Teaching Critical Inquiry and Applied Research: Moving Beyond Traditional Methods

A key distinction between an education doctorate, or Ed.D., and other doctorates in the field of education is the development of scholar practitioners armed with knowledge and skills to successfully lead change in their profession. Critical inquiry is one such skill, increasingly taught in many Ed.D. programs in some form of applied research methodology. Teaching Critical Inquiry and Applied Research: Moving Beyond Traditional Methods gathers insights from Ed.D. faculty regarding how the teaching of applied research occurs to develop scholar practitioners prepared to bring change to their respective professional fields. The 13 chapters provide a broad coverage of related topics, which includes advocacy and leadership through research, innovative features of methods courses, and methodology-focused program redesign. Each chapter includes strategies and recommendations for others interested in implementing something similar in their courses and programs. This book also captures student voices, in the form of vignettes written by students within each chapter, to illustrate the powerful impact of learning related to critical inquiry and applied research. Teaching Critical Inquiry and Applied Research is an excellent text for classrooms devoted to critical research, critical pedagogy, and other courses.

Christopher Benedetti, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, where he teaches research methods and dissertation writing courses in the Doctor of Education program. His research interests include K-12 school leader behaviors and dispositions, equitable K-12 school leader preparation and development, and innovative research methodologies. Dr. Benedetti has presented, both nationally and internationally, and published on a variety of topics, including leader preparation and succession, teacher burnout and satisfaction, college student ethics, research methods, and adult learning in online and virtually simulated settings. He also co-edited the book, Sports and K-12 Education. He is a former middle school language arts teacher, basketball coach, and elementary school principal.

Amanda Covarrubias was born and raised in Weslaco, Texas. Growing up, her mother emphasized the importance of education. It was this core value that motivated Amanda’s educational career. She moved to Kingsville, Texas to attend college, obtaining both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree. Amanda currently resides in South Texas with her husband, Jeremy, and two children Hurley and Priscilla, with another on the way. She works as an elementary teacher and is pursuing her doctorate in Educational Leadership. Amanda is interested in continuing her research by focusing on K-12 education topics and how to better serve students.