Naturalistic Observation and Action Research share common qualitative rudiments. This is not inflammatory nor controversial as each means of inquiry requires careful planning, application, and review to realize worthwhile personal and professional outcomes. Both research modes are largely subjective non-experimental efforts that complement other…

This study designed a localized approach to working and writing action research suited for basic education. The researchers used multiphase mixed method research with three analysis stages focused on the identified problem. These stages include identifying the preferred approach in writing action research for basic education, designing a localized…

This action research study was born out of the researcher's anecdotal observations that often the students in her remedial math courses who do not appear to form relationships with their classmates are the same students who fail to complete the course successfully. The purpose of this quantitative action research study was to determine whether…

Information literacy is the awareness and skills to identify, locate, evaluate, organize, create, use and communicate information to solve or resolve problems. This article is the result of the research on the efforts to improve students' problem-solving skills in the "Research Methods" course through "Empowering Eight: Information Literacy Model"…

Action research in schools implies that the researchers and the teachers should collaborate on solving problems and improving practice. One underlying premise when choosing, such an approach, is that the participants are interested in, and willing to participate in such a process. In this article, the authors explore how words and utterances…

Action research has been recognized as a useful professional development tool for teaching, but for inservice teachers, conducting action research can be challenging. Their learning about action research can be influenced by social situations--whether in an MA (Master of Arts) program or other professional development. The purpose of this…

Educational leadership programs face increased pressure to ensure graduates are prepared (Barnett, 2004; Bass, 1990; Yukl, 2002) to guide progress toward student achievement targets. The ISLLC [Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium] Policy Standards (2008) uphold the importance of inquiry in leading school improvement. However,…

This paper reports on the trial of web conferencing software conducted at a regional Australian university with a significant distance population. The paper shares preliminary findings, the views of participants and recommendations for future activity. To design and conduct the trial, an action research method was chosen because it is…

The purpose of this action research project was to investigate approaches and techniques that would improve critical thinking skills in history classes at the secondary level. Students demonstrated apathy and boredom in history classes where the emphasis was on rote memorization and the regurgitation of accepted facts and conclusions. The problem…

Recent work integrating Cultural-Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) with Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) forms a basis for systematizing action research in higher education. This basis strengthens what are often otherwise its methodological weaknesses, namely, the disconnection between analysis and subsequent plans for action and the…

The main purpose of this study was to look at how we used specific writing assignments in our courses to encourage metacognitive reflection in order to increase the learning that takes place. The study also aimed to aid in the development of higher order processing skills through the development of student reflection. The students involved in the…

This is part II of a case study involving a large federally funded technology grant program implemented across several central Texas school districts and was followed by the researcher-participant at the university level as well as one of the campus sites. Many ethical research questions were raised during this study such as the use of participant…

The goals of this "Action Research" study were to understand how to create an anti-bias curriculum project focusing on Native North Americans and how to teach children to recognize stereotypes in children's literature, while using "The Project Approach" (Helm & Katz, 2001) to do the formative curriculum development. The study weaves together three…

This is an action research to investigate and argue the Turkish teachers' experiences on online communications to build a democratic and multicultural knowledge networks. This study utilized both qualitative and quantitative data collected from different sources. This helped the author generate new perspectives and stimulate new directions in the…

Democratic education is a learning approach that encourages and respects the voices of students. Unfortunately, much of the research on student empowerment and democratic education utilizes antiquated techniques that are researcher driven and disempowering to the objects of their study, the children. The current research incorporated a…