Improving Schools Through Action Research : A Reflective Practice Approach

Cher Hendricks’ Action Research for School Improvement: A Reflective Practice Approach, Third Edition ,

is a brief, accessible, and practical text that prepares educators to conduct their own action research projects.  The third edition provides the information needed to complete each step of the action research cycle.  Chapter activities include a research paper component that helps readers create a research paper as they complete the activities. Additional activities have been added in this edition to help educators navigate through each step of the action research process—from choosing a topic and generating research questions through data analysis and reporting results and conclusions.  Other features of the book include detailed strategies for (1) reviewing and synthesizing the literature and writing a literature review, (2) collecting, triangulating, and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data (including how to graphically display results), (3) drawing conclusions from results, and (4) writing in APA (6th edition) style. Numerous Internet resources—including links to action research networks, professional organizations, and journals—are provided. Throughout the text, the book incorporates numerous pedagogical devices such as Exercises and Cases to help readers practically explore topics. Examples are provided throughout the book to document the ways teachers, principals, counselors, administrators, and support staff can improve their practice through action research.

Among the changes and additions to the third edition, the text now presents a sharper focus on reflection in the action research cycle--including new reflection activities in every chapter.  The book also places a greater emphasis on working with a critical friend or colleague throughout the action research process and incorporates updated and new online and professional resources as well as a more detailed explanation of how to analyze and interpret qualitative data, and instructions on formatting the research paper using the latest APA Guidelines.

Cher Hendricks is a research scientist at Georgia Institute of Technology in the Center for Education Integrating Science, Math, and Computing (CEISMC). The focus of her work is on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) research at the K-12 and post-secondary levels. Prior to her work with Georgia Tech, Cher was an associate professor of educational research and worked with masters, specialist, and doctoral students facilitating their action research projects. Prior to that, she was a teacher of students with disabilities in both inner city Houston and on a barrier island in South Carolina.