Action research as a strategy for improving equity and diversity: Implementation, constraints, outcomes.

摘要

The University of Southern California's Center for Urban Education (CUE) develops and creates data and inquiry tools for colleges and universities to help bring about equity in student outcomes. This dissertation study investigated whether and how university faculty and staff members' thoughts, beliefs, and practices were mediated after participating in a CUE action research project focused on racial-ethnic educational outcome disparities. The study revealed that when practitioners were involved in a collaborative inquiry process, their interactions in an activity setting promoted reflection and influenced them to consider more equity minded plans for improving student outcomes. The study findings support the premise that as the knowledge of equity-mindedness grows, and new knowledge is created, and old practices that focus on remedying student deficits are forgotten. Although action research methods have not been widely adopted in higher education, the findings of this study show action research is a valuable method for higher education practitioners to enhance racial and ethnic equity in higher education.