Action Research: An Educational Leader's Guide to School Improvement

Abstract

Preface Acknowledgments Introduction Brief Description Uniqueness Audience Rationale Assumptions Goals Organization and Content References Chapter 1: An Introduction to Action Research: It's Not All That Complicated What Is Research? Ignorance About the Utility of Research Research as a Professional Responsibility Why Educational Leaders Might Avoid Research A Paradigm for Research Evaluation Research: The Most Common Use of Action Research for Educational Leaders Evolution of Action Research Action Research Defined Benefits of Action Research Action Research Is Not Complicated Steps in Action Research The Educational Leader as a Reflective Practitioner Reflective Practice Summary References Chapter 2: Teaching and Doing Action Research Through General Semantics Introduction What Is General Semantics? Course Description Another Lesson From General Semantics Summary and Conclusion References Chapter 3: Getting Started on an Action Research Project Getting Started: The Overall Research Plan Clarifying Purposes Considering Logistics The Plan Suggestions for Getting Started References Chapter 4: Quantitative Approaches to Action Research Descriptive Research Correlation Research Group Comparison Research Choosing a Research Design An Inadequate Research Design Adequate Research Designs (or Simplified Designs for School Research) References Chapter 5: Qualitative Approaches to Action Research Historical Inquiry Ethnographic Research Case Study Research References Chapter 6: Easy Steps to Program Development and Evaluation Research Eight Steps of Program Development Five Steps of Program Evaluation References Chapter 7: Data Collection Techniques That Work Popular Data Collection Techniques Used in Action Research Primary Data Collection Techniques Secondary Data Collection Techniques References Chapter 8: How to Analyze Quantitative Data Easily Statistical Analyses Application of Mean, Standard Deviation, and Percentage The t-Test The Sign Test The Mann-Whitney U-Test The Chi Square and Other User-Friendly Statistics References Chapter 9: How to Analyze Qualitative Data Easily Analytic Procedures Computer Applications Tables, Graphs, and Charts References Chapter 10: Putting It All Together: What Does It Mean? Interpreting Data Reporting Data Writing the Research Report Overview of Steps for Writing Up an Action Research Project Elements of the Report References Chapter 11: Completing Your Action Research Master's Thesis Project Step 1: Identify a Topic Step 2: Write a Literature Review Step 3: Develop a Research Plan Step 4: Carry Out the Plan Step 5: Write Up the Results Chapter 12: Action Research in Practice Action Planning and Implementation Becoming Reflective Practitioners Through Action Research Conclusion References Chapter 13:Seven Suggestions for Action Researchers Expect the Unexpected Be Receptive to Both Quantitative and Especially Qualitative Approaches Give It Your All Don't Make a Decision Too Quickly Keep Lines of Communication Open and Clear Appreciate Your Enlightened Eye Take Action The Ethics of Action Research Conclusion References Appendix A: Pretest Appendix B: Sample Write-Up of Quantitative and Qualitative Methods and Results Appendix C: Sample Appendixes Appendix D: Are You a Good Writer? Appendix E: Brief Description of APA Appendix F: Evaluation Criteria for Report Appendix G: Sample Consent Forms Appendix H: Sample Cover Letter Appendix I: Sample Action Research Proposals by Teachers Glossary Annotated References Index About the Author

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