Efnisyfirlit

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• About the Author
• Acknowledgements
• Introduction
• 1 What is action research?
• Key points
• The development of action research: a brief background
• What is involved in action research?
• Some definitions of action research
• Examples of action research projects
• Action research and its theoretical underpinnings
• Conceptualizing action research
• Action researchers constructing their own knowledge
• Making your philosophical stance known
• The advantages of using action research as a methodology
• Summary
• Further reading
• Useful websites
• 2 Getting started
• Key points
• Action research and professional development
• What are the processes and outcomes of action research?
• Contexts for action
• Action research as purposeful research
• Is action research real research?
• Making a start
• Identifying a topic
• Some examples of topics
• Moving on
• Practical considerations
• Summary
• Further reading
• Useful websites
• 3 Reviewing the literature
• Key points
• The purposes of reviewing relevant literature
• What kinds of literature?
• Searching for relevant literature
• Sources of relevant literature
• Using the Internet
• Using electronic databases
• Managing your literature review
• Storing your literature review
• Reviewing and writing up the literature
• Summary
• Further reading
• Useful websites
• 4 Planning action
• Key points
• Making preparations
• Facilitating an action plan
• When things go wrong
• Summary
• Further reading
• Useful websites
• 5 Gathering data
• Key points
• Discussion of methodology
• Quantitative and qualitative data
• Ethical considerations
• Methods of data collection
• Gathering data questionnaires and surveys
• Conducting interviews
• Gathering documentary evidence
• Field diaries and notes
• Systematic observation
• Using video and DVD recording and photographs
• Quality indicators
• Summary
• Further reading
• Useful websites
• 6 Analysing data and generating evidence
• Key points
• Making a start
• Organizing your data
• Examples of action research projects
• Analysis and presentation of your data
• Working with qualitative data
• A framework for qualitative data analysis and interpretation
• Reflexivity and qualitative data
• Using computer software
• Coding
• Computer Aided Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS)
• Using evidence and generating knowledge
• Generating knowledge
• Validating your claims to knowledge
• Summary
• Further reading
• 7 Writing up your action research
• Key points
• Writing a report of your action research
• Writing a Master’s dissertation
• Test your understanding of a dissertaion structure
• Doctoral theses
• Creative presentations of action research
• Conference presentations
• Telling a story as a case study
• Summary
• Further reading
• Useful websites
• 8 Publishing your action research and planning the next steps
• Key points
• Where will you disseminate your findings?
• Professional newsletters
• Publishing in professional journals
• Publishing in academic outlets
• Writing a paper for an academic journal
• A checklist for reviewing your paper before you send it for publication
• Useful websites
• Endnote
• Glossary
• References
• Index