Increasing numbers of music education researchers have begun to use qualitative methods to examine research topics using interviews, observations, documents, and archival data. In this article, I review qualitative research methodology and its origins and methods, discuss topics that have been studied by music education researchers using…

This paper examines the teacher research process from two points of view: that of a university-based researcher and that of a school-based classroom researcher. Speaking from the experience of engaging in research from both perspectives, the paper presents six reflections on teacher research that describe the special nature of inquiry as conducted…

Argues that teachers can find solutions to problems and answers to questions by conducting their own classroom inquiries and explorations. Discusses four types of classroom research in which teachers can engage: "test-teach-retest,""survey,""observation," and "looking into the past." (EL)

Introduces the special issue of the journal, which is devoted to Exploratory practice (EP), a form of practitioner research. All of the articles are concerned with a particular approach to practitioner research in language teaching and learning. EP is explained, focusing on the development of its practices and its principles over the last 10…

Argues that a democratic, emancipatory research model consisting of collaborative and explicit statements of purpose, design, data collection, analysis, publication, implications for practice and future research is possible and ideal for the educational community. Argues that this model has evolved to overcome the limitations of the rationalistic…

Reviews and critiques two current books on the function and role of teachers as researchers: Marilyn Cochran-Smith's and Susan L. Lytle's "Inside/Outside: Teacher Research and Knowledge" and Ruth Shagoury Hubbard's and Brenda Miller Power's "The Art of Classroom Inquiry: A Handbook for Teacher-Researchers. (HB)

Discusses "teacher-texts" written by composition specialists who identify themselves as teacher/researchers for, presumably, a similar audience. States these texts-model approaches to the literacy classroom are based on reflection, practice, and analysis, but also are a way of representing the classroom in terms of theoretical and/or…

Reports interim results of five separate studies of preservice teacher-research issues. Discusses eight cross-cutting themes that deserve further examination, including: expectations of teacher educators are crucial; teacher research and student teaching are integrated; those who instruct in teacher research should model it in their practice; and…

In this article, the author explores seven "unanswered questions" concerning the preparation of future teacher educator-researchers. She considers five questions concerning the substance of doctoral preparation: what the new generation of teacher-researchers would need to know about teacher education, relevant disciplines, research methodologies,…

In this article we explore the concept of quality in teacher action research by re-examining our participation with science teachers in several different collaborative action research projects. We conducted second-order action research and generated a series reflexive conditions for promoting and ensuring quality action research. We assert that a…

This paper reviews methods for conducting and reporting teacher research. Through three cases, the paper explores common and diverse methods employed in classroom inquiry. The paper recounts the history of teacher research and discusses common methodological characteristics as well as context-specific features of teacher research. The first case…

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…

In this book, two teachers share their experiences as researchers to confront and address the current disagreements about whether empirical research or narrative recounting is a better research model. In the book they seek to transcend these disagreements by endorsing an integrative approach that covers all aspects of practitioner inquiry, joining…

This guide defines action research and provides historical and theoretical contexts for its use. Specific advice is given for the teacher-researchers engaging in action research, and a case study provides an extended example of the action research process. The chapters are: (1) "Understanding Action Research"; (2) "Deciding on an Area of Focus";…

This book provides a simple but effective model for approaching action research. It also contains a series of tools to assist the researcher in working through the research process. The chapters are: (1) "Research in Professional and Public Life"; (2) "Principles of Community-Based Action Research"; (3) "Setting the Stage"; (4) "Look: Building the…