Description
Book SynopsisThis book gives you all you need to know about action research, why you need to know it and how it can help you become a self-reflective practitioner-researcher. It provides the ideas and frameworks to understand action research, combined with a practical workbook to guide you through the practicalities and complexities of doing action research in your own context.
Inside you will find:
- An action plan to help you embark on your project
- Guidance and advice on learning to ask the right questions as you progress
- A full resource on writing up and communicating your results
- Inspiration to explain the significance of what you have achieved, so that other people can learn with and from you.
Accessible and insightful, this is the complete start to finish guide to doing influential action research. It is the ideal companion for students and researcher-practitioners in any research setting, from education and health to
Trade Review
Well structured, clearly written and accessible. I highly recommend it for anyone who plans to enhance their professional practice through action research.
-- Valsa Koshy
This is an empowering, practical, accessible book, embedded in a deeply humane understanding of research. It shows how and why practice is integral to a healthy, thinking world. It opens doors and enables you to turn lived experience into liberating professional enquiry.
-- Welby Ings
For anyone interested in action research, irrespective of experience and expertise, this text, explaining the origins, forms, process, problems and functions of action research, and how these relate to position and role of action researcher, should be essential reading.
-- Andrew Townsend
At a time when academic ′experts′ are increasingly setting practice agendas, this scholarly but deeply practical book helps practitioners to reclaim ownership of their professions.
-- Gary Rolfe
Jean McNiff is an inspiration. Imbued by her values, she takes the ‘mystique’ out of action research and provides an accessible, practical and useful step by step guide to doing action research for novices and experts alike. This book will support action researchers to live by their values and produce robust accounts of their research. I look forward to recommending it as a ‘must read’ to my fellow action researchers.
-- Josephine Bleach
"The whole text is a wonderful read and the final section is inspirational and empowering." -- Belle Wallace
Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction PART I: WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW? Chapter 1: What is action research? Chapter 2: Who can do action research? Chapter 3: The values base of action research Chapter 4: Critical times for action research PART II: WHY DO I NEED TO KNOW? Chapter 5: Why do action research? Chapter 6: The responsibility of practitioner-researchers: contributing to new practices and new learning Chapter 7: The responsibility of practitioner-researchers: contributing to new thinking and ideas Chapter 8: The responsibility of practitioner-researchers: engaging with the literatures PART III: HOW DO I FIND OUT? Chapter 9: Thinking about doing an action research project Chapter 10: Planning to do your action research Chapter 11: Carrying out your action plans Chapter 12: Evaluating the quality of your plans, practices and research PART IV: HOW DO I GENERATE EVIDENCE TO TEST THE VALIDITY OF MY KNOWLEDGE CLAIM? Chapter 13: Monitoring practices and gathering data Chapter 14: Working with data: analysing, authenticatin and interpreting Chapter 15: Generating evidence from the data and making knowledge claims: summary chapter PART V: HOW DO I TEST AND CRITIQUE MY KNOWLEDGE? Chapter 16: Testing the validity of your knowledge claim Chapter 17: Establishing the legitimacy of your knowledge claim PART VI: HOW DO I REPRESENT AND COMMUNICATE MY KNOWLEDGE? Chapter 18: Thinking about writing your dissertation Chapter 19: Writing up your dissertation PART VII: HOW DO I SHOW THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MY KNOWLEDGE? Chapter 20: The significance of it all References Index
