Short Guide to Action Research, A

by Johnson, Andrew P.

• ISBN13: 9780205412532
• ISBN10: 020541253X
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-01-01
• Publisher: Allyn & Bacon

Summary

This compact, user-friENDly text provides readers with everything a pre-service or in-service teacher needs to know about conducting an action research project in a clear, step-by-step format. A Short Guide in Action Research, Second EDITION, guides the learner through the comprehension and interpretation of both qualitative and quantitative techniques in educational research methods and then describes all phases of the process, including selecting a topic; collecting, analyzing, and reporting data; reviewing the literature; and presenting the report. Data collection techniques reflecting popular authentic assessments and real-life examples enliven concepts throughout the text. This user friENDly, practical text provides readers with the skills they need and the steps to take for conducting accurate action research. Provides readers information on Action Research with an emphasis on collecting, analyzing, writing and reporting action research. Pre-service and in-service teachers and researchers.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
About the Author	xiii
SECTION I RATIONALE	1	(46)
CHAPTER ONE Science, Research, and Teaching	3	(10)
SCIENCE	3	(2)
RESEARCH	5	(4)
TEACHING	9	(1)
SUMMARY	10	(3)
CHAPTER TWO Research Paradigms and the Nature of Reality	13	(8)
METAPHYSICAL PERSPECTIVES	13	(3)
IMPLICATIONS	16	(2)
SUMMARY	18	(3)
CHAPTER THREE Introduction to Action Research	21	(8)
RESEARCH IN ACTION	21	(4)
THE IMPORTANCE OF ACTION RESEARCH	25	(2)
SUMMARY	27	(2)
CHAPTER FOUR Using Action Research for Solving Problems	29	(8)
FINDING THE PROBLEM	29	(1)
FINDING SOLUTIONS	29	(2)
TESTING THE SOLUTION	31	(1)
AN EXAMPLE OF ACTION RESEARCH AND PROBLEM SOLVING	31	(3)
SUMMARY	34	(3)
CHAPTER FIVE Strategies for Professional Growth: Preservice and Inservice Teachers	37	(10)
PRESERVICE TEACHERS: A TOOL FOR SEEING	37	(5)
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHOOLS	42	(2)
ACTION RESEARCH AND THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHERS	44	(1)
SUMMARY	45	(2)
SECTION II THE PROCESS	47	(66)
CHAPTER SIX The Beginning	49	(6)
AN OVERVIEW OF THE ACTION RESEARCH PROCESS	49	(2)
FINDING YOUR RESEARCH TOPIC	51	(2)
SUMMARY	53	(2)
CHAPTER SEVEN A Theoretical Context	55	(6)
REVIEWING THE LITERATURE	55	(1)
SOURCES FOR THE LITERATURE REVIEW	55	(2)
SAMPLE LITERATURE REVIEWS	57	(3)
SUMMARY	60	(1)
CHAPTER EIGHT Methods of Collecting Data	61	(20)
DATA COLLECTION	61	(1)
TYPES OF DATA COLLECTION IN ACTION RESEARCH	62	(18)
SUMMARY	80	(1)
CHAPTER NINE Methods of Analyzing Data	81	(12)
ACCURACY AND CREDIBILITY: THIS IS WHAT IS	81	(1)
VALIDITY, RELIABILITY, AND TRIANGULATION	82	(1)
INDUCTIVE ANALYSIS	83	(8)
SUMMARY	91	(2)
CHAPTER TEN Quantitative Design in Action Research	93	(10)
CORRELATIONAL RESEARCH	93	(2)
CAUSAL-COMPARATIVE RESEARCH	95	(1)
QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH	96	(3)
THE FUNCTION OF STATISTICS	99	(2)
SUMMARY	101	(2)
CHAPTER ELEVEN Discussion: Your Plan of Action	103	(10)
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS	103	(4)
EVALUATION OF THE STUDY	107	(1)
DESIGNING A NEW PLAN OR PROGRAM	108	(2)
SUMMARY	110	(3)
SECTION III SAMPLES	113	(28)
CHAPTER TWELVE Sample Action Research Projects	115	(26)
WORD	139	(2)
SECTION IV WRITING AND REPORTING ACTION RESEARCH	141	(46)
CHAPTER THIRTEEN Presenting Your Action Research	143	(6)
THE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT	143	(2)
THE PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENT	145	(2)
LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS	147	(1)
SUMMARY	147	(2)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN Writing an Action Research Report	149	(6)
TONE AND STYLE	149	(2)
LENGTH	151	(1)
CLARITY	151	(1)
HEADINGS	152	(2)
SUMMARY	154	(1)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN Action Research as Master's Thesis	155	(6)
BEFORE YOU START	155	(1)
THE ACTION RESEARCH THESIS	156	(4)
THE LAST WORD	160	(1)
CHAPTER SIXTEEN The Literature Review	161	(8)
A THEORETICAL CONTEXT	161	(4)
A SAMPLE LITERATURE REVIEW	165	(2)
THE REFERENCE PAGE	167	(1)
SUMMARY	168	(1)
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Findings: Reporting Qualitative Data	169	(10)
PRESENTING QUALITATIVE DATA	169	(2)
THE IMPORTANCE OF STRUCTURE	171	(3)
CASE STUDIES OR REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLES	174	(3)
APPENDICES	177	(1)
SUMMARY	177	(2)
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Findings: Reporting Quantitative Data Using Tables, Figures, and Graphs	179	(8)
QUANTIFYING REALITY	179	(3)
TABLES	182	(2)
FIGURES	184	(1)
SUMMARY	184	(3)
EPILOGUE	187	(2)
Appendix A: Belief and Facts	189	(1)
Appendix B: Facts and Belief	190	(1)
Appendix C: Effective and Less Effective	191	(1)
Appendix D: Plan to Investigate	192	(1)
Appendix E: Creative Problem Solving	193	(1)
Appendix F: Means-End Analysis	194	(1)
Appendix G: Checklist for Small-Group Conferences	195	(1)
Appendix H: Product and Performance Assessment Form	196	(1)
Appendix I: Writing Assessment Form	197	(1)
Appendix J: Checklist for Independent Research Projects	198	(1)
References	199