Power in Schooling and Research

Abstract

This reflection seeks to explore the role that power plays both in schooling and in research, specifically through the use of action research. The authors began this process in informal conversations reflecting on their personal experience with action research methods. Qualitative methods were then used with the authors using semistructured interviews to collect data and an inductive-interpretive approach to analyze said data. In the analysis, it became clear that the use of action research helped disrupt traditional power structures within teacher preparation programs, in K–12 schools, in higher education, and in research itself.