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Action Research
Improving Schools and Empowering Educators

Seventh Edition


July 2024 | 376 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
Action Research: Improving Schools and Empowering Educators, Seventh Edition serves as a comprehensive guide on action research for both beginning and experienced educators. Instead of focusing on theoretical aspects of research, the book provides detailed yet practical information guiding readers step-by-step through the iterative process of action research in a classroom or school-based context. The text adopts a highly sequential manner, beginning with topic conceptualization, reviewing related research, designing the study, executing the investigation, developing an action plan, and ultimately disseminating and reflecting on the results. A distinguishing feature of this book is the integration of numerous relatable examples, hands-on exercises, case studies, and explorations of published action research entries to ensure material comprehension. Each chapter of this Seventh Edition has been updated with a new Action Research Case Study, featuring the move to virtual instruction for the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Throughout, the author has added more on alternative strategies for disseminating research and expanded discussion of research topics, problems, questions, data, and analysis. Additionally, the entire book has also been updated for the Seventh Edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association to be current with the latest best practices in research.

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Part I • What Is Action Research?
 
Chapter 1 • Introduction to Action Research
What Is Action Research?

 
The Importance of Action Research

 
Applications of Action Research

 
Is This Really Research? Rigor in Action Research

 
 
Chapter 2 • Overview of the Action Research Process
Stages and Steps in Action Research

 
The Planning Stage

 
The Acting Stage

 
The Developing Stage

 
The Reflecting Stage

 
A Brief Example

 
 
Part II • How Do I Begin My Action Research Study?
 
Chapter 3 • Planning for Action Research and Reviewing Related Literature
Identifying a Topic for Research

 
Gathering Preliminary Information

 
Reviewing the Related Literature

 
 
Chapter 4 • Developing a Research Plan
Research Questions

 
Basic Research Designs

 
Ethical Considerations in Your Research

 
Getting Organized for Your Research

 
 
Part III • What Do I Do With All These Data?
 
Chapter 5 • Collecting Data
Qualitative Data Collection Techniques

 
Quantitative Data Collection Techniques

 
Notes About Ethics and Data Collection

 
A Final Note About Organization and Alignment

 
 
Chapter 6 • Analyzing Data
Qualitative Data Analysis Techniques

 
Quantitative Data Analysis Techniques

 
A Note About Mixed-Methods Data Analysis

 
Reporting the Results of Data Analysis

 
 
Part IV • I’ve Got Results! . . . Now What?
 
Chapter 7 • Next Steps and Future Cycles: Developing an Action Plan
Developing Action Plans

 
Levels of Action Plans

 
Action Planning: A Time for Reflection

 
 
Chapter 8 • Writing an Action Research Report
Conventions of Academic Writing

 
A Word About Ethics When Writing Research Reports

 
Practical Guidelines for Writing

 
 
Chapter 9 • Sharing and Reflecting
Communicating the Results of Action Research

 
Reflecting on the Action Research Process

 
 
Appendix A. Sample Action Research Report: Differentiated Spelling: Using Small Group Instruction
 
Appendix B. Sample Action Research Report: Implementing Personal Devices in Math
 
Appendix C. Action Research Developmental Templates
 
Glossary
 
References
 
Index

"This is by far the finest textbook on this topic available."

Bill Morelan
Arkansas Tech University

"Excellent. Well organized and easy to follow. Students can use this book to learn and professors can use it to set up their courses."

Angelo J. Letizia
Notre Dame of Maryland University

This is a wonderful textbook, and it is not at all the reason I will not be adopting it. It is simply because I am not teaching EPRS 7900 (Methods of Research in Education) going forward, and other resources have since been adopted as a result.

Dr Natasha N. Johnson
Educ Policy Studies Dept, Georgia State Univ-Atlanta
September 27, 2024

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