Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher, 5/e

Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher, 5/e

This is the eBook of the printed book and may not include any<br />media, website access codes, or print supplements that may come<br />packaged with the bound book.<br />Born of the author's own experience working<br />with teachers and principals, Action Research, 5/e, provides<br />a research-based step-by-step outline of how to do action research.<br />The author guides teachers and administrators through the action<br />research process via numerous concrete illustrations; positioning<br />it as a fundamental component of teaching.<br />¿<br />From reviews of the book:<br />“Mills’ writing style is<br />informative, direct, and personalized and his expertise as a<br />researcher is evident throughout the textbook. ¿He fully<br />understands the uniqueness of teacher-centered research. . . .<br />¿The language and the illustration cater to the classroom<br />research contexts and it is easy to understand and<br />apply.”<br />–Adel Al-Bataineh, ¿Illinois<br />State University<br />¿<br />¿“The book emphasizes the<br />importance of reflection and creating an action plan. . . .<br />Examples of action research papers are included.¿ There are<br />study sites, videos, slides and other supplemental materials<br />available for the students to consult for ancillary learning.<br />¿The writing style is clear, interesting and engaging.¿<br />Throughout the text, Mills offers the reader a research scenario<br />that helps to position him or her around the theme of the chapter<br />and context of the research phase. This helps to alleviate some of<br />the anxiety students of action research may experience as they<br />begin each aspect of the action research process.”<br />–Beverly Melenyzer, California<br />University of Pennsylvania<br />¿<br />“[T]he survey examples, SurveyMonkey,<br />and direct observation examples are very good, as well as the<br />informal interview, making records, [and] data collection<br />techniques. . . .¿ [T]he section on re-aligning the focus and<br />action research plan is very good. I find my students doing this as<br />they are doing their literature review and understanding that they<br />need to narrow the scope of their research.¿ I like the<br />example of doing AR in Ch. 6. . . .¿ I like the inclusion of<br />the data analysis, sample interview and other models of how to<br />analyze data. . . . The key strengths of the project are the<br />authentic examples of AR.”<br />–Mary Frances Agnello, Texas Tech<br />University<br />¿<br />Features<br />¿<br />Balanced coverage of data collection and<br />analysis techniques for qualitative, quantitative and mixed<br />methods<br /><br />Chapter 4, Data Collection Techniques, covers collection<br />techniques for the most frequently used qualitative and<br />quantitative data, including observations, interviews, teacher-made<br />tests, and standardized test data.<br />Chapter 6, Data Analysis and Interpretation, guides students<br />through data analysis and provides techniques, coding guidelines,<br />and examples for analyzing both quantitative and qualitative<br />data.<br />Inclusion throughout the text of digital research tools that<br />can be used by action researchers through each phase of the action<br />research process.¿<br /><br />A focus on producing critical consumers<br />of action research<br /><br />Chapter 9,¿Evaluating Action Research, helps<br />students¿learn to read and critique studies completed by<br />others.¿ Included in Chapter 9 is an article from an action<br />research journal that is analyzed using the new criteria for<br />evaluating action research.<br />Appendix A, Action Research in Action, contains an extended<br />example and evaluation of an action research case study.<br /><br />Expanded coverage of the ethics of<br />conducting research in your own classroom<br /><br />Chapter 2, Ethics, includes discussion of ethical guidelines<br />and provides guidance for seeking and obtaining Institutional<br />Review Board (IRB) approval.