The concept of action research can be traced back to the works of John Dewey in the 1920s and Kurt Lewin in the 1940s. The idea of using research in a "natural" setting to change the way that the researcher interacts with that setting was traced back to Kurt Lewin. Kurt Lewin was credited for coining the term "action research" to describe work that did not separate the investigation from the action needed to solve the problem. Kurt Lewin is generally considered the ,,father‟ of action research. A German social and experimental psychologist, and one of the founders of the Gestalt school, he was concerned with social problems, and focused on participative group processes for addressing conflict, crises, and change, generally within organizations. Stephen Corey was the first to use action research in the field of education.

This comprehensive, easy-to-understand book provides a guide to action research methods grounded in sources of data. Its highly interactive format enables readers to more quickly design and carry out successful action research in the classroom.

Learning to inquire together, to generate knowledge and action simultaneously-that's action research. This book provides practical guidance for conducting schoolwide action research to improve student learning. Emily Calhoun, a co-author of the ASCD book, The Self-Renewing School provides detailed instructions for conducting schoolwide action research. School staff should begin with a broad assessment of the health of the school or with the perception of a problem in one area, such as students' achievement in mathematics. Staff should obtain input from parents, community members, and students as the school begins the 5-step cycle of action research: *First, seek agreement with others in your school community on what to study. *Second, collect and share information about students' knowledge, skills, and attitudes. *Third, search your own experiences and examine educational research for strategies and programs that will improve your students' math understanding. *Fourth, collaborate to improve curriculum and instruction in math. *Fifth, collect data on results, study effects, and begin the cycle all over again. Calhoun provides background information on the origins of action research, examples of data-collection forms and results of data analysis, and answers to commonly asked questions.

This book is designed to build and enhance educators’ knowledge about decision-making processes, including the use of multiple sources of assessment and data to inform instruction, interventions, services, and supports for all students within a comprehensive system to conduct action research. This resource demystifies, describes, and connects the data-driven decision-making process (DDDM) of action research within a schoolwide multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) framework, including descriptions, examples, and resources of phases and components of educational solution-finding within our classrooms and schools. Federal legislation such as the 2015 Every Student Succeeds Act requires educators to follow policies and procedures to make data-informed decisions to support and enhance the learning of all students through action research. Action research is directly focused on the ability to connect multiple sources of assessment data with equitable, effective, evidence-based approaches, strategies, interventions, and resources to address and maximize academic, behavioral, and social emotional benefits for students. In addition, acquiring the knowledge and skills of DDDM through the systematic use of action research enables educators to actively participate not only in instructional and intervention decisions but also in the programmatic decisions for the determination of additional services, including special education, within a comprehensive system of school initiatives. A comprehensive, data-driven decision-making process utilizes the knowledge, skills, and phases of action research in classrooms and schools by all educators, including special and general education teachers, school psychologists, and related service personnel, within one system of data use in instruction, interventions, and determination of needed services and supports

Action Research in Education is an essential guide for any lecturer, teacher or student-teacher interested in doing research. This exciting new edition of a popular text is an important resource for any education professional interested in investigating learning and teaching. Building on the success of Action Research in the Classroom, the authors have revised, updated and extended this book to include examples from further and higher education. It maps out easy-to-follow steps for usefully applying an action research approach and is full of practical tips and examples of real practitioner research projects from a range of schools, colleges and universities. This book will help teachers to: - understand and apply practitioner inquiry - enhance their problem-solving skills - locate their own activity in a wider context - maximise opportunities to develop practice - evaluate the needs of their learners Clear, pragmatic and timely, this is a must-have text for all teachers and students of education. Vivienne Baumfield is Professor of Pedagogy, Policy and Innovation in the School of Education, University of Glasgow Elaine Hall is Lecturer in Research Methods, School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences, Newcastle University Kate Wall is Senior Lecturer in the School of Education, Durham University

Praise for How Learning Works "How Learning Works is the perfect title for this excellent book. Drawing upon new research in psychology, education, and cognitive science, the authors have demystified a complex topic into clear explanations of seven powerful learning principles. Full of great ideas and practical suggestions, all based on solid research evidence, this book is essential reading for instructors at all levels who wish to improve their students' learning." —Barbara Gross Davis, assistant vice chancellor for educational development, University of California, Berkeley, and author, Tools for Teaching "This book is a must-read for every instructor, new or experienced. Although I have been teaching for almost thirty years, as I read this book I found myself resonating with many of its ideas, and I discovered new ways of thinking about teaching." —Eugenia T. Paulus, professor of chemistry, North Hennepin Community College, and 2008 U.S. Community Colleges Professor of the Year from The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education "Thank you Carnegie Mellon for making accessible what has previously been inaccessible to those of us who are not learning scientists. Your focus on the essence of learning combined with concrete examples of the daily challenges of teaching and clear tactical strategies for faculty to consider is a welcome work. I will recommend this book to all my colleagues." —Catherine M. Casserly, senior partner, The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching "As you read about each of the seven basic learning principles in this book, you will find advice that is grounded in learning theory, based on research evidence, relevant to college teaching, and easy to understand. The authors have extensive knowledge and experience in applying the science of learning to college teaching, and they graciously share it with you in this organized and readable book." —From the Foreword by Richard E. Mayer, professor of psychology, University of California, Santa Barbara; coauthor, e-Learning and the Science of Instruction; and author, Multimedia Learning

Action Research in Healthcare is a practical guide to using research for improving practice in healthcare contexts. As an increasingly popular method of inquiry, action research is widely used in healthcare to investigate professional practice and patients' experience while simultaneously: - introducing innovations - planning, actioning and evaluating new ideas - seeking to improve patient care - working collaboratively. Taking you through the process step-by-step, Action Research in Healthcare explains how to tackle each stage of your project - from planning the study and undertaking a literature review, through to gathering and interpreting data and implementing findings. Examples of action research projects are included throughout to illustrate how the method works in practice. Action Research in Healthcare assumes no previous knowledge of the subject and is the ideal resource for anyone about to start or already involved in a project.