Sharon F. Rallis & Gretchen B. Rossman 
The Research Journey [PDF ebook] 
Introduction to Inquiry

1. Inquiry as Learning: Beginning the Journey Introduction What Is Inquiry?The Learner as Knowledge Generator Drawing on Values and Passion Your Journey into Systematic Inquiry For Further Reading2. Ways of Knowing: Finding a Compass Ways of Knowing Fundamental Assumptions Mapping Perspectives Back to Ontology and Epistemology For Further Reading3. The Cycle of Inquiry: More Than One Way to Get There Inquiry in Action/Inquiry as Practice The Systematic Inquiry Cycle Validity, Credibility, and Trustworthiness For Further Reading4. Being an Ethical Inquirer: Staying Alert on the Road Ethics in Inquiry The Inquirer as a Moral Practitioner Standards for Practice and Procedural Matters Ethics, Trustworthiness, and Rigor Ethical Theories Ethics and Reflexivity For Further Reading5. Constructing Conceptual Frameworks: Building the Route What Is a Conceptual Framework?Building an Argument Entering the Conversation: Your Community of Practice Entering the Conversation: Your Engagement Entering the Conversation: The Communities of Discourse Ways of Organizing Chapter Summary For Further Reading6. Designing the Inquiry Project: Finding “True North”Moving from the Conceptual Framework into Design Considering Various Designs Samira’s Research Questions and Possible Designs A Short Course on Research Methods Planning for Analysis and Interpretation The Research Proposal: Bringing it All Together An Example of Connecting the What and the How Chapter Summary For Further Reading7. Things to Consider in Writing: Staying in the Right Lane Writing Introductions The Nasty Problem of Plagiarism Using Proper Citation Format For Further Reading8. Knowledge Use: Arriving at Your Destination Using What You have Learned Who Cares?: Potential Audiences Communicating for Use Passions and Closing the Loop For Further Reading

 Sharon F. Rallis is Dwight W. Allen Distinguished Professor of Education Policy and Reform at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she is also Director of the Center for Education Policy. Dr. Rallis has coauthored 10 books, including several on leadership. Her interests include research and evaluation methodology, ethical practice in research and evaluation, education policy and leadership, and school reform. A past president of the American Evaluation Association, Dr. Rallis has been involved with education and evaluation for over three decades as a teacher, counselor, principal, researcher, program evaluator, director of a major federal school reform initiative, and an elected school board member.  Gretchen B. Rossman is Chair of the Department of Educational Policy, Research and Administration and Professor of International Education at the Center for International Education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her work focuses on qualitative research design and methods, mixed methods monitoring and evaluation, and inquiry in education, including the analysis and evaluation of educational reform initiatives both in the United States and internationally. She has coauthored nine books, including the major qualitative research texts Learning in the Field (with Sharon F. Rallis) and Designing Qualitative Research (with Catherine Marshall).