the action research dissertation

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

PRESENTING SUPERB RESEARCH THAT ADVANCES THE FIELD OF EDUCATION

• Forthcoming
• About Myers Education Press
• Title Subjects
• Research Skills
• Teaching & Learning
• Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Teachers, request exam copy:

Qualitative Research Methodologies: Traditions, Designs, and Pedagogies

About Series

The Qualitative Research Methodologies: Traditions, Designs, and Pedagogies series is designed to encourage qualitative researchers to look both backward and forward in the field of qualitative inquiry. We invite authors to submit proposals for both whole books and edited volumes focused on particular qualitative designs situated within their historical, theoretical, and disciplinary/cross disciplinary contexts. Pieces might include a tradition’s or design’s historical roots and key scholars, ways the approach has changed over time, as well as ethical and methodological considerations in the use of that particular research approach. They may also provide an introduction to contemporary designs created at the intersection of multiple, theoretical, and often assumed incommensurable historical paths. In addition, we encourage authors to submit proposals for books focused on the pedagogy of qualitative research methodologies that interrogate how we prepare researchers new to qualitative research methodologies with the theoretical, methodological, and ethical understandings and skills for their work.

Browse All Series Titles

The Action Research Dissertation

Learning from leading change.

• Publisher Myers Education Press
• Published 7th August 2023
• ISBN 9781975505035
• Language English
• Pages 225 pp.
• Size 6" x 9"
•     Request Exam Copy

Library E-Books

We are signed up with aggregators who resell networkable e-book editions of our titles to academic libraries. These editions, priced at par with simultaneous hardcover editions of our titles, are not available direct from Stylus.

These aggregators offer a variety of plans to libraries, such as simultaneous access by multiple library patrons, and access to portions of titles at a fraction of list price under what is commonly referred to as a "patron-driven demand" model.

• Published 23rd August 2023
• ISBN 9781975505042

E-books are now distributed via RedShelf or VitalSource

You will choose the vendor in the cart as part of the check out process. These vendors offer a more seamless way to access the ebook, and add some great new features including text-to-voice. You own your ebook for life, it is simply hosted on the vendors website, working much like Kindle and Nook. Click here to see more detailed information on this process.

• ISBN 9781975505059
•     Request E-Exam Copy
• Description
• Table of Contents

2024 SPE Outstanding Book Award Honorable Mention The idea of the doctorate is undergoing a transformation as experts explore the nature of “doctorateness” and its relevance for current organizational and societal challenges. The professional practice doctorate has emerged as a highly useful framework to address these challenges and it necessarily requires a distinctive approach to the doctoral dissertation. The Action Research Dissertation: Learning from Leading Change shares a framework for the action research dissertation, outlining the specific ways in which action research fosters the development of scholar-leaders. It offers both doctoral students who are practitioners in applied fields, and the faculty who guide them in their doctoral research, a comprehensive and applied approach to action research that focuses on facilitating and leading change in organizations, as well as ways to address how to translate the findings of this work into a rigorous, dissertation research study. Throughout the book, the authors explicitly address the connection between the parallel and mutually-reinforcing processes of taking action and conducting research, offering rich insights, tools, and case examples that outline specifically how to use action research to both guide a change effort and generate useful insights to contribute to theory-building. This is an essential book for a variety of readers, including professional practice doctoral students, faculty directing the studies of those students, program administrators, professional development coordinators, and many others. Perfect for courses such as:  Introduction to Action Research, Action Research, Applied Research, Qualitative Research, Mixed Methods Research, and Case Study Research

“Watkins, Nicolaides, and Gilbertson offer a refreshing and accessible take on the history, theory, and practice of action research. They excel at the difficult balancing act that many action researchers experience – successfully weaving reflection, action, and theory to provide a praxis-informed account. This is not only grounded in the authors’ years of experience in organization action research, but in the evidence they have systematically reflected on and analyzed from their EdD program. This book The Action Research Dissertation: Learning from Leading Change provides the necessary building blocks for any doctoral student or emerging action researcher interested in making a transformative change in their organization.” Giovanni Dazzo, co-author of "Critical Participatory Inquiry: An Interdisciplinary Introduction and Guide." Assistant Professor, Mary Frances Early College of Education, University of Georgia

“Based on a decade of innovative development and reflective refinement, Watkins, Gilbertson, and Nicolaides provide an essential guide to a much-needed contemporary action research dissertation process that ambitiously engages doctoral students in leading change while conducting relevant research. The work The Action Research Dissertation: Learning from Leading Change as presented is grounded in principles of purpose, mutuality, and rigorous integrity but is also highly practical and problem-based. It offers rich examples to navigate the challenges of using such an approach. Through this process, students document impactful results of learning and change at the individual, group, and system levels. Foremost is the learning we hope for through doctoral education—that of scholar-leaders propelled beyond their study to create change and knowledge in many contexts.” Lorilee R. Sandmann, Professor Emerita, University of Georgia

“Karen Watkins, Aliki Nicolaides and Erica Gilbertson provide guidance for conducting Action Research that is both academically based and very readable in terms of practice. The book The Action Research Dissertation: Learning from Leading Change is relevant for doctoral students (particularly students in professional practice doctoral programs) and practitioners in organizations in need of addressing real world problems. It builds on both the classic literature on action research and learning integrated into the contemporary literature relevant to the process. This book begins with a thorough description of the foundations of action research and then presents the specific components of initiating and conducting the process. Their focus is on using theory effectively. In doing so it presents specific practices for each step in the process in a way that offers very specific ways of addressing the complexity of conducting action research in today’s world of rapid change that is occurring while the research is being conducted. This includes practices through which participants in the research assess the type of challenges they are studying and learning from each other’s perspectives. The authors draw on both individual, team and organizational learning theory and other academic frameworks integrating them into leading and participating in the research process. They take the reader through the process step by step in each chapter, beginning with choosing and recruiting participants for the action learning team, bringing the team together, managing the team through critical and challenging aspects of the process, addressing ethical and validity issues and how to effectively present their findings from the research. Examples used throughout the book are from a range of institutional settings, business, education, health care and others. This book brings action research into the current time of the 21st century for learning through inquiry in times of continuous change. It is about leading through effective inquiry.” Lyle Yorks, Professor Emeritus, Adult Learning & Leadership Program, Teachers College, Columbia University

“Watkins, Gilbertson, and Nicolaides give us a practical and resource-rich approach suited to action researchers entering the field.” Hilary Bradbury, Ph.D., editor in chief, Action Research journal and curator, Foundation AR+

Part 1—Laying the Foundation 1: Beginning Your Action Research Journey 2: The Nature of Action Research for Changing Systems 3: The Scholar-Leader—Leading Change in Action Research Part 2—Scaffolding the Study 4: Developing the Theoretical Framework 5: Intervention in Action Research 6: Evidencing the Action Research Problem 7: Designing Action Research Studies 8: Facilitating the Action Research Team Part 3—Securing the Study 9: Telling the Action Research Story 10: Ethical Standards and Dilemmas in Action Research 11: Common Challenges in Action Research 12: Concluding our Action Research Journey Appendix A - The University of Georgia Action Research Doctorate Appendix B - Sample Action Research Dissertation Abstracts About the Authors Index

Karen E. Watkins

Dr. Karen E. Watkins is Professor of Learning, Leadership and Organizational Development in the College of Education at The University of Georgia. She holds a PhD from the University of Texas at Austin and an M.A. from the University of Wisconsin. Karen’s scholarly interests include organizational learning assessment, informal and incidental learning, action learning, action research, and action science. Watkins & Marsick developed and validated the Dimensions of the Learning Organization Questionnaire (1997) used in over 100 published studies. Watkins is the author or co-author of numerous articles and chapters, and nine books. With Victoria Marsick, she recently completed work on a forthcoming book entitled Rethinking Workplace Learning and Development . Named Scholar of the Year by the Academy of Human Resource Development in 1999, she was inducted into the International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Academy of Human Resource Development Scholar Hall of Fame in 2014. She consults with many organizations including work with OECD on schools as learning organizations and with the World Health Organization on evaluating learning and development among immunization staff. She was one of the founding presidents of the Academy of Human Resource Development and is currently on the Board of Trustees of the Geneva Learning Foundation in Switzerland.

Erica Gilbertson

Dr. Erica Gilbertson is the Director of Organizational Impact for the Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement. She holds an EdD from The University of Georgia (UGA) where she recently conducted an action research study dissertation in the Learning, Leadership and Organization Development program. She also holds an M.A. in Educational Studies from the University of Michigan. From 2012-2021 Erica served as a public service faculty member in UGA’s Office of School Engagement where she led school-university partnership programs. Prior to UGA, she directed both federal and foundation education grants that supported K–12 school improvement and redesign initiatives, worked as the communications manager at the Stanford University Graduate School of Education, and taught high school English. Erica has co-authored eight published scholarly articles/book chapters and given more than 20 presentations at regional/national academic conferences. Her scholarly interests include action research, school leadership, new teacher support, social network theory, professional development schools, and boundary-spanning leadership.

Aliki Nicolaides

Aliki Nicolaides Ed.D, is Professor of Adult Learning and Leadership at the University of Georgia in the program of Learning, Leadership & Organization Development. Her research centers on exploring the intra-active dynamics of learning that generate personal and societal transformation. She accomplishes this by focusing her research on the role that learning plays in activating the vital potential that connects self and society. Her desire for creating tools and scaffolds that grow individual and collective capacity for both inquiry and action is central to her approach to teaching and mentoring the next generation of scholars and leaders of change Dr. Nicolaides is co-founder of the Generative Learning and Complexity Laboratory (GLCL) that brings together scholars and practitioners of learning and complexity science to reimagine learning and development through the lens of generative knowing and complexity learning. The results of her scholarship are shaping a new philosophical strand of adult learning, what she describes as Generative Knowing: ways of being and becoming that liberate potential creatively in her first solo book. Dr. Nicolaides is a founding steward and current Director of the International Transformative Learning Association.

• Registration

— minimum 8 symbols — at least one small letter (a-z) — at least one capital letter (A-Z) — at least one digit (0-9)

Sign in with

Reset password.

Password reset link will be send to your account e-mail

• Advanced Search

• Find My Rep

You are here

The Action Research Dissertation A Guide for Students and Faculty

• Kathryn Herr - Montclair State University, USA
• Gary L. Anderson - New York University, USA
• Description

Student who conducted action research dissertation finds it very helpful. Will use it again for the summer

Great text that introduces doctoral students to action research in relation to dissertation projects.

Recommended for any student or practitioner involved in research. Clearly set out and easy to follow. Used by all my dissertation students and for my own practice.

A superb book to guide dissertation students as they undertake their action research.

Supports students to study the different approaches within action research; exploring their own practice and that of others. (This publication has been recommended to both our Early Childhood Studies and Education in Lifelong Learning Degree programmes)

This book supports the students in the developmental stages of their research ideas and planning of their action research projects. It has also supported ongoing professional discussions between tutors and students.

Sample Materials & Chapters

For instructors, select a purchasing option.

• Electronic Order Options VitalSource Amazon Kindle Google Play eBooks.com Kobo

Related Products

• Find My Rep

You are here

The Action Research Dissertation A Guide for Students and Faculty

• Kathryn Herr - Montclair State University, USA
• Gary L. Anderson - New York University, USA
• Description
• Author(s) / Editor(s)

Student who conducted action research dissertation finds it very helpful. Will use it again for the summer

Great text that introduces doctoral students to action research in relation to dissertation projects.

Recommended for any student or practitioner involved in research. Clearly set out and easy to follow. Used by all my dissertation students and for my own practice.

A superb book to guide dissertation students as they undertake their action research.

Supports students to study the different approaches within action research; exploring their own practice and that of others. (This publication has been recommended to both our Early Childhood Studies and Education in Lifelong Learning Degree programmes)

This book supports the students in the developmental stages of their research ideas and planning of their action research projects. It has also supported ongoing professional discussions between tutors and students.

Preview this book

Sample materials & chapters, kathryn g. herr.

Kathryn Herr is a professor in the family and child studies department of Montclair State University. She has been actively engaged in practitioner research as a middle school counselor and teacher. She has studied issues of ethnic identity and gender relations in early adolescence. The results of her work have been published in the International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education and The 1992 Politics of Education Association Yearbook. She was previously an associate professor in the College of Education at the University of New Mexico and editor of the Sage journal Youth and Society. More About Author

Gary L. Anderson

Gary L. Anderson is a professor in the Department of Administration, Leadership, and Technology in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York University. He is a former teacher and high school principal. He has written numerous articles on action research with co-author Kathryn Herr as well as articles and books on educational policy and leadership. He is the author of Advocacy Leadership: Toward a Post-reform Agenda (Routledge). More About Author

Purchasing options

Please select a format:

Order from:

• Buy from SAGE

Related Products

• Writing, Research & Publishing Guides

Sorry, there was a problem.

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required .

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

Image Unavailable

• To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the author

The Action Research Dissertation: A Guide for Students and Faculty 1st Edition

There is a newer edition of this item:.

The Action Research Dissertation: A Guide for Students and Faculty provides an accessible roadmap that honors the complexity of action research. It will show that action research is appropriate not only for a dissertation, but also a deeply rewarding experience for both the researcher and participants. This book helps students understand the ways action research dissertations are different from more traditional dissertations and prepares students and their committees for the unique dilemmas they may face, such as validity, positionality, design, write-up, ethics, and defense of the dissertation.

• ISBN-10 0761929916
• ISBN-13 978-0761929918
• Edition 1st
• Publisher SAGE Publications, Inc
• Publication date January 12, 2005
• Language English
• Dimensions 6 x 0.5 x 8.75 inches
• Print length 176 pages
• See all details

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Editorial Reviews

About the author.

Gary L. Anderson is a professor in the Department of Administration, Leadership, and Technology in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York University. He is a former teacher and high school principal. He has written numerous articles on action research with co-author Kathryn Herr as well as articles and books on educational policy and leadership. He is the author of Advocacy Leadership: Toward a Post-reform Agenda (Routledge).

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ SAGE Publications, Inc; 1st edition (January 12, 2005)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 176 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0761929916
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0761929918
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.8 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.5 x 8.75 inches
• #145 in Scientific Research
• #359 in Social Sciences Research
• #1,388 in Fiction Writing Reference (Books)

About the author

Kathryn herr.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Customer reviews

• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 5 star 68% 21% 0% 6% 6% 68%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 4 star 68% 21% 0% 6% 6% 21%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 3 star 68% 21% 0% 6% 6% 0%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 2 star 68% 21% 0% 6% 6% 6%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 1 star 68% 21% 0% 6% 6% 6%

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

• Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

Top reviews from other countries

• Amazon Newsletter
• About Amazon
• Accessibility
• Sustainability
• Press Center
• Investor Relations
• Amazon Devices
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Sell apps on Amazon
• Supply to Amazon
• Protect & Build Your Brand
• Become an Affiliate
• Become a Delivery Driver
• Start a Package Delivery Business
• Advertise Your Products
• Self-Publish with Us
• Become an Amazon Hub Partner
• › See More Ways to Make Money
• Amazon Visa
• Amazon Store Card
• Amazon Secured Card
• Amazon Business Card
• Shop with Points
• Credit Card Marketplace
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Your Account
• Your Orders
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Amazon Prime
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• Registry & Gift List

• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
• Your Ads Privacy Choices

(Stanford users can avoid this Captcha by logging in.)

• Send to text email RefWorks EndNote printer

The action research dissertation : a guide for students and faculty

Available online, at the library.

Education Library (Cubberley)

The Education Library is closed for construction. Request items for pickup at another library.

More options

• Find it at other libraries via WorldCat
• Contributors

Description

Creators/contributors, contents/summary.

• Foreword Preface Acknowledgments About the Authors
• 1. Introduction: What Is an Action Research Dissertation? The Many Faces of Action Research Toward a Definition of Action Research The Action Research Dissertation
• 2. Action Research Traditions and Knowledge Interests The Multiple Traditions of Action Research Action Research and Organizational Development/Learning Action Science Participatory Research: The Legacy of Paulo Freire Participatory Evaluation Action Research and Community Psychology Action Research in Education The Teacher-as-Researcher Movement in Britain The Practitioner Research Movement in North America The Danger of Co-Optation Participatory Action Research with Youth: YPAR Action Research as Narrative: Self-Study and Autoethnography Arts-Based Approaches to Action Research Feminist, Post-Colonial, and Antiracist Approaches to Action Research The Knowledge Interests of Action Research Notes
• 3. The Continuum of Positionality in Action Research Insider: Researcher Studies Own Self/Practice Insider in Collaboration With Other Insiders Insider(s) in Collaboration With Outsider(s) PAR: Reciprocal Collaboration (Insider-Outsider Teams) PAR: Outsider(s) in Collaboration With Insider(s) Outsider(s) Studies Insider(s) Multiple Positionalities The Outsider-Within Stance as a Flawed Approach to Action Research Conclusion Note
• 4. Quality Criteria for Action Research: An Ongoing Conversation Delegitimizing Action Research: Opposition in the Academy Redefining Rigor: Criteria of Quality for Action Research Reason and Bradbury's Discussion of Validity and Choice Points Addressing Bias in Action Research Are the Findings of Action Research Generalizable? The Politics of Action Research Institutional Micropolitics The Politics of Redefining Professionalism The Politics of Knowledge The Macropolitics of Action Research Projects Note
• 5. Designing the Plane While Flying it: Proposing and Doing the Dissertation Possibilities of a Pilot Study The Dissertation Proposal Introducing the Proposed Inquiry Situating the Study in Relevant Literature Methodological Considerations Data Analysis and Representation Where Do Action Research Questions Come From? Insider Action Research Outsider Action Research Issues of Design and Methodology Designing Insider Action Research Designing Outsider Action Research The Literature Review: Literature in Dialogue With the Data Writing the Dissertation Defending the Dissertation
• 6. What Does an Action Research Dissertation Look Like? Lynne Mock: Carving a Dissertation Out of a PAR Project The Entry Process Creating Participatory Structures Writing the Dissertation Emphasizing the Strengths of Action Research Researcher-Initiated PAR Studies Initiating the PAR Study The Emergent Design of the PAR Process Collaborative Data Analysis Disseminating the Results: Multiple Forms of Representation and Audiences John Mark Dyke: Insider Action Research First Phase of the Work Iterative Cycles of Inquiry The Dissertation Research Gary W. Street: A Principal Cultivating Action Research Conclusion Note
• 7. Ethical Considerations and Action Research Working with Institutional Review Process Ethics in Practice Authentic Collaboration Learning to Be Researchers Who's the Writing For? Moving Beyond Do No Harm
• 8. Final Thoughts References Index.
• (source: Nielsen Book Data)

Bibliographic information

Acquired with support from.

Gift of I. James Quillen

Browse related items

• Stanford Home
• Maps & Directions
• Search Stanford
• Emergency Info
• Terms of Use
• Non-Discrimination
• Accessibility

© Stanford University , Stanford , California 94305 .

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

• Knowledge Base

Methodology

• What Is Action Research? | Definition & Examples

What Is Action Research? | Definition & Examples

Published on January 27, 2023 by Tegan George . Revised on January 12, 2024.

Table of contents

Types of action research, action research models, examples of action research, action research vs. traditional research, advantages and disadvantages of action research, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about action research.

There are 2 common types of action research: participatory action research and practical action research.

• Participatory action research emphasizes that participants should be members of the community being studied, empowering those directly affected by outcomes of said research. In this method, participants are effectively co-researchers, with their lived experiences considered formative to the research process.
• Practical action research focuses more on how research is conducted and is designed to address and solve specific issues.

Both types of action research are more focused on increasing the capacity and ability of future practitioners than contributing to a theoretical body of knowledge.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

Action research is often reflected in 3 action research models: operational (sometimes called technical), collaboration, and critical reflection.

• Operational (or technical) action research is usually visualized like a spiral following a series of steps, such as “planning → acting → observing → reflecting.”
• Collaboration action research is more community-based, focused on building a network of similar individuals (e.g., college professors in a given geographic area) and compiling learnings from iterated feedback cycles.
• Critical reflection action research serves to contextualize systemic processes that are already ongoing (e.g., working retroactively to analyze existing school systems by questioning why certain practices were put into place and developed the way they did).

Action research is often used in fields like education because of its iterative and flexible style.

After the information was collected, the students were asked where they thought ramps or other accessibility measures would be best utilized, and the suggestions were sent to school administrators. Example: Practical action research Science teachers at your city’s high school have been witnessing a year-over-year decline in standardized test scores in chemistry. In seeking the source of this issue, they studied how concepts are taught in depth, focusing on the methods, tools, and approaches used by each teacher.

Action research differs sharply from other types of research in that it seeks to produce actionable processes over the course of the research rather than contributing to existing knowledge or drawing conclusions from datasets. In this way, action research is formative , not summative , and is conducted in an ongoing, iterative way.

As such, action research is different in purpose, context, and significance and is a good fit for those seeking to implement systemic change.

Here's why students love Scribbr's proofreading services

Discover proofreading & editing

Action research comes with advantages and disadvantages.

• Action research is highly adaptable , allowing researchers to mold their analysis to their individual needs and implement practical individual-level changes.
• Action research provides an immediate and actionable path forward for solving entrenched issues, rather than suggesting complicated, longer-term solutions rooted in complex data.
• Done correctly, action research can be very empowering , informing social change and allowing participants to effect that change in ways meaningful to their communities.

Disadvantages

• Due to their flexibility, action research studies are plagued by very limited generalizability  and are very difficult to replicate . They are often not considered theoretically rigorous due to the power the researcher holds in drawing conclusions.
• Action research can be complicated to structure in an ethical manner . Participants may feel pressured to participate or to participate in a certain way.
• Action research is at high risk for research biases such as selection bias , social desirability bias , or other types of cognitive biases .

If you want to know more about statistics , methodology , or research bias , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

• Normal distribution
• Degrees of freedom
• Null hypothesis
• Discourse analysis
• Control groups
• Mixed methods research
• Non-probability sampling
• Quantitative research
• Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Research bias

• Rosenthal effect
• Implicit bias
• Cognitive bias
• Selection bias
• Negativity bias
• Status quo bias

Action research is conducted in order to solve a particular issue immediately, while case studies are often conducted over a longer period of time and focus more on observing and analyzing a particular ongoing phenomenon.

Action research is focused on solving a problem or informing individual and community-based knowledge in a way that impacts teaching, learning, and other related processes. It is less focused on contributing theoretical input, instead producing actionable input.

Action research is particularly popular with educators as a form of systematic inquiry because it prioritizes reflection and bridges the gap between theory and practice. Educators are able to simultaneously investigate an issue as they solve it, and the method is very iterative and flexible.

A cycle of inquiry is another name for action research . It is usually visualized in a spiral shape following a series of steps, such as “planning → acting → observing → reflecting.”

Sources in this article

We strongly encourage students to use sources in their work. You can cite our article (APA Style) or take a deep dive into the articles below.

George, T. (2024, January 12). What Is Action Research? | Definition & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved September 16, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/action-research/

Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2017). Research methods in education (8th edition). Routledge.

Naughton, G. M. (2001).  Action research (1st edition). Routledge.

Is this article helpful?

Tegan George

Other students also liked, what is an observational study | guide & examples, primary research | definition, types, & examples, guide to experimental design | overview, steps, & examples, get unlimited documents corrected.

✔ Free APA citation check included ✔ Unlimited document corrections ✔ Specialized in correcting academic texts

Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer.

To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to  upgrade your browser .

Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link.

• We're Hiring!
• Help Center

The action research dissertation: A guide for students and faculty

Related Papers

Margaret Grogan , Joe Donaldson , Juanita Simmons

Action Learning: Research and Practice

Mike Pedler

Performing educational research: Theories, methods …

Julie Davis

JALT Applied Materials Series

Gregory Hadley

The purpose of this article is to answer the following questions: What is action research? What obstacles must one overcome before doing an action research project? How can a new or inexperienced teacher begin an action research project? Why should classroom practitioners do ac­tion research? After reading this article, language teachers will be prepared to start their own action research project.

Action Research

The thesis as a bulky ‘tome’ with a traditional structure - literature review, methodology, research design, findings and conclusions - is a concept under increasing challenge. Recently, I completed a doctoral action research project based on environmental education in a primary school. However, I found that trying to force the action research process into a linear writing structure was an unsatisfactory experience. After much anxiety and considerable experimentation, I resolved the problem of ‘fit’ between action research and the traditional thesis format by creating an alternative architecture based on each of the action research cycles. While still producing a bulky ‘doorstopper’, I feel this structure is a better reflection of the way the study evolved. This paper outlines this new architecture and discusses its rationale. It also challenges other action researchers to innovate and experiment with the ways they represent their research work. License for such innovation is rapidly developing especially with the advent of digital thesis production and performative theses. I see no reason why action researchers cannot be leaders in the creation of new forms of practice about how research theses and dissertations are represented in the academy.

Andrew Johnson

This chapter excerpt describes how to use action research for a Master's Thesis. Included are a proposal form and what should be included in each chapter of a thesis.

Amy Pfeiler-Wunder

Educational Action Research

Carl James-Reynolds

Cape Town: Juta

Chris Winberg , Caroline Kerfoot

Loading Preview

Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. You can download the paper by clicking the button above.

RELATED PAPERS

Quality Assurance in Education

Margaret Fletcher

Andrea C Burrows Borowczak , Angie Woods

The PAC Journal

Robert Dickey

Michał Zawadzki

Roxanne Greenidge-Waithe

Sarina Chugani Molina , Joi A Spencer

Denise Sweeney

Impacting Education: Journal on Transforming Professional Practice

Cherese Childers-McKee, Ph.D.

Kath Fisher

School Science and Mathematics

Margaret Niess

Luis Javier Pentón Herrera

Canadian Journal of Action Research

Michele Jacobsen

Health Information and Libraries Journal

Margaret Forrest

Peg Lonnquist

British Educational Research Journal

Juny Montoya

Kenan DİKİLİTAŞ , Ida Bruheim Jensen

Gregory Hadley , David Jeffrey

Timothy J Shaffer

Psychology Learning & Teaching

Cathal O'Siochru

Pieter Du Toit

The Action Research Dissertation: A Guide for Students and Faculty

• Kathryn G. Herr , G. Anderson
• Published 2005
• Education, Sociology

519 Citations

Revisiting action research, the quality of an action research thesis in the social sciences, children as teacher-researcher's research partners - action research in the classroom, action research: an appropriat action research: an appropriate research methodology for improving healthcare practice, developing scholarly dispositions while becoming a participatory action researcher, the phd thesis as a threshold into action research: an invitation to educational action researchers to collaborate with supervisors and students in peripheral environments, 19 action research : a new look.

• Highly Influenced

Participatory Action Research and Information Literacy: Revising an Old New Hope for Research and Practice

Collaborative action research: the ethical challenges, integrating participatory action research into graduate geography studies: a tale of two dissertations, related papers.

Showing 1 through 3 of 0 Related Papers