Mirror, mirror on the wall..... A study into the characteristics of the facilitation of teachers who conduct action research

This article investigates the facilitation characteristics of teachers who conduct action research. A framework of the facilitation characteristics was constructed during a cyclic research process of literature research and semi-structured interviews with facilitators, teachers and experts. The framework consists of 24 facilitation characteristics divided hierarchically into four layers: motives, attitude, knowledge and skills. The framework is based on three characteristic motives for facilitating teachers in their action research. These are considered to be the fundamental starting point for the facilitation of action research. Based on these motives, the facilitator adopts a congruent attitude which allows specific knowledge and skills to be distinguished. The resulting framework first of all provides building blocks for developing theory on the facilitation of teachers’ action research, and secondly may guide the professional development of action research facilitators.