How to Design and Evaluate Research in Education, 5/e

Jack R. Fraenkel, San Francisco State University
Norman E. Wallen, San Francisco State University

Action Research

Learning Objectives

Studying this chapter should enable you to:

Explain the term "action research."

Describe the assumptions that underlie action research.

Explain the purpose of action research.

Describe the four steps involved in action research.

Describe some of the advantages of action research.

Describe some of the similarities and differences between action research and formal quantitative and qualitative research.

Describe the difference between practical and participatory action research.

Suggest some ways that other kinds of research methodologies might be used in action research.

Name some of the threats to internal validity that exist in action research studies.

Describe the kinds of sampling used in action research.

Explain why action research studies are weak in external validity.

Recognize an example of action research when you come across it in the educational literature.

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