The Action Research Guidebook: A Four-Stage Process for Educators and School Teams

Front Cover
Corwin Press, 2011 - Education - 224 pages
Action research is a popular form of professional development and incorporates qualitative and quantitative methods, reflective practice, and educational pedagogy. Action research is conducted by the person or the people empowered to take action, for the purpose of improving their future action. Teachers know their particular students, classroom, and schools intimately - therefore, they are best equipped to pick a particular problem (or research question) and then use qualitative or quantitative techniques for further study.

The book is organized around Sagor's four stage process developed from his many years of experience training hundreds of educators. The four stages are:

1. Clarifying visions/targets

2. Articulating theory

3. Implementing action and collecting data 4. Reflecting on data and planning informed action.

The book includes numerous tables, charts, handouts, forms, and worksheets to demystify and simplify the action research process. Short examples drawn from the author's experience working on-one-on with teachers on their action research projects are also included - from raising reading proficiency to increasing the problem solving capacity of faculty members. Sagor shows how teacher teams can work collaboratively to identify and research problems related to the school's goals.

Appropriate for use by individual teachers and teacher teams, as well as by preservice teachers in teacher education courses. Headteachers, counsellors, and other educators will also find the action research process useful for school improvement.

From inside the book

 

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Selected pages

Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction to Action Research
1
Chapter 2 Finding a Focus
12
Chapter 3 Refining the Focus
30
Chapter 4 Articulating a Theory of Action
56
Chapter 5 Drawing aTheory of Action
70
Chapter 6 Determining the Research Questions
87
Chapter 7 Building a DataCollection Plan
105
Chapter 8 Analyzing the Data
126
Chapter 10 Reporting and Sharing Action Research
179
The School as a Learning Organization
191
How to Use the Feedback Forms and Summary Reports
196
Five Characteristics of a Quality Action Research Project
198
Applications for Leadership Projects
202
Glossary
214
References
217
Index
219

Chapter 9 Turning Findings Into Action Plans
163
Copyright

Other editions - View all

The Action Research Guidebook: A Four-Stage Process for Educators and School ...
Richard Sagor
No preview available - 2010

Common terms and phrases

accomplish achievement targets action research activities actually alternative analysis answer approach assessment authorized become begin building changes Chapter classroom collaborative collected complete conducting consider Corwin create decisions descriptive designed determine direct discussed edition educators engaged example expected experience factors faculty feel Figure focus goal grade graph graphic reconstruction ideas identify illustrate implementation important improvement influence instruction interview issue Joann’s journal learning look meetings notes occurred organization percent performance practice preparation presentations principal priority problem produce professional questions reading reason reflective relationship research questions response Sagor scale share significant skills Source specific Stage Step strategies success teachers teaching theory of action things understand variables vision week writing

About the author (2011)

Richard Sagor founded ISIE (pronounced "I see"), the Institute for the Study of Inquiry in Education, in 1997, to work with schools and educational organizations on the use of action research and data-based school improvement while he was a professor of educational leadership at Washington State University. Prior to joining the faculty as WSU, Sagor had 14 years of public school administrative experience, including service as an assistant superintendent, high school principal, instruction vice principal, disciplinary vice principal, and alternative school head teacher. He has taught the entire range of students, from the gifted to the learning disabled, in the areas of social studies, readiing, and written composition. Sagor received his BA from New York University and two MA degrees as well as a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Oregon.

Bibliographic information

TitleThe Action Research Guidebook: A Four-Stage Process for Educators and School Teams
AuthorRichard Sagor
Editionillustrated
PublisherCorwin Press, 2011
ISBN141298128X, 9781412981286
Length224 pages
Subjects ›  › 

Education / Administration / General
Education / Counseling / Academic Development
Education / General
Education / Professional Development
Education / Research
Reference / Research
  
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