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Informationen zum Autor Dorothy Valcarcel Craig is a professor of education, certified online instructor, and program coordinator in the Department of Educational Leadership at the College of Education and Behavioral Science, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee. She previously held the position of associate dean for Teacher Education. Klappentext Action Research Essentials offers students, faculty, and practitioners an accessible and practical guide on how and when to do action research most effectively. Dorothy Valcarcel Craig, a leading expert on the topic of action research, provides step-by-step approaches and shows how to gather the right data, conduct a comprehensive and useful literature review, analyze the data, design and implement a resulting action plan, and present the findings. Designed to be broadly applied, the book is filled with illustrations from the field of education, as well as from social work, psychology, sociology, nursing, medicine, and counseling. Action Research Essentials contains a variety of online resources as well as rubrics and checklists to help students design questions, evaluate online sources, write the literature review, and create the action research report. Praise for Action Research Essentials "Action Research Essentials provides educators with an informative, detailed, and well-organized resource that guides them through the process of reflective inquiry." --Teresa Dalle, English Department, University of Memphis "Among the dozens of research texts available, this new text by Dorothy Varcarcel Craig serves a valuable purpose: communicating clearly the essentials of action research, for enterprising college and university students." --Porter King, Trevecca Nazarene University; editor, Tennessee Educational Leadership "Action Research Essentials thoroughly describes the steps involved in action research, scenarios where action research is appropriate, and guidelines for writing the action research report." --Donna J. Urban, instructional design manager, Jones Knowledge Zusammenfassung 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. Inhaltsverzeichnis Figures, Tables, & Exhibits xi Preface xv The Author xxi CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION TO ACTION RESEARCH 1 Introduction 2 What Is Action Research? 2 Action Research: Some Definitions 4 Why Engage in Action Research? 6 Steps in the Process 10 Phases of an Action Research Study 14 What Are Data? 18 When Is Action Research the Appropriate Choice? 21 How Can the Process Effect Change? 24 The Ethical Researcher 25 Summary 26 Key Terms 27 Discussion Questions 27 Suggested Topics 27 Online Activities 28 CHAPTER TWO: THE PROCESS BEGINS 29 The Action Research Environment 30 Identifying Problems Suitable for Action Research 31 Sources for Problems or Research Topics 33 Considering the Value of a Problem or Topic 35 Narrowing the Focus 37 The Reflective Journal Revisited 39 Concept Mapping and Focus 40 Reflecting on Relevancy 41 Inquiring, Questioning, Interviewing, and Gathering Information 43 The IRB-Friend or Foe? 45 Informed Consent Forms and Assent Forms 50 A Few More Words on the IRB 52 Summary 52 Key Terms 52 Discussion Questions 53 Suggested Topics 53 Online Activities 53 CHAPTER THREE: THE LITERATURE REVIEW 55 The Literature Review and Action Research 56 What Is a Literature Rev...
