Teacher Action Research: Building Knowledge Democracies

Action Research: Building Knowledge Democracies is designed to serve as a primary textbook for graduate level courses in action research. What sets it apart from other texts is its emphasis on action research as a vehicle through which schools can build knowledge democracies. This text goes beyond the "how to" of action research to examine the "why"—the historical origins, the rationale behind practice-based research, the related theoretical and philosophical perspectives, and the major paradigms of action research. A discussion of collaborative action research and action research as professional development along with a presentation of research methods and case studies demonstrates how action research can contribute to the creation of schools as centers of democratic inquiry.

Features:

• Emphasizes action research as a tool for building schools as knowledge democracies
• Examines the historical disconnect between educational research and practice
• Presents three key sections focusing on understanding action research, collaborative action research, and practicing action research
• Broadens the concept of collaborative action research to include students and parents as partners in the inquiry process
• Includes numerous examples of teacher action research studies