Action Research in Education

This accessible, pragmatic text shows educators step by step how to conduct classroom- and school-based studies to improve instructional practices. The book presents methods and strategies for implementing each stage of the action research cycle, providing balanced coverage of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods approaches. Readers learn how to: select and define a research topic; develop a literature review; choose a design; formulate data collection strategies; design and/or evaluate assessment tools; and interpret, analyze, and report study results. Helpful examples and vignettes depict a variety of real-world teaching and learning situations, school subjects, and age groups (PreK-12). Pedagogical Features *Exercises and activities in every chapter. *Checklists, guidelines, and templates that enable busy educators to self-assess the progress and quality of their studies. *Example boxes illustrating the components of an action research report. *Summary tables highlighting key aspects of different research strategies. *Chapter summaries and suggestions for further reading.

This accessible, pragmatic text shows educators step by step how to conduct classroom- and school-based studies to improve instructional practices. The book presents methods and strategies for implementing each stage of the action research cycle, providing balanced coverage of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods approaches. Readers learn how to: select and define a research topic; develop a literature review; choose a design; formulate data collection strategies; design and/or evaluate assessment tools; and interpret, analyze, and report study results. Helpful examples and vignettes depict a variety of real-world teaching and learning situations, school subjects, and age groups (PreK-12). Pedagogical Features *Exercises and activities in every chapter. *Checklists, guidelines, and templates that enable busy educators to self-assess the progress and quality of their studies. *Example boxes illustrating the components of an action research report. *Summary tables highlighting key aspects of different research strategies. *Chapter summaries and suggestions for further reading.

1.  Introduction to Action Research* What Is Educational Research?* Practitioners as Researchers* Historical Perspectives* The Unique Characteristics of Action Research* Chapter Summary* Chapter Exercises and Activities* Additional Readings2.  Choosing and Learning about Your Research Topic* Choosing Your Research Topic* Framing the Research Problem StatementBox 2.1. Research Problem Statement of a Sixth-Grade Teacher Conducting Research to Determine the Success of Applying Differentiated Instruction in Her Classroom* Developing the Literature ReviewStep 1. Locating Sources for the Literature ReviewStep 2. Reading Literature to Identify ThemesStep 3. Constructing a Literature Review Outline Step 4. Writing the Literature Review      Introduction      Main Section of the Review      Box 2.2. An Example of an Opening Paragraph from the Main Section of the Literature Review      Box 2.3. An Example of a Paragraph from the Literature Review      Box 2.4: An Opening Paragraph from the Literature Review: Moving from the General to the More Specific      Summary and Concluding Remarks* Formulating Specific Research Question(s) Questions in Qualitative Action ResearchQuestions in Quantitative Action ResearchQuestions in Mixed-Methods Action ResearchExamples of Research Problems: From the General to the Specific* Chapter Summary* Chapter Exercises and Activities* Additional Readings3.  Approaches to Action Research* Educational Research Approaches* Qualitative Educational ResearchAssumptions about School RealityResearch PurposeResearcher Role Research ProcessCommon Qualitative Methods      Case Study Research      Ethnographic Research      Narrative Research      Critical Research* Quantitative Educational ResearchAssumptions about School RealityResearch PurposeResearcher RoleResearch ProcessCommon Quantitative Methods      Experimental research      Causal-Comparative (Ex Post Facto) Research      Correlational Research      Descriptive Research* Mixed-Methods ResearchAssumptions about School RealityResearch PurposeResearcher RoleResearch ProcessCommon Mixed Methods       Embedded-Design Research      Two-Phase Research      Integrated Research* Choosing an Approach for Your Research ProjectAction Research FrameworkPersonal WorldviewResearch Question* Chapter Summary* Chapter Exercises and Activities* Additional Readings4.  Developing a Plan of Action* Considering Your Role as a ResearcherBox 4.1. A Researcher Role Statement* Establishing the Research Scope* Identifying the Research Site and ParticipantsResearch SiteBox 4.2. An Excerpt from a Research Site SectionResearch ParticipantsBox 4.3. A Description of Research Participants* Choosing Data Collection Procedures* Ensuring the Study's Validity and TrustworthinessQualitative StudiesQuantitative StudiesMixed-Methods Studies* Developing Ethical GuidelinesObtaining Permission to Conduct the StudyConfidentiality of Data CollectedInformed ConsentBox 4.4. Sample Letter of IntroductionBox 4.5. Sample Informed Consent FormRespect toward the Research SiteSafety of the ParticipantsAccurate Interpretation and Presentation of the Data* Creating a “To-Do” List* Finalizing the Research Plan* Chapter Summary* Chapter Exercises and Activities* Additional Readings5.  Data Collection Tools* ObservationQualitative Observation      The Process of Conducting Qualitative Observation      Observation Protocol      Observation Steps      Behavior Log      Photographs, Videotapes, and Audiotapes Quantitative Observation      Tally Sheets      Checklists      Rating Scales* InterviewUnstructured, Semistructured, and Structured Interviews      Unstructured Interviews      Semistructured Interviews      Structured InterviewsThe Interview Process      Developing the Interview QuestionsConducting the Interview      Before the Interview      During the Interview      After the InterviewFocus Group InterviewOnline Interview* SurveysThe Process of Conducting SurveysWriting the Survey Items: Types of Questions and Response Choices      Suggestions for Writing Survey Questions      Structured Responses      Unstructured (Open-Ended) Responses* Artifacts and Documents Official and Personal Artifacts and DocumentsTeacher Journals* Summary of Data Collection Tools* Chapter Summary* Chapter Exercises and Activities* Additional Readings6.  Using Assessment Data in Action Research* Understanding Standardized Commercial Achievement TestsNorm-Referenced Commercial TestsCriterion-Referenced Commercial Tests* Writing Instructional ObjectivesPreparing a Table of Test Specifications* Constructing Teacher-Made Traditional Assessment ToolsWriting Test Items      Selection-Type Items      Supply-Type ItemsEvaluating Traditional Teacher-Made Assessment Tools      Content Validity and Reliability of Tests       Looking at Students' Response Choices* Using Teacher-Made Authentic Assessment ToolsPerformance Assessment Curriculum-Based Measurement Using Rubrics to Assess Students' PerformanceUsing Portfolios to Assess Students' Performance* Final Comments about Classroom Assessment* Chapter Summary* Chapter Exercises and Activities* Additional Readings7.  Data Analysis and Interpretation* Qualitative Data AnalysisPreparation for Analysis      Transforming Data into Readable Text      Sorting the Data into Files      Creating a Data File Organizer      Immersing Yourself in the DataAnalysis of the Data      Using Predetermined Categories       Using Emerging CategoriesSynthesis and Interpretation of the Data      Identifying Patterns      Creating a Concept Map      Supporting the Findings with Evidence      Validating the InterpretationPresentation of Data Analysis and Interpretation      Reporting on the Analysis Process      Reporting the Findings and Their Meanings* Quantitative Data Analysis Entering, Organizing, Graphing, and Tabulating Data      Coding and Entering Data in Preparation for Data Analysis      Creating Frequency Distributions      Graphing Data      Tabulating DataComputing Measures of Distribution Centers      Mode      Median      Mean      OutliersComputing Measures of Distribution Variability      Range      Standard DeviationAnalyzing the Data      Measures of Association      Measures of DifferencesEvaluating the Statistical Findings      Statistical Significance      Practical SignificancePresenting the Findings* Mixed-Methods Data AnalysisEmbedded DesignTwo-Phase DesignTriangulation Design* Reporting the Study's Results, Conclusions, and Implications* Chapter Summary* Chapter Exercises and Activities* Additional Readings8.  Writing, Sharing, and Implementing the Research Findings* Writing a Formal Action Research ReportIntroductionLiterature ReviewMethodology      Participants and Site      Data Collection Procedures      Researcher Role      Data AnalysisFindings and ResultsDiscussion and ImplicationsReferencesAppendix* Developing Alternative Formats for Reporting on Action ResearchPoster PresentationResearch PortfolioElectronic MediaPerformance Presentation* Sharing the Research Findings* Implementing the Research Findings* Completing the Action Research Project* Becoming a Part of the Research Community* Chapter Summary* Chapter Exercises and Activities* Additional Readings