Action Research Essentials is a practical guide born of the author's own experience working with students in the social sciences and education, providing a step-by-step outline of how to "do" action research--backed by the most extensive theory and research coverage on the market today. The author guides future researcher/practitioners through the action research process via numerous concrete illustrations and a wealth of on-line resources; positioning it as a fundamental component of practice, A key and unique strength of the book is its outreach to a much larger breadth of students than usually found in action research books. This book will illustrate all the steps in action research using examples from education, social work, psychology, sociology, nursing, medicine, and counseling. The structure of the book is intended as the sole textbook for a course devoted to naturalistic inquiry, practitioner research, or beginning qualitative methods, or can complement a general research course.

This book describes a method in which researchers commit to research WITH, not ON, members of marginalized communities in order to challenge and transform conditions of social injustice.

This is an accessible and practical introduction to research that addresses the broadest spectrum of research methodologies of interest to the student or new research, from experimental and survey approaches to program evaluation and ethnography. Research Essentials includes key interpretive and qualitative strategies. The book shows the role that research plays in the social sciences and education, followed by an overview of research traditions. It offers practical examples and relevant resources across the disciplines. Other features include study questions, lists of relevant journals, web sites, and organizations.

This guide is designed to encourage lateral, strategic and creative thinking, while providing essential knowledge and skills to students and researchers. O'Leary from University of Western Sydney, NSW.

`Offers a guide to making a difference through action research that will build readers′ confidence and acts as a "virtual mentor" to those thinking about, preparing, planning or undertaking an action research project. I thoroughly recommend it′ - Journal of Advanced Nursing What is action research? Why do action research? When should one use action research? How does one become an action researcher? Leading practitioners Jean McNiff and Jack Whitehead provide a brilliantly written and easy-to-follow introduction to action research that will be essential reading for students, practitioners and seasoned researchers alike. In All You Need to Know About Action Research, McNiff and Whitehead are your guides to a vast and fast-moving field. This book provides: - A clear guide to the history and philosophy that underpin action research - Comprehensive coverage of the main theoretical debates in action research - Essential help to anyone undertaking their own action research project - Practical help in planning your research project and generating knowledge - A vision for action research as a learning enterprise and as a transformational method - A unique understanding of how action research can help your learning and your professional practice along with that of those around you - Confidence-building advice about theorizing on the basis of your research and/or your professional practice - Help with writing about your research and disseminating your findings This book is essential reading for anyone interested in action research. It is equally essential reading for anyone interested in making a difference; in generating theory from research; and in learning from practice.

Action Research: Using Strategic Inquiry to Improve Teaching and Learning is a core text for the Action Research course in Education. The proposed text seeks to address the needs of practitioners as it will be primarily written for use within a graduate level action research class. It will be oriented towards proactive planning as part of an organized, efficient process for developing and conducting an action research study. The book will be organized around implementation of the action research process using self-regulatory principles, which is characterized by four phases: task definition, goal setting and planning, enacting, and adapting. These four phases will be addressed as the learner considers what action research encompasses and a topic to be studied, then proceeds to establish a plan and enact it. This overall process is organized as can be seen in the Table of Contents. Michael Putnam and Tracy Rock will highlight methods and processes that incorporate formative data that is readily available to teachers, facilitating associations between classroom instruction and the action research process. The text will also reinforce how action research can improve the teaching and learning process by reinforcing or changing perceptions about the use of informal data, including anecdotal notes or observations, in the research process.

This text outlines and explains in detail the necessary steps in designing, conducting, implementing, and reporting an action research study with a solid mixed methods foundation.