Action Research

About the Book

In the Fourth Edition of Action Research, author Ernest T. Stringer provides clear guidelines to enable novice practitioner researchers to move comfortably through a process of inquiry that provides effective solutions to problems in the work and lives of those participating in the research. The Fourth Edition provides a simple but highly effective model for approaching action research; Look: building a picture and gathering information, Think: interpreting and explaining, and Act: resolving issues and problems. "Biographical Bulletins" punctuate the text to clarify meaning and to increase understanding of relevant facets of research processes. This best-selling text is appropriate for educational, business, health, and social work settings.

New to this Edition:

A new chapter on using social media to enhance action research processes

An extended description of online sites related to action research

Major additions that strengthen the theoretical foundations of action research

An extended discussion of the literature on action research

Table of Contents:
Foreword Egon G. Guba Preface About the Author 1. Research in Professional and Public Life 2. The Theory Behind the Practice 3. Setting the Stage: Planning a Research Process 4. Look: Gathering Data 5. Think: Reflection and Analysis 6. Act: Action Plans -- Implementing Sustainable Solutions 7. Strategic Planning 8. Reports: Informing Stakeholders 9. Action Research and the Internet References Index

About the Author :
Ernest T. Stringer After an early career as a primary teacher and school principal, Ernie was a lecturer in education at Curtin University of Technology, in Western Australia. From the mid-1980s, based at Curtin’s Centre for Aboriginal Studies, he worked collaboratively with Aboriginal staff and community people to develop a wide variety of innovative and highly successful education and community development programs and services. His work with government departments, community-based agencies, business corporations, and local governments assisted them to work more effectively with Aboriginal people. In recent years, as visiting professor at the University of New Mexico and Texas A&M University and as visiting scholar at Cornell University, he taught research methods courses and/or engaged in projects with African American and Hispanic community and neighborhood groups. As a UNICEF consultant, he recently engaged in a major project to increase parent participation in schools in East Timor. He is author of Action Research (Sage, 2007), Action Research in Education (Pearson, 2008), Action Research in Health (with Bill Genat; Pearson, 2004), and Action Research in Human Services (with Rosalie Dwyer; Pearson, 2005). Until recently, he was a member of the editorial board of the Action Research Journal and past president of the Action Learning, Action Research Association (ALARA).

Review :
"It is an excellent resource for teaching Action Research to both graduate and undergraduate students." "…I very much like the book and its approach/philosophy/guiding principles…" "…[W]ell done and certainly the most readable and authoritative [book] on the topic of action research I have seen…As an educator, I found much useful insight in the text and I would certainly recommend it to doctoral students doing research that would benefit from the broader view…" best overview of action research out there. Perfect for class--students loved it. Great book that will assist our students with the background necessary to pursue a career in pacticioner based research I use it in a required course that is taught twice a year to a small group of students for more personal interaction. I have used the text in another course for several years, and found that the overview helps the students to grasp important concepts for action research. This is an excellent text for those students wishing to undertake an action research project for their dissertation. As many of our students are doing research in their own work place or Trade Union, this is a good opportunity for them to learn about how research can be immediately relevant and important, and part of a broader process of change and renewal in the Labour Movement.

The text takes the student through the process of research, and then has sections on case studies to illustrate how this can be done. This is useful as it allows some insight into what an action research project might look like. The examples are, however, relatively limited, and it might be good to have a web-link with examples of other (perhaps more political) research? It is written accessibly and the layout is also easy to follow. The addition of internet resources is also very good - although I imagine this will quickly go out of date and will need regular review. I found a text I liked better. Useful for students new to AR or those who are gaining competency. Used in both MA and doctoral level tutorial work. This text is a deceptively slim volume that encourages the reader to consider the essentials of AR in a very readable and yet rich presentation. The material is relevant to researchers of differing experience and ability who are drawn to qualitative methodology, and as such anyone studying a course where they are required to undertake practitioner based research will benefit. The author is clearly well versed in his subject and this shows in the well crafted presentation.
The students on the course that directly precedes the one for which I sought this book are all relatively new to the idea of researching anything other than their weekly shopping and yet the few who so far have accepted my recommendation to read this text are already able to demonstrate greater awareness of the methods they will be using in their respective small scale research projects on the next course. I am therefore recommending it as essential reading for all students on all of our courses who need to demonstrate understanding of a range of approaches to research. Didn′t fit the content of my online course very well. For the course, I did adopt a Sage Interactive eBook, "Introduction to Criminology" by Pamela J. Schram and Stephen G. Tibbetts. (ISBN 978-1-4833-0020-7)" Very clear description of how to take part in action research, use of language was appropriate and learners will find this useful to help with the course This is an easy to understand handbook that guides the student throughout the process of action research in a comprehensive way.It will be an invaluable companion to health students who want to learn more about or engage in their own action research. The use of real life examples helps to bring action research to life in a way that fosters greater understanding. The summary boxes throughout each chapter is an excellent tool to reflect on the learning taking place. A great way to start an action research project from one of the experts in the field. This text provides a clear overview of the applications for Action Research. It also provides useful points to consider when students are questioned about the legitimacy of this type of research as research. For students who are newly engaging with research through practice, this text provides some very useful tips about which skills they are engaging with and applying as well as questions to consider when planning research. Because this text captures how action research can be conducted through systematic inquiry, students are able to also begin to understand how their own emerging practice and reflection upon it can situate within a research paradigm in a clear and strategic manner. This is a great book and it was a toss-up between this text and Holly′s Action Research for Teachers. We may switch to this one in the future depending on how students do with the alternative.