action research

I have learned a lot about action research in the last 5 days by reading the Dana text and the other articles on the subject.  There have been so many inservices that I have sat through thinking I will never be able to implement this stuff, because it just doesn't apply to me or my situation.  What I like about action research is the fact that the practioner gets to choose his or her area of interest.  Because this interest in personal, the action researcher is excited about the study.  I also think I will like action research, because I like collecting and looking at data.  This is a big step in the action research process.  I am planning on using the action research process to look at how benchmark testing affects student performance on standardized tests.  I am going to focus my study on algebra I students taking the STAAR test.  My "wondering" is how much does a good or bad benchmark test taken by students affect their performance on the STAAR test.  I am also interested in how teachers can use the results of the benchmark tests to their greatest advantage.  I understand that I am going to have to narrow my focus of my action research project to answer very specific questions.  In the end, I hope to have gained some knowledge as to what kind of benchmark test is most beneficial to students.  The lack of information on the STAAR test for teachers is what has stemmed my idea.