In the Fourth Edition of Action Research, author Ernest T. Stringer provides clear guidelines to enable novice practitioner researchers to move comfortably through a process of inquiry that provides effective solutions to problems in the work and lives of those participating in the research. The Fourth Edition provides a simple but highly effective model for approaching action research; Look: building a picture and gathering information, Think: interpreting and explaining, and Act: resolving issues and problems. "Biographical Bulletins" punctuate the text to clarify meaning and to increase understanding of relevant facets of research processes. This best-selling text is appropriate for educational, business, health, and social work settings. New to this Edition: A new chapter on using social media to enhance action research processes An extended description of online sites related to action research Major additions that strengthen the theoretical foundations of action research An extended discussion of the literature on action research
Ernest T. Stringer After an early career as a primary teacher and school principal, Ernie was a lecturer in education at Curtin University of Technology, in Western Australia. From the mid-1980s, based at Curtin's Centre for Aboriginal Studies, he worked collaboratively with Aboriginal staff and community people to develop a wide variety of innovative and highly successful education and community development programs and services. His work with government departments, community-based agencies, business corporations, and local governments assisted them to work more effectively with Aboriginal people. In recent years, as visiting professor at the University of New Mexico and Texas A&M University and as visiting scholar at Cornell University, he taught research methods courses and/or engaged in projects with African American and Hispanic community and neighborhood groups. As a UNICEF consultant, he recently engaged in a major project to increase parent participation in schools in East Timor. He is author of Action Research (Sage, 2007), Action Research in Education (Pearson, 2008), Action Research in Health (with Bill Genat; Pearson, 2004), and Action Research in Human Services (with Rosalie Dwyer; Pearson, 2005). Until recently, he was a member of the editorial board of the Action Research Journal and past president of the Action Learning, Action Research Association (ALARA).
Foreword Egon G. Guba Preface About the Author 1. Research in Professional and Public Life 2. The Theory Behind the Practice 3. Setting the Stage: Planning a Research Process 4. Look: Gathering Data 5. Think: Reflection and Analysis 6. Act: Action Plans -- Implementing Sustainable Solutions 7. Strategic Planning 8. Reports: Informing Stakeholders 9. Action Research and the Internet References Index
"It is an excellent resource for teaching Action Research to both graduate and undergraduate students." -- Hollyce Giles "...I very much like the book and its approach/philosophy/guiding principles..." -- Pamela L. Clark "...[W]ell done and certainly the most readable and authoritative [book] on the topic of action research I have seen...As an educator, I found much useful insight in the text and I would certainly recommend it to doctoral students doing research that would benefit from the broader view..." -- Louis H. Berry
