Synopses & Reviews
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Known for its practical, step-by-step guidance for teachers on how to do research in classrooms. Born of the author's own experience working with teachers and principals, this book provides a step-by-step outline of how to “do” action research—backed by the most extensive theory and research coverage on the market today. The author guides future educators through the action research process via numerous concrete illustrations and a wealth of on-line resources; positioning it as a fundamental component of teaching, alongside curriculum development, assessment, and classroom management. Key changes in the revision include: a new chapter on ethics (Chapter 5), expanded discussion of literature review, expanded discussion of data collection techniques using quantitative data collection techniques, expanded coverage of data analysis and interpretation techniques, and expanded coverage of descriptive statistics in Appendix B. Accessible, comprehensive, scholastically sound—this is a “hands-on” guide for anyone who aspires to be an exceptional educator.
FEATURES:
- NEW! Expanded coverage of \"Ethics\"--Includes a new chapter devoted to ethics (Chapter 5).
- NEW! Revised and increased discussion of quantitative data techniques--Found throughout Chapter 3.
- NEW! Expanded discussion on the use of style manuals (e.g., APA Manual of Style)-- Readers can find this important, applicable information in the newly added Chapter 8.
- NEW! Increased discussion of descriptive statistics and action research-- Includes other ways to calculate standard deviation, not just by using SPSS (Appendix B).
- NEW! Rearranged order of chapters pertaining to the writing of and sharing of action research-- Presents a clearer path to understanding.
- Now in the new edition readers will learn about \"Writing Up Action Research\" (Chapter 8) before the \"Sharing, Critiquing, and Celebrating Action Research\" (Chapter 9).
- Coverage of how to visually display qualitative data in appendix.
- Explanation of the four-step action research process–Accompanied by various models and discussion of each step's impact on results.
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Guides, step-by-step, through conducting action research–identifying focus area, collecting data, analyzing/interpreting data, and action planning.
- Explanation of the “3 E's” of data collection–Experiencing, enquiring, and examining.
- Case study of Curtis Elementary School –Presented in Appendix I–follows the text's action research process as it happens in an example school.
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Synopsis
Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher, Third Edition
Geoffrey E. Mills
This text provides a step-by-step, how-to approach of "doing" action research--backed by the most extensive theory and research coverage on the market today. The author guides future and current educators through the action research process with numerous concrete illustrations and a wealth of on-line resources, positioning action research as a fundamental component of teaching alongside curriculum development, assessment, and classroom management.
Key changes in the new edition of this market-leading text are:
More Balanced Coverage of Quantitative and Qualitative Data Collection Techniques
- NEW! Increased coverage of the most frequently used quantitative data collection techniques in action research, including teacher-made tests, standardized tests, and report cards, is included in Chapter 3, "Data Collection Techniques."
More Balanced Coverage of How to Analyze Both Quantitative and Qualitative Data
- Chapter 6, "Data Analysis and Interpretation," and Appendix B, "Descriptive Statistics and Action Research," guide students through the data analysis process and provide techniques, coding guidelines, and examples for analyzing both quantitative and qualitative data.
- NEW! An expanded discussion of descriptive statistics in Appendix B includes step-by-step guidance on how to calculate standard deviation by hand with the help of a calculator rather than using SPSS.
Rearranged Order of Chapters Pertaining to Writing and Sharing of Action Research
- NEW! "Writing Up Action Research" (Chapter 8) precedes, "Sharing, Critiquing, and Celebrating Action Research" (Chapter 9) to present a more logical and clearer path to understanding.
Separate Chapter Completely Devoted to Ethics
- NEW! Chapter 5 provides an expanded discussion of ethical issues, principles, and guidelines.
To view the website that accompanies this text, please go to http://www.prenhall.com/mills.
Synopsis
Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher, Third Edition
Geoffrey E. Mills
This text provides a step-by-step, how-to approach of "doing" action research--backed by the most extensive theory and research coverage on the market today. The author guides future and current educators through the action research process with numerous concrete illustrations and a wealth of on-line resources, positioning action research as a fundamental component of teaching alongside curriculum development, assessment, and classroom management.
Key changes in the new edition of this market-leading text are:
More Balanced Coverage of Quantitative and Qualitative Data Collection Techniques
- NEW! Increased coverage of the most frequently used quantitative data collection techniques in action research, including teacher-made tests, standardized tests, and report cards, is included in Chapter 3, "Data Collection Techniques."
More Balanced Coverage of How to Analyze Both Quantitative and Qualitative Data
- Chapter 6, "Data Analysis and Interpretation," and Appendix B, "Descriptive Statistics and Action Research," guide students through the data analysis process and provide techniques, coding guidelines, and examples for analyzing both quantitative and qualitative data.
- NEW! An expanded discussion of descriptive statistics in Appendix B includes step-by-step guidance on how to calculate standard deviation by hand with the help of a calculator rather than using SPSS.
Rearranged Order of Chapters Pertaining to Writing and Sharing of Action Research
- NEW! "Writing Up Action Research" (Chapter 8) precedes, "Sharing, Critiquing, and Celebrating Action Research" (Chapter 9) to present a more logical and clearer path to understanding.
Separate Chapter Completely Devoted to Ethics
- NEW! Chapter 5 provides an expanded discussion of ethical issues, principles, and guidelines.
To view the website that accompanies this text, please go to http://www.prenhall.com/mills.
Synopsis
Prepare with the Power of Classroom Practice.
• Complete Assignments and Activities to apply text content to real classroom situations.
• Authentic classroom video shows real teachers and students interacting, and helps prepare you for the classroom.
• Explore the Building Teaching Skills and Dispositions exercises to practice and strengthen the skills that are essential to teaching.
• Case studies offer real-life perspectives on common issues and challenges faced in the classroom.
• Authentic student and teacher classroom artifacts provide you with the actual types of materials encountered every day by teachers.
To order this book WITH MyEducationLab, use either
Synopsis
Born of the author's own experience working with teachers and principals, Action Research, Fourth Edition, provides a research-based step-by-step outline of how to do action research. The author guides teachers and administrators through the action research process via numerous concrete illustrations; positioning it as a fundamental component of teaching.
Action Research helps to develop teachers and administrators with professional attitudes, who embrace action, progress, and reform.
Features
Balanced coverage of quantitative data collection and analysis techniques
- Chapter 4, Data Collection Techniques, covers collection techniques for the most frequently used qualitative and quantitative data, including observations, interviews, teacher-made tests, and standardized test data.
- Chapter 6, Data Analysis and Interpretation, guides students through data analysis and provides techniques, coding guidelines, and examples for analyzing both quantitative and qualitative data.
- Additional coverage of mixed methods research has been added throughout the book.
A focus on producing critical consumers of action research
- A new chapter, Evaluating Action Research (Chapter 9), helps students become critical consumers of research.
- Included in Chapter 9 is an article from an action research journal that is analyzed using the new criteria for evaluating action research.
- Appendix A, Action Research in Action, contains an extended example and evaluation of an action research case study.
An expanded coverage of ethics
- Chapter 2, Ethics, provides an expanded discussion of ethical guidelines and provides guidance for seeking and obtaining Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval.
Integration to the MyEducationLab for Action Research website
- The fourth edition of Action Research includes margin note integration with MyEducationLab for Action Research, a dynamic online learning environment that provides students with the opportunity to build a better understanding of action research through engagement with real products from the research process.
A user-friendly format
- Chapter objectives give students targets to shoot for as they read and study
- Key Concept boxes provide students with an efficient review of important vocabulary and theory
- Research in Action checklists provide students with guidelines to use in each stage of the action research process
About the Author
A native of Australia, Geoff moved to the USA in 1986 to undertake doctoral studies at the University of Oregon. After completing his PhD in 1988, Geoff accepted his first teaching position at Southern Oregon State College (now Southern Oregon University). After 12 years of teaching, Geoff moved into university administration and is now in his ninth year as Dean and Professor of Education in the School of Education at Southern Oregon University.
Geoff has traveled extensively and given invited action research presentations in Australia, New Zealand, Greenland, the United Kingdom, Canada, and many states in the US. In addition to Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher, Fourth Edition, Geoff is also the only active author of Educational Research: Competencies for Analysis and Applications (2009) now in its 9th edition.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Understanding Action Research
Chapter 2: Deciding on an Area of Focus
Chapter 3: Data Collection Techniques
Chapter 4: Data Collection Considerations: Validity, Reliability, and Generalizability
Chapter 5: Ethics
Chapter 6: Data Analysis and Interpretation
Chapter 7: Action Planning for Educational Change
Chapter 8: Writing Up Action Research
Chapter 9: Sharing, Critiquing, and Celebrating Action Research On-Line
Appendix A: Action Research in Action: A Case Study of Curtis Elementary
Appendix B: Descriptive Statistics and Action Research
Appendix C: Displaying Data Visually