Action Research for Improving Educational Practice
A Step-by-Step Guide
- Valsa Koshy - Brunel University, UK
Whether you are a busy teacher doing research in your classroom, an undergraduate starting your research project, or a Masters level or education doctorate student writing up your dissertation, this step-by-step guide takes you through every stage involved in carrying out Action Research.
In this brand new edition, you will find additional guidance on:
- philosophical underpinnings of Action Research
- the challenges of being an insider researcher
- searching and analysing literature from the internet
- children's participation and children's rights in action research projects in educational settings
- validity and authenticity in action research
- a new chapter on writing for publication
- an action research planning sheet.
This book draws on Valsa Koshy's extensive experience of supervising researchers at all levels, and includes examples of Action Research carried out by practitioners across a range of topics and age groups. Case studies include UK and international examples, allowing you to reflect on multiple perspectives of Action Research in education.
Those new to Action Research, and those looking for a straightforward explanation of the methods involved, will find this book invaluable.
Valsa Koshy is Professor of Education and Director of a Research and Development Centre at Brunel University.
A useful accessible text which supports Foundation Degree students understanding of the value of research, with a clear view to improving the practice of themselves and others. Useful examples given.
For action research students who are mainly practising teachers a good overview
A very informative book, but not as relevant as I thought for the course and the specific project they have to undertake
The tone of this text is so accesible, the breadth and depth perfect for those undertaking a succinct piece of practical action research on our courses. Highly recommended
A very helpul book which provides clear support for students undertaking research at all levels.
This book is designed for new researchers in action research and/or teachers/practitioners. It is not weighed down with academic literature or terminology and is well positioned to help undergraduate students. I would however suggest that it would serve only as an approachable guide for post-graduate and doctoral level students.
The 'walk through' offered by the book is helpful for novices and it follows the action research process well. The movement of the text from review of literature, planning, data gathering, analysis and evidence generation through to writing up is useful. However, the book is not substantial enough when it comes to answering the question "is action research real research. All in all a useful book but not an academic text for discovering the theories of and behind action research.
This is clear and well structured - its organisation closely matches the approach we like our students to take in their final dissertation. I liked the use of diagrams to support the text, also the reflective accounts by and about teachers' research. I would have liked an expaned glossary to cover some terms not dealt with at length in the book but which students come across in their study, e.g. paradigm, grounded theory.
This is a valauble text for those using action research methodology and for others to understand the principles of action research. I have added it to a recommended reading list as a general principle but it will be essential for any student doing action research.
This is a well written yet accessible guide to action research suitable for the undergraduate market. Examples and case studies are particularly useful. The additional information in this edition around children's rights is welcome.
This book by Koshy is well written and is the 'fools guide' to action research. The introductory chapter could have delved in greater depth into the philosophical perspective that guides action research as an approach, albeit at a basic level. However the straight forward direction and signposting of chapters was heplful
New to the 2nd edition is guidance on the following:
-
Philosophical underpinnings of Action Research
-
The challenges of being an insider researcher
-
Searching and analysing literature from the internet
-
Children's participation and children's rights in action research projects in educational settings
-
Validity and authenticity in action research
The 2nd edition also features:
-
A new chapter on writing for publication
-
An action research planning sheet
