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Action Research
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Action Research
All You Need to Know

First Edition


April 2017 | 288 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd

This book gives you all you need to know about action research, why you need to know it and how it can help you become a self-reflective practitioner-researcher. It provides the ideas and frameworks to understand action research, combined with a practical workbook to guide you through the practicalities and complexities of doing action research in your own context.

Inside you will find:

  • An action plan to help you embark on your project
  • Guidance and advice on learning to ask the right questions as you progress
  • A full resource on writing up and communicating your results
  • Inspiration to explain the significance of what you have achieved, so that other people can learn with and from you.

Accessible and insightful, this is the complete start to finish guide to doing influential action research. It is the ideal companion for students and researcher-practitioners in any research setting, from education and health to business.

 
Acknowledgements
 
Introduction
 
PART I: WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW?
 
Chapter 1: What is action research?
 
Chapter 2: Who can do action research?
 
Chapter 3: The values base of action research
 
Chapter 4: Critical times for action research
 
PART II: WHY DO I NEED TO KNOW?
 
Chapter 5: Why do action research?
 
Chapter 6: The responsibility of practitioner-researchers: contributing to new practices and new learning
 
Chapter 7: The responsibility of practitioner-researchers: contributing to new thinking and ideas
 
Chapter 8: The responsibility of practitioner-researchers: engaging with the literatures
 
PART III: HOW DO I FIND OUT?
 
Chapter 9: Thinking about doing an action research project
 
Chapter 10: Planning to do your action research
 
Chapter 11: Carrying out your action plans
 
Chapter 12: Evaluating the quality of your plans, practices and research
 
PART IV: HOW DO I GENERATE EVIDENCE TO TEST THE VALIDITY OF MY KNOWLEDGE CLAIM?
 
Chapter 13: Monitoring practices and gathering data
 
Chapter 14: Working with data: analysing, authenticatin and interpreting
 
Chapter 15: Generating evidence from the data and making knowledge claims: summary chapter
 
PART V: HOW DO I TEST AND CRITIQUE MY KNOWLEDGE?
 
Chapter 16: Testing the validity of your knowledge claim
 
Chapter 17: Establishing the legitimacy of your knowledge claim
 
PART VI: HOW DO I REPRESENT AND COMMUNICATE MY KNOWLEDGE?
 
Chapter 18: Thinking about writing your dissertation
 
Chapter 19: Writing up your dissertation
 
PART VII: HOW DO I SHOW THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MY KNOWLEDGE?
 
Chapter 20: The significance of it all
 
References
 
Index

Well structured, clearly written and accessible. I highly recommend it for anyone who plans to enhance their professional practice through action research.

Valsa Koshy
Brunel University

This is an empowering, practical, accessible book, embedded in a deeply humane understanding of research. It shows how and why practice is integral to a healthy, thinking world. It opens doors and enables you to turn lived experience into liberating professional enquiry.

Welby Ings
Auckland University of Technology

For anyone interested in action research, irrespective of experience and expertise, this text, explaining the origins, forms, process, problems and functions of action research, and how these relate to position and role of action researcher, should be essential reading.  

Andrew Townsend
University of Nottingham

At a time when academic 'experts' are increasingly setting practice agendas, this scholarly but deeply practical book helps practitioners to reclaim ownership of their professions.

Gary Rolfe
Swansea University

Jean McNiff is an inspiration. Imbued by her values, she takes the ‘mystique’ out of action research and provides an accessible, practical and useful step by step guide to doing action research for novices and experts alike. This book will support action researchers to live by their values and produce robust accounts of their research. I look forward to recommending it as a ‘must read’ to my fellow action researchers.

Josephine Bleach
National College of Ireland

"The whole text is a wonderful read and the final section is inspirational and empowering."

Belle Wallace
TASC International (Thinking Actively in a Social Context)

Essential in helping me pass my action research project, sets out ways in planning helps the process and follows through to conclusion in an easy to read way.

Mr Wayne Eggleton
Education, New College Swindon
March 30, 2022

Clearly written excellent book to provide a clear understanding of Action research

Mrs Geraldine Anita Parks
Department of Education, St Mary's University College (Belfast)
June 7, 2021

Jean McNiff is the expert on Action Research and her work is widely used in teacher training. The book brings her writings up to date and covers a wide base of what it is, how to start and how to produce your report.

Mr Nasrullah Anwar
Public Services, Runshaw College - Chorley
June 2, 2020

Excellent book and it is insightful and informative for my students.

Mr Rohit Sagoo
Health & Social Care (Cambridge), Anglia Ruskin University
October 31, 2019

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 1: What is action research?