Feeling frustrated because a lot of students have dropped out of her class, a teacher might talk with other teachers and ask for suggested strategies that might improve retention. She might try out some of the suggestions. If the activities work, she might add them to her routine. If they don't, she would forget about them. This episode might be a learning experience for the teacher, but it would not be research.
Research is more than trying out new ideas or proving something works in the classroom.
She would think about the underlying questions involved with this dilemma of students who just up and leave. Research is what we do in order to better understand our situation. We use this term to include teachers, tutors, aides, administrators, and students as potential researchers. The important thing to keep in mind is that we are addressing research conducted by people involved in the situation, not outside observers. They also have an immediate need for the results of their research.