Action Research in Health Care / Edition 1

by Alison Morton Cooper

Overview

Action research has grown in stature in the fields of education and industry because it centres on people and their problems. Thus it necessarily shares aspects of their human frailty and apparent fickleness: it refuses to be bound by the conventional methods used to create boundaries in scientific research. In these days of clinical governance, action research provides a valuable means of developing responsible and reflective practices that takes into account the different stakeholders within a public service environment.

Action research in health care is something of a 'new age' approach, and as such it is only beginning to be recognised and acknowledged for its tremendous potential in bringing professionals and their patients and clients closer together. This book is written in response to all those of you who have struggled in vain to find a practical, concise and yet insightful account of the use of action research methods in health care practice.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780632040919
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	05/18/2000
Pages:	124
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Alison Morton-Cooper has had many years of experience in the field of health care, in health services journalism, as a health educator and latterly as a senior nurse and lecturer in continuing professional education. Her MEd and PhD in Continuing Education from the University of Warwick, England, led to substantive research as to the ways health professionals learn best from practice. Last but not least, she is the mother of a teenage son diagnosed as having high functioning autism, and she is an experienced advocate for families affected by autism.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements; Introduction; Principles of action research design; Preparing a proposal; Managing action research; Writing a valid account; Appendix: Guidelines for critiquing action research; References; Further reading; Index

Editorial Reviews

"This book would be an excellent starting point for someone interested in undertaking research in practice who feels the reductionist or qualitative research method is not appropriate."

Physiotherapy Journal

"Action Research in Healthcare is a welcome addition to the literature on methods because it outlines an alternative problem-solving, collaborative approach to research. It is accessible and engages the reader..."

Health Service Journal

"Where the book really does triumph is in the provision of guidelines for critiquing action research, thus emphasizing the practical utility of the text. It is a book which should certainly be available in all nursing libraries."

Journal of Advanced Nursing

From the Publisher

Action research is a means of developing reflective practice which takes into account different stakeholders in a public service environment. This work overviews the ethos and principles of action research and assists practitioners and research students in planning, carrying out, and evaluating action research studies in health care practice. Explains principles of action research design, then describes steps for preparing a proposal, managing action research, and writing a valid account. Includes guidelines for critiquing action research. Morton-Cooper teaches health studies at Critchton College, University of Glasgow. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews