Doing Action Research in Early Childhood Studies

Erscheinungsjahr 2008
ISBN: 978-0-335-23684-8
Verlag: Open University Press

Buch, Englisch

- Are you worried about doing your early years action research project?

- Does the thought of choosing the right research question feel daunting?

- Are you concerned about the challenges you might face?

If you answer 'yes' to any of these questions, then this is the book for you!

Written in a lively and accessible style, this is the essential step-by-step guide to conducting your own action research project. The book introduces and evaluates different approaches to action research and explores how they can be applied in early childhood settings to create positive change and to improve practice.

Using varied illustrations and case studies of contemporary projects in diverse early childhood contexts, the book addresses specific issues and challenges that you might face when conducting action research in such settings.

Each chapter offers gentle guidance and support at a specific stage of the research process, from choosing your initial topic to formulating your research question, through to sharing the lessons of your project.

The book's key features include:

- 16 'Steps' that walk you through the process of conducting your action research project

- References to real life research projects to illustrate key ideas, themes, practices and debates

- Advice on creating an action research journal, with sample extracts

- 'Thinking Boxes' in each chapter to encourage you to review and reflect on the chapter's contents as you plan your research project

- Checklists in each chapter of key concepts, processes and themes, together with further resources

The authors explore some difficult issues associated with action research, including ethics, rigour, validity, critical reflection, and social and professional change. They show that there is more than one 'right' way to perform an action research project and advise you how to choose an approach that is appropriate for your particular interests and circumstances.

Doing Action Research in Early Childhood Studies is an essential resource for students and practitioners of early childhood studies.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Mac Naughton, Glenda

Hughes, Patrick

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Pädagogik Schulen, Schulleitung Kindergarten & Vorschule

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Phase One: Choosing to Change

Introduction to Phase One

Step 1 Choose a social practice to change or improve

Step 2 Ask a question about your chosen social practice

Phase Two: Planning for a Change

Introduction to Phase Two

Step 3 Learn more about the action research family

Step 4 Learn more about your topic from the literature

Step 5 Learn more about your ethical responsibilities

Step 6 Learn about reflection, critical reflection and practice

Step 7 Map the practicalities of researching in your context

Step 8 Plan to make your research rigorous and valid

Phase Three: Creating Change

Introduction to Phase Three

Step 9 Form an action research group

Step 10 Gather ‘base line data

Step 11 Create a change and collect data about its effects

Step 12 Analyse your data

Step 13 Deepen and broaden your data and understandings

Step 14 Choose a social practice to change or improve, perhaps guided

by a new research question.

Phase Four: Sharing the Lessons

Introduction to Phase Four

Step 15 Draw conclusions from your analysis

Step 16 Share the lessons of your project

References

Index

Über Autor(innen)

Glenda Mac Naughton is Professor in Early Childhood Studies and Director of the Centre for Equity and Innovation in Early Childhood in the University of Melbourne's Graduate School of Education, Australia.

Patrick Hughes is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Equity and Innovation in Early Childhood in the University of Melbourne's Graduate School of Education, Australia.