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| Figures, Tables, & Exhibits | |
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| Preface | |
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| The Author | |
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| Introduction to Action Research | |
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| Introduction | |
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| What Is Action Research? | |
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| Action Research: Some Definitions | |
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| Why Engage in Action Research? | |
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| Steps in the Process | |
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| Phases of an Action Research Study | |
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| What Are Data? | |
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| When Is Action Research the Appropriate Choice? | |
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| How Can the Process Effect Change? | |
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| The Ethical Researcher | |
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| Summary | |
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| Key Terms | |
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| Discussion Questions | |
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| Suggested Topics | |
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| Online Activities | |
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| The Process Begins | |
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| The Action Research Environment | |
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| Identifying Problems Suitable for Action Research | |
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| Sources for Problems or Research Topics | |
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| Considering the Value of a Problem or Topic | |
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| Narrowing the Focus | |
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| The Reflective Journal Revisited | |
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| Concept Mapping and Focus | |
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| Reflecting on Relevancy | |
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| Inquiring, Questioning, Interviewing, and Gathering Information | |
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| The IRB-Friend or Foe? | |
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| Informed Consent Forms and Assent Forms | |
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| A Few More Words on the IRB | |
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| Summary | |
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| Key Terms | |
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| Discussion Questions | |
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| Suggested Topics | |
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| Online Activities | |
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| The Literature Review | |
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| The Literature Review and Action Research | |
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| What Is a Literature Review? | |
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| Rationale for Reviewing Literature | |
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| Literature Review for Action Research | |
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| Conducting a General Literature Review: Processes and Steps | |
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| Identifying and Selecting Appropriate Sources | |
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| Relevancy, Accuracy, and Value of Online Sources | |
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| Online Literature Review | |
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| What Experts Have to Say | |
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| Organizing Sources and Themes in the Literature Review | |
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| Writing the Review | |
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| Key Terms | |
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| Discussion Questions | |
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| Suggested Topics | |
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| Online Activities | |
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| Designing Research Questions | |
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| What Drives a Study? | |
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| Starting Point for Generating Questions | |
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| Research Considerations | |
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| Research Design and Research Questions | |
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| Research Questions as a Blueprint or Framework | |
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| The Research Statement | |
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| Characteristics of Good Research Questions | |
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| Questions, Questions, Questions: Examples and Practice | |
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| Research Umbrella as a Source for Research Questions | |
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| Broad Themes, Subthemes, and Research Questions | |
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| Returning to the Literature Review | |
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| Blending Ideas to Achieve Refined Overarching Questions | |
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| Research Questions, Chronology, and Writing | |
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| Summary | |
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| Key Terms | |
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| Discussion Questions | |
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| Suggested Topics | |
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| Online Activities | |
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| Identifying Data Sets to Inform Inquiry | |
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| Revisiting Questions | |
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| Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Methods | |
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| Data Versus Data Sets | |
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| Data Sets That Inform | |
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| Aligning Multiple Forms of Data with Overarching Questions | |
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| Triangulation and the Triangulation Matrix | |
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| Qualitative Data Instruments and Schedules | |
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| Research and Data Collection Schedules | |
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| Summary | |
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| Key Terms | |
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| Discussion Questions | |
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| Suggested Topics | |
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| Online Activities | |
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| The Action Researcher's Tools | |
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| Tools for Conducting Research | |
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| Reflective Practice | |
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| Identifying and Collecting Artifacts | |
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| Making Use of Electronic Sources and Technology | |
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| Summary | |
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| Key Terms | |
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| Discussion Questions | |
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| Suggested Topics | |
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| Online Activities | |
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| Organizing, Coding, and Analyzing Qualitative Data | |
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| Getting Started | |
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| Collecting and Analyzing Data | |
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| Organizing Data | |
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| Revisiting the Triangulation Matrix | |
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| Examining the Pieces | |
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| Examining Individual Data Sets and Subsets | |
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| Coding and Analyzing | |
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| Identifying Categories and Defining Attributes | |
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| The Big Picture | |
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| Summary | |
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| Key Terms | |
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| Discussion Questions | |
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| Suggested Topics | |
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| Online Activities | |
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| The Action Research Report | |
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| Writing the Action Research Report | |
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| Rationale for Writing the Report | |
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| Components | |
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| Tips for Writing | |
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| Reporting and Presenting Findings | |
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| The Action Research Report Assignment | |
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| Summary | |
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| Key Term | |
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| Discussion Questions | |
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| Suggested Topics | |
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| Online Activities | |
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| Designing and Implementing the Action Plan | |
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| The Action Plan | |
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| Rationale | |
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| Purpose | |
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| When Is an Action Plan Appropriate? | |
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| Informed Decision Making | |
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| Designing the Plan | |
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| Components | |
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| Using Findings to Inform Design | |
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| Continuous Improvement | |
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| Summary | |
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| Key Terms | |
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| Discussion Questions | |
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| Suggested Topics | |
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| Online Activities | |
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| Online Resources for Human Subjects Training and Institutional Review Board Information | |
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| Glossary | |
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| References | |
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| Index | |