Sara Efrat Efron & Ruth Ravid 
Action Research in Education [PDF ebook] 
A Practical Guide

1.  Introduction to Action Research* What Is Educational Research?* Practitioners as Researchers* Historical Perspectives* The Unique Characteristics of Action Research* Chapter Summary* Chapter Exercises and Activities* Additional Readings2.  Choosing and Learning about Your Research Topic* Choosing Your Research Topic* Framing the Research Problem Statement Box 2.1. Research Problem Statement of a Sixth-Grade Teacher Conducting Research to Determine the Success of Applying Differentiated Instruction in Her Classroom* Developing the Literature Review Step 1. Locating Sources for the Literature Review Step 2. Reading Literature to Identify Themes Step 3. Constructing a Literature Review Outline Step 4. Writing the Literature Review      Introduction      Main Section of the Review      Box 2.2. An Example of an Opening Paragraph from the Main Section of the Literature Review      Box 2.3. An Example of a Paragraph from the Literature Review      Box 2.4: An Opening Paragraph from the Literature Review: Moving from the General to the More Specific      Summary and Concluding Remarks* Formulating Specific Research Question(s) Questions in Qualitative Action Research Questions in Quantitative Action Research Questions in Mixed-Methods Action Research Examples of Research Problems: From the General to the Specific* Chapter Summary* Chapter Exercises and Activities* Additional Readings3.  Approaches to Action Research* Educational Research Approaches* Qualitative Educational Research Assumptions about School Reality Research Purpose Researcher Role Research Process Common Qualitative Methods      Case Study Research      Ethnographic Research      Narrative Research      Critical Research* Quantitative Educational Research Assumptions about School Reality Research Purpose Researcher Role Research Process Common Quantitative Methods      Experimental research      Causal-Comparative (Ex Post Facto) Research      Correlational Research      Descriptive Research* Mixed-Methods Research Assumptions about School Reality Research Purpose Researcher Role Research Process Common Mixed Methods       Embedded-Design Research      Two-Phase Research      Integrated Research* Choosing an Approach for Your Research Project Action Research Framework Personal Worldview Research Question* Chapter Summary* Chapter Exercises and Activities* Additional Readings4.  Developing a Plan of Action* Considering Your Role as a Researcher Box 4.1. A Researcher Role Statement* Establishing the Research Scope* Identifying the Research Site and Participants Research Site Box 4.2. An Excerpt from a Research Site Section Research Participants Box 4.3. A Description of Research Participants* Choosing Data Collection Procedures* Ensuring the Study’s Validity and Trustworthiness Qualitative Studies Quantitative Studies Mixed-Methods Studies* Developing Ethical Guidelines Obtaining Permission to Conduct the Study Confidentiality of Data Collected Informed Consent Box 4.4. Sample Letter of Introduction Box 4.5. Sample Informed Consent Form Respect toward the Research Site Safety of the Participants Accurate Interpretation and Presentation of the Data* Creating a “To-Do” List* Finalizing the Research Plan* Chapter Summary* Chapter Exercises and Activities* Additional Readings5.  Data Collection Tools* Observation Qualitative Observation      The Process of Conducting Qualitative Observation      Observation Protocol      Observation Steps      Behavior Log      Photographs, Videotapes, and Audiotapes Quantitative Observation      Tally Sheets      Checklists      Rating Scales* Interview Unstructured, Semistructured, and Structured Interviews      Unstructured Interviews      Semistructured Interviews      Structured Interviews The Interview Process      Developing the Interview Questions Conducting the Interview      Before the Interview      During the Interview      After the Interview Focus Group Interview Online Interview* Surveys The Process of Conducting Surveys Writing the Survey Items: Types of Questions and Response Choices      Suggestions for Writing Survey Questions      Structured Responses      Unstructured (Open-Ended) Responses* Artifacts and Documents Official and Personal Artifacts and Documents Teacher Journals* Summary of Data Collection Tools* Chapter Summary* Chapter Exercises and Activities* Additional Readings6.  Using Assessment Data in Action Research* Understanding Standardized Commercial Achievement Tests Norm-Referenced Commercial Tests Criterion-Referenced Commercial Tests* Writing Instructional Objectives Preparing a Table of Test Specifications* Constructing Teacher-Made Traditional Assessment Tools Writing Test Items      Selection-Type Items      Supply-Type Items Evaluating Traditional Teacher-Made Assessment Tools      Content Validity and Reliability of Tests       Looking at Students’ Response Choices* Using Teacher-Made Authentic Assessment Tools Performance Assessment Curriculum-Based Measurement Using Rubrics to Assess Students’ Performance Using Portfolios to Assess Students’ Performance* Final Comments about Classroom Assessment* Chapter Summary* Chapter Exercises and Activities* Additional Readings7.  Data Analysis and Interpretation* Qualitative Data Analysis Preparation for Analysis      Transforming Data into Readable Text      Sorting the Data into Files      Creating a Data File Organizer      Immersing Yourself in the Data Analysis of the Data      Using Predetermined Categories       Using Emerging Categories Synthesis and Interpretation of the Data      Identifying Patterns      Creating a Concept Map      Supporting the Findings with Evidence      Validating the Interpretation Presentation of Data Analysis and Interpretation      Reporting on the Analysis Process      Reporting the Findings and Their Meanings* Quantitative Data Analysis Entering, Organizing, Graphing, and Tabulating Data      Coding and Entering Data in Preparation for Data Analysis      Creating Frequency Distributions      Graphing Data      Tabulating Data Computing Measures of Distribution Centers      Mode      Median      Mean      Outliers Computing Measures of Distribution Variability      Range      Standard Deviation Analyzing the Data      Measures of Association      Measures of Differences Evaluating the Statistical Findings      Statistical Significance      Practical Significance Presenting the Findings* Mixed-Methods Data Analysis Embedded Design Two-Phase Design Triangulation Design* Reporting the Study’s Results, Conclusions, and Implications* Chapter Summary* Chapter Exercises and Activities* Additional Readings8.  Writing, Sharing, and Implementing the Research Findings* Writing a Formal Action Research Report Introduction Literature Review Methodology      Participants and Site      Data Collection Procedures      Researcher Role      Data Analysis Findings and Results Discussion and Implications References Appendix* Developing Alternative Formats for Reporting on Action Research Poster Presentation Research Portfolio Electronic Media Performance Presentation* Sharing the Research Findings* Implementing the Research Findings* Completing the Action Research Project* Becoming a Part of the Research Community* Chapter Summary* Chapter Exercises and Activities* Additional Readings

Ruth Ravid, Ph D, is Professor Emerita of Education at National Louis University. Her areas of interest include educational research, action research, assessment, and school-university collaboration. Dr. Ravid is the author of several books, including Practical Statistics for Educators.