Improving Schools Through Action Research: A Reflective Practice Approach

by Cher C. Hendricks

Note: This is the bound book only and does not include access to the Enhanced Pearson eText. To order the Enhanced Pearson eText packaged with a bound book, use ISBN 0134027426. A brief, user-friendly, solid look at the action research cycle and the knowledge to work through each step. In Cher Hendricks’s Improving Schools Through Action Research , educators learn what they need to know about the action research cycle and get practical help for working through each step of the cycle–from choosing a topic and generating research questions to analyzing data and reporting results and conclusions. In a clear, concise, user-friendly approach, the author helps readers through the entire process with specific, practical information that incorporates some of the latest online and professional resources, a more detailed explanation of how to analyze and interpret qualitative data, and instructions on formatting the research paper using the latest APA guidelines. The Enhanced Pearson eText features embedded videos and tutorials. Improve mastery and retention with the Enhanced Pearson eText*
The Enhanced Pearson eText provides a rich, interactive learning environment designed to improve student mastery of content. The Enhanced Pearson eText is: * The Enhanced eText features are only available in the Pearson eText format. They are not available in third-party eTexts or downloads. *The Pearson eText App is available on Google Play and in the App Store. It requires Android OS 3.1-4, a 7” or 10” tablet, or iPad iOS 5.0 or later.

Genres: Education

192 pages, Paperback

First published February 22, 2012

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

A serviceable overview of the process of action research. I can't really discover any great merit in this book over other similar instructional books on the topic, but if you are looking for something to guide you through the process, this one is readable and includes plenty of practical pieces of advice and examples of various data collection strategies. The appendices were interesting and well-written and influenced my own design of action research.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can only see two reasons someone would pick this book up: 1st and the most likely, this book is the reading requirement for a university's course and you have to read it. 2nd, you are an educator that is very adamant about making your teaching more efficient and effective.

Hendricks goes through a step by step process on how to start/finish an Action Research. An Action Research is a systematic process by which an educator reflects upon an assumption or a problem on the classroom, building, or district level. From this reflection, the educator researches peer-reviewed literature called a (oddly enough) literature review. From the literature review, Hendricks reviews methodological process for designing and implementing the Action Research. Lastly, Hendricks ends the book with an appropriate How-To on writing the Action Research.

While I have not read any other books on how to design and implement an Action Research, I am confident enough to say this: This is the book to grab if an educator has absolutely no experience with Action Research. For all intensive purposes, this book should be titled Action Research 101.

The book assumes the reader needs all basic knowledge on Action Research. The reader not only learns the step by step process described above, but the reader also is exposed intently to vocabulary that is Action Research. You will learn about quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methodological approaches, the importance of triangulating your data sources, the differences behind the reliability and validity of research, the different types of validity, and more.

This is a must-grab book for educators seriously wanting to make a positive impact in their classroom.

If I had to negatively critique this book, this is what bugs me: In my opinion, Chapter 7, Strategies for Data Analysis was a bit rudimentary for the target audience of this book. Hendricks described how to find the mean from a set of data. Since the target audience of this book is at least educators who've graduated college, I would assume everyone would have the knowledge of finding a mean.

[joshigaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like the other action research text I had to read, I found this book to be a helpful and comprehensive guide on the finer points of developing, researching, and writing of an action research project. It was easy to understand and digest, and the information was relevant and presented appropriately. That is why it has the extra star. There weren't any--or at least few enough that I don't remember them--instances where I felt that I was being talked down to or spoken to as if I were eight years old.

The only reason I can assume anyone would read this would be for class, but it's a resource that I recommend.

[Brianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book to teach yourself how to prepare, produce, and reflect upon action research. Could have used the book and skipped the class if my prof weren't so amazing.