Action Research: Improving Schools and Empowering Educators

About the Book

Craig Mertler’s Action Research: Improving Schools and Empowering Educators introduces practicing educators to the process of conducting classroom-based action research.  Practical and comprehensive, the book focuses on research methods and procedures that educators can use in their everyday profession.  This Fifth Edition adds enhanced coverage of rigor and ethics in action research, means of establishing quality of both quantitative and qualitative data, as well as strengthened pedagogical features. New material including discussions of social justice advocacy as an application of action research and the inclusion of abstracts in research reports has been added.

 

Table of Contents:
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 Rigor in Action Research Action Research Portrait 1 Action Research Portrait 2 Action Research Checklist 1 Chapter 2: Overview of the Action Research Process Chapter 2 Organizer A Brief Example Action Research Portrait 1 Action Research Portrait 2 Action Research Checklist 2 Part II: "How Do I Begin My Action Research Study?" Chapter 3: Planning for Action Research & Reviewing Related Literature Chapter 3 Organizer Identifying a Topic for Research Gathering Preliminary Information Reviewing the Related Literature Writing Up Action Research: Topics and Literature Reviews Action Research Portrait 1 Action Research Portrait 2 Action Research Checklist 3 Chapter 4: Developing a Research Plan Chapter 4 Organizer Research Questions Basic Research Designs Ethical Considerations in Your Research Getting Organized for Your Research Writing Up Action Research: The Research Plan Action Research Portrait 1 Action Research Portrait 2 Action Research Checklist 4 Part III: "What Do I Do With All These Data?" Chapter 5: Collecting Data Chapter 5 Organizer Qualitative Data Collection Techniques Characteristics of Qualitative Data: Accuracy, Credibility, and Dependability Quantitative Data Collection Techniques Characteristics of Quantitative Data: Validity and Reliability Notes about Ethics and Data Collection Writing Up Action Research: Data Collection Methods Action Research Portrait 1 Action Research Portrait 2 Action Research Checklist 5 Chapter 6: Analyzing Data Chapter 6 Organizer Qualitative Data Analysis Techniques Quantitative Data Analysis Techniques A Note About Mixed-Methods Data Analysis Reporting the Results of Data Analysis Writing Up Action Research: Data Analysis Action Research Portrait 1 Action Research Portrait 2 Action Research Checklist 6 Part IV: "Ive Got Results!... Now What?" Chapter 7: Next Steps and Future Cycles: Developing an Action Plan Chapter 7 Organizer Developing Action Plans Levels of Action Plans Action Planning: A Time for Reflection Writing Up Action Research: Action Plans Action Research Portrait 1 Action Research Portrait 2 Action Research Checklist 7 Chapter 8: Writing an Action Research Report Chapter 8 Organizer Conventions of Academic Writing A Word About Ethics When Writing Research Reports Practical Guidelines for Writing Action Research Portrait 1 Action Research Portrait 2 Action Research Checklist 8 Chapter 9: Sharing and Reflecting Chapter 9 Organizer Communicating the Results of Action Research Writing Up Action Research: Reflecting on Research Action Research Portrait 1 Action Research Portrait 2 Action Research Checklist 9 Reflecting on the Action Research Process

About the Author :
Craig A. Mertler is currently an Associate Professor of Action Research and Quantitative Methods at Barry University in Miami, Florida. He began his career as a high school biology teacher. He has been an educator for 37 years—27 of those in higher education at Bowling Green State University, the University of West Georgia, Lynn University, Arizona State University, and Barry University, and 12 years as an administrator (department chair, doctoral program director, and education dean). Over his career, he has taught courses focused on the application of action research to promote educator empowerment, school improvement, and job-embedded professional development, as well as classroom assessment, research methods, and statistical analyses. He has served as the research methodology expert and/or chair on more than 120 doctoral dissertations and master’s theses. He is the author of 28 books, 9 invited book chapters, and 25 refereed journal articles. He has also presented more than 40 research papers at professional meetings around the country, as well as internationally. He has also delivered 25 invited presentations, including numerous keynote addresses and international addresses. He conducts workshops for in-service educational professionals (at all levels) on classroom-based action research and on the topics of classroom assessment and assessment literacy, as well as data-driven educational decision making. His primary research and consulting interests include classroom-based action research, data-driven educational decision making, professional learning communities, and classroom teachers’ assessment literacy. In his leisure time, he enjoys playing golf and traveling with his family. Dr. Mertler can be reached at craig.mertler@gmail.com for consulting, professional development, and speaking engagements. Additionally, you can visit his website at www.craigmertler.com.