Action Research

PREFACE Acknowledgments ABOUT THE AUTHORS PHASE I-TASK DEFINITION CHAPTER 1: WHAT IS ACTION RESEARCH? Guiding Questions Chapter Aims and Goals Setting the Context: Research in the Age of Accountability Taking Action: Using the CAPES Framework Summary Key Terms Case in Point: Introducing the Research Log Activities and Additional Resources PHASE II-GOAL SETTING AND PLANNING CHAPTER 2: IDENTIFYING A RESEARCH TOPIC Guiding Questions Chapter Aims and Goals Setting the Context: Choosing a Research Topic Taking Action: Developing the Research Topic Developing a Plan or a Product: Completing a Topic Proposal Form Evaluating Against the Standards: Are You Ready to Move On? Summary Key Terms Case in Point: Developing a Topic Activities and Additional Resources CHAPTER 3: CREATING A REVIEW OF LITERATURE Guiding Questions Chapter Aims and Goals Setting the Context: Sources of Information Taking Action: Locating and Synthesizing Information Developing a Plan or a Product: Writing the Synthesis of Literature Evaluating Against the Standards: Are You Ready to Move On? Summary Key Terms Case in Point: Annotated Bibliography Entries Activities and Additional Resources CHAPTER 4: CREATING A RESEARCH PLAN Guiding Questions Chapter Aims and Goals Setting the Context: Examining Characteristics and Components of Research Methods Taking Action: Developing a Preliminary Research Plan Developing a Plan or a Product: Initiating the Research Plan Proposal Form Evaluating Against the Standards: Are You Ready to Move On? Summary Key Terms Case in Point: Research Plan (Pre-implementation) Activities and Additional Resources CHAPTER 5: METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION Guiding Questions Chapter Aims and Goals Setting the Context: Choosing Data Collection Methods Validity and Reliability Sources of Data Taking Action: Selecting Data Collection Methods Developing a Plan or a Product: Revising the Research Plan Proposal Form and Creating a Timeline Evaluating Against the Standards: Are You Ready to Move On? Summary Key Terms Case in Point: Revising the Research Plan and Timeline Activities and Additional Resources PHASE III-ENACTING CHAPTER 6: ANALYZING THE DATA Guiding Questions Chapter Aims and Goals Setting the Context: Analyzing Your Data Taking Action: Selecting the Method of Data Analysis Developing a Plan or a Product: Completing the Research Plan Proposal Form and Timeline Evaluating Against the Standards: Are You Ready to Move On? Summary Key Terms Case in Point: Final Research Plan and Timeline Activities and Additional Resources PHASE IV-ADAPTATION CHAPTER 7: REFLECTING ON RESULTS AND PLANNING FOR ACTION Guiding Questions Chapter Aims and Goals Setting the Context: Reflecting on the Results of Action Research Taking Action: Creating a Plan for Action Developing a Plan or a Product: Completing a Plan of Action Evaluating Against the Standards: Are You Ready to Move On? Summary Key Terms Case in Point: Reflecting on Results Activities and Additional Resources CHAPTER 8: THE ACTION RESEARCH REPORT: SHARING RESULTS Guiding Questions Chapter Aims and Goals Setting the Context: Determining the Audience, Format, and Outlet Taking Action: Crafting the Abstract and Policy Implication Statements Developing a Product: Creating the Action Research Report Outline, Presentation, and Summary Evaluating Against the Standards: Are You Ready to Move On? Moving Forward: Potential Challenges Summary Key Terms Case in Point: Action Research Summary Activities and Additional Resources CHAPTER 9: LEADING A COLLABORATIVE ACTION RESEARCH TEAM Guiding Questions Chapter Aims and Goals Setting the Context: Organizing for Collaborative Action Research Taking Action: Collaborative Action Research Developing the Product: Forming the Collaborative Action Research Team Summary Key Terms Case in Point: Developing a Collaborative Action Research Study Activities and Additional Resources APPENDIX A: EXAMPLES OF ACTION RESEARCH REPORTS Examining the Impact of Readers' Theater on Struggling Readers' Fluency Levels Using an Investigation Model in Ninth-Grade Science Class: Impact on Lower-Level Readers APPENDIX B: POTENTIAL PUBLICATION OUTLETS FOR ACTION RESEARCH GLOSSARY INDEX