners' own setting and improve what they do.

    (1 mark)

    Marking scheme for this question

    Create a free account to see it

12. Question 12

    6 marks

    Explain three reasons why action research is a suitable approach for a Grade 10 community service learning project.

    (6 marks)

    Marking scheme

    Award 1 mark for the reason and 1 mark for the explanation. Any 3 reasons, 2 marks each. - It addresses a real local problem (1) so the learners work on a need the community actually has, such as water shortage or waste at the market (1). - It is carried out by the learners themselves (1) which builds skills of enquiry, teamwork and responsibility rather than knowledge alone (1). - It is small in scale (1) so it can be completed within a term using the little money, time and equipment a class has (1). - It is cyclical (1) so a first attempt that fails is not wasted; the group learns from it and plans a better action (1). - It produces evidence (1) which the group can use to show the community and the school whether the service made any difference (1). Max 6 marks.

13. Question 13

    3 marks

    State three ethical practices a group should observe when collecting information from community members.

    (3 marks)

    Marking scheme for this question

    Create a free account to see it

14. Question 14

    2 marks

    State the meaning of action research as used in community service learning.

    (2 marks)

    Marking scheme for this question

    Create a free account to see it

15. 10 more marking schemes are on this page. A free account opens all of them, and lets you build your own paper on the topics you have actually taught, laid out in KNEC format with its full marking scheme.

    Create a free account

More Grade 10 Community Service Learning topics