Improving Schools Through Action Research

This compact, clear and user-friendly text provides everything a pre-service or in-service teacher needs to know to follow the research cycle and conduct an action research project. This text emphasizes reflective processes used in planning and conducting action research studies, data analysis techniques (quantitative and qualitative), and displaying and explaining results. It provides specific information needed to complete each step of the action research cycle with chapter activities that help the student/reader conduct projects focused on school improvement. Each activity includes a research paper component that helps students create a research paper as they complete the activities in each chapter. This text has more emphasis on reflective and reflexive activities than other text and is geared toward adults/professionals who will use these activites to conduct action research for educational change and school improvement.

For courses in Action Research This package includes the Enhanced Pearson eText and bound book. A brief, user-friendly, solid look at the action research cycle and the knowledge to work through each step. In this book, educators learn what they need to know about the action research cycle and get practical help for working through each step of the cycle-from choosing a topic and generating research questions to analyzing data and reporting results and conclusions. In a clear, concise, user-friendly approach, the author helps readers through the entire process with specific, practical information that incorporates some of the latest online and professional resources, a more detailed explanation of how to analyze and interpret qualitative data, and instructions on formatting the research paper using the latest APA guidelines. From reviews of the text: "I've used the Hendricks text for 5 semesters and have modified the course each semester based on a deeper appreciation for the content the text offers. . . . . The Hendricks text provides an excellent organization and sequence in implementing the process of action research. . . . I see the text as a very strong component to my course and to any action research courses offered. . . . It helps students to produce a thorough and valuable end product." --Jill Miels, Ball State University "Key strengths are the examples and sample narratives; . . . projects threaded through the text provide a unifying connection of applications of the process for teachers. . . . [T]he last chapter provides much needed guidance for dissemination of research study results through presentations and publications." --Reese H. Todd, Texas Tech University "The strength of the text is accessibility and clarity. The text takes students through the steps of creating an action research project in clear and concise language. Hendricks does an excellent job of providing an appropriate balance of support and challenge for student teachers/action researchers. Great text for anyone who wants to learn more about constructing their own knowledge and improving schools through action research." --Jason Colombino, Boston College Lynch School of Education Invigorate learning with the Enhanced Pearson eText The Enhanced Pearson eText provides a rich, interactive learning environment designed to improve student mastery of content with embedded videos and tutorials. The Enhanced Pearson eText is also available without a print version. Instructors, visit pearsonhighered.com/etextbooks/ted to register for your digital examination copy. Students, register for or purchase your eText at pearsonhighered.com/etextbooks/ted.

Written for pre-and in-service educators, this Third Edition of Craig A. Mertler's Action Research: Improving Schools and Empowering Educators introduces the process of conducting one's own classroom- or school-based action research in conjunction with everyday instructional practices and activities. The text provides educators with the knowledge and skills necessary to design research studies, conduct research, and communicate findings to relevant stakeholders and interested parties.

This is the eBook of the printed book and may not include any media, website access codes, or print supplements that may come packaged with the bound book. Cher Hendricks’ Action Research for School Improvement: A Reflective Practice Approach, Third Edition , is a brief, accessible, and practical text that prepares educators to conduct their own action research projects. The third edition provides the information needed to complete each step of the action research cycle. Chapter activities include a research paper component that helps readers create a research paper as they complete the activities. Additional activities have been added in this edition to help educators navigate through each step of the action research process—from choosing a topic and generating research questions through data analysis and reporting results and conclusions. Other features of the book include detailed strategies for (1) reviewing and synthesizing the literature and writing a literature review, (2) collecting, triangulating, and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data (including how to graphically display results), (3) drawing conclusions from results, and (4) writing in APA (6th edition) style. Numerous Internet resources—including links to action research networks, professional organizations, and journals—are provided. Throughout the text, the book incorporates numerous pedagogical devices such as Exercises and Cases to help readers practically explore topics. Examples are provided throughout the book to document the ways teachers, principals, counselors, administrators, and support staff can improve their practice through action research. Among the changes and additions to the third edition, the text now presents a sharper focus on reflection in the action research cycle--including new reflection activities in every chapter. The book also places a greater emphasis on working with a critical friend or colleague throughout the action research process and incorporates updated and new online and professional resources as well as a more detailed explanation of how to analyze and interpret qualitative data, and instructions on formatting the research paper using the latest APA Guidelines.

Provides an explanation of what action research is, presents a rationale for engaging in action research, and describes the process of action research for improving teaching and learning in classrooms at all levels.

While written for mastersÆ students in any Educational Leadership concentration, this is a core text for departments that teach action research as a primary research methodology or a supplemental text for those that place it in a range of research methods. The book provides a readable overview of the PAR process similar to professional learning communities in schools. Its design reaches out to visual learners as graphic elements guide graduate students through the research methods they need to successfully complete rigorous projects. The results of the original PAR study and continued work with educational leaders lead us to believe that this approach ultimately produces the results school leaders seek and appreciate. Key Features: o Clear process through both the PAR steps employing a research logic model throughout. This benefits the graduate student or educational leader by leading them to data driven outcomes that are valid, credible and reliableGraphic elements guide the reader through the process and aid the visual learner in keeping track of the concepts behind the theory. o Reflective questions precede each section. This increases the reflective practices and routines of the reader as appropriate to the PAR process. o Tasks, written for both groups and individuals, aid participatory teams in working towards consensus and strong research designs o Practitioner stories make the lessons real and ease the emotional unease that come from tackling research practices the first time. Intended Audience: This book represents the evolution of PAR from a soft science to a process appropriate for educators in todayÆs data driven environments or for graduate students whose thesis needs to pass the recommendations of professors steeped in positivist traditions.

Become part of an online action research community Craig Mertler has recently created a wiki for action research. Click here to become part of this online community and begin exchanging ideas, questions/answers, and reflections about action research today! You can also follow Craig Mertler on Twitter @actionrsrchr, or listen to his podcasts here. Provides comprehensive coverage of action research methods without being unnecessarily technical The Second Edition of Action Research: Teachers as Researchers in the Classroom introduces practicing teachers to the process of conducting classroom-based action research. Written for the practicing educator, the focus is on conducting applied, classroom research. The book's practicality stems from its attention to research methods and procedures that teachers can use with their everyday instructional practices and classroom activities. New to the Second Edition Incorporates a discussion of rigor in classroom-based action research (Chapter 1) Presents several additional models of action research, including visuals of those models (Chapter 1) Discusses the activity of conducting "reconnaissance" (Chapters 2 and 3) Adds a third Action Research Portrait to illustrate how teachers conduct action research in response to their own classroom situations (Chapters 3-8) Provides a section that encourages educators to develop their own action research communities (Chapter 8) Simplifies the summaries of all nine chapters so that the main points and sub-points are more apparent Offers two new examples of complete action research reports in Appendixes A and B Now Accompanied by a Student Study Site! A new Student study site includes comprehensive study materials such as chapter summaries, practice tests, flashcards, and PowerPoint slides. Additional resources include "Learning from SAGE Journal Articles," "How to Read a Research Article," and an annotated research report for student reference.