Participatory Action Research for Educational Leadership: Using Data-Driven Decision Making to Improve Schools

by E. Alana James, Margaret T. Milenkiewicz, Alan J. Bucknam

Overview

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"Finally we have a data-driven text on participatory action research for educational leaders. Through thoughtful examples and guided instruction, this text makes the case that the complex issues of today and tomorrow require multifaceted, rigorous, and results-oriented processes best undertaken through partnerships between educators and the communities they serve."

—Darlyne Bailey, Dean and Assistant to the President, University of Minnesota

"This book includes a very useful hands-on approach to developing a PAR project. It is written in a manner that is accessible to teachers, it is detailed enough to provide clear descriptions, and the exercises at the end of each chapter help readers to implement the new material."

—Elizabeth Grassi, Regis University

"In a clear manner, this text provides the tools necessary to conduct collaborative action research in order to create needed change in our classrooms and schools. Using this book, teachers, administrators, parents, and students can become active participants in the movement toward educational change."

—Emma Fuentes, University of San Francisco

The participatory action research (PAR) process discussed in the text represents the next evolutionary stage for action research and practitioner research in education. Authors E. Alana James, Margaret T. Milenkiewicz, and Alan Bucknam provide a readable overview of the PAR process similar to professional learning communities in schools. This fresh approach to participatory action research fully integrates process with research methodology. The results of the original PAR study and continued work with educational leaders propose that this "And/Both" approach ultimately produces the effect that school leaders seek and appreciate.

Key Features

• Guides the reader through the PAR steps with a graphically illustrated process: The book′s design reaches out to visual learners with graphic elements while employing a research logic model that helps ensure rigorous research methodology.
• Provides reflective questions preceding each section: The questions increase the reflective practices and routines of the reader as appropriate to the PAR process.
• Presents real-world examples: Practitioner stories make the lessons real and alleviate the emotional unease that comes from tackling research practices for the first time.
• Offers tasks for working both in teams and as individuals: These tools aid participatory teams in working toward consensus and strong research designs.

Intended Audience

This is an ideal core text for graduate courses such as Action Research for School Improvement, Research for Educational Practitioners, Practitioner Research, and Teacher as Researcher in departments of education. It can also be used as a supplemental text in other research methods courses and in data-driven decision-making courses.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781506319872
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	07/17/2007
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	248
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Dr. E. Alana James, received her Ed.D. in educational leadership from Teachers College in 2005.  Since then she has helped over 30 doctoral candidates in either educational leadership or business move through the process on to graduation.  Working primarily as supervisor for a number of online for profit universities, but also sometimes in the role of committee member, she identified the key places and challenges that created extra stress and, unfortunately, sometimes breakdown.  This book and her work developing DoctoralNet.com is in reaction to those difficulties and will, with adoption, increase graduation rates for those working towards a PhD or other type of doctoral degree.  You can follow DoctoralNet on twitter, facebook or Google +.

Dr James also specializes in action research and has used that transformative process throughout the development of the techniques and strategies outlined herein.  Information about her other books can be found on the website for Sage Publishing.

A believer in the doctoral process as a rite of passage that releases the greatest potential in life, she reinvented her own life to move half way around the world from where she began.  Living in Ireland with her partner, their two dogs and a cat she authors nonfiction work on health and wellness on her personal website at ealanajames.com where you can connect with her as a writer, a consultant or speaker. 

 

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction
Welcome to PAR for Educational Leaders
Our Approach to PAR
Our Readers
Features
How to Use This Book
Final Notes
1. The Participatory Action Research Model
Reflective Questions
Section 1: PAR---A Tool for Change
PAR as a Tool for Educational Leadership
Reflective Questions
Section 2: Research and Action in the PAR Process
Reflective Questions
Section 3: Participatory Research as a Tool to Address Adaptive Change
An Example of PAR Use in the Classroom
Task 1.1: Beginning a Reflective Journal
Conclusion
2. The Tenets of PAR: Ethics, Purpose, and Logic
Reflective Questions
Section 1: Ethics
Ethical Elements
Task 2.1: The Formation of an Ethical Plan for PAR Projects
Reflective Questions
Section 2: The Power of Purpose
Format for Purpose Statements
Task 2.2: Multiple Journal Entries Define Purpose
Reflective Questions
Section 3: Logic Models
Task 2.3: Planning Your First Draft of Your Logic Model
Conclusion
3. Starting to Research
Reflective Questions
Section 1: Asking Good Research Questions
Task 3.1: PAR Practitioners Reflect On and Share Their Initials Ideas for Research Questions
Surfacing Assumptions
Task 3.2: Surfacing Assumptions
Reflective Questions
Section 2: Informal and Formal Reviews of Literature
Task 3.3: The Mini "Lit Review"
Reflective Questions
Section 3: A Brief Overview of the Basic Research Methods
Qualitative Methods
Quantitative Methods
Reflective Practice
Task 3.4: Reflective Journal Practice
Conclusion
4. Qualitative Data Collection
How Is Qualitative Evidence Useful?
What Makes Qualitative Evidence Difficult?
Reflective Questions
Section 1: Qualitative Data Collection Methods
Data Collected Directly in Words From People: Interviews and Focus Groups
Data Collected Through a Process of Change: Reflective Data/Field Notes/Anecdotal Accounts
Data Collected During the Event(s) Being Studied: Observations/Student Work/Logs
Task 4.1: Collecting a Variety of Qualitative Data
Reflective Questions
Section 2: Maximum Success and Rigor
Managing Time and Resources
How to Make It More Rigorous
Introduction to Mixed Methodology
Task 4.2: Data-Planning Matrix
Conclusion
5. Qualitative Analysis
Reflective Questions
Section 1: Stages in Analyzing Qualitative Evidence
Graphic Organizers
Codes
Memos
Families
Triangulation
Rubrics and Multiple Observers
Similarities and Differences
Reflective Questions
Section 2: Validity, Credibility, and Reliability in the Analysis of Qualitative Data
Task 5.1: Practice Analysis of Data
Conclusion
6. Quantitative Evidence
Data Found in Schools
Standardized Tests
Reflective Questions
Section 1: Questions Answered by Quantitative and Mixed Methods Evidence
Observations and Time Studies
Surveys or Questionnaires
Descriptive Statistics
Variance and Correlation
Complex Questions
Reflective Questions
Section 2: Quantitative Data Collection
Observations
Questionnaires or Surveys
Samples
Time Series
Reflective Questions
Section 3: Analysis and Statistical Information
Descriptive Analysis
Frequencies
Survey Analysis
Percentages and Mean
Standard Deviation
The t-Test
Correlation
Reporting Results
Task 6.1: Preliminary Quantitative Analysis
Conclusion
7. Taking and Measuring Action
Reflective Questions
Section 1: How to Know What Actions to Take
Three Continuums of Action
The Continuum of Actions From Emancipatory to Professional Development
The Continuum From the Individual to the Organizational
Examples of PAR to Foster School Improvement
Teachers or Support Staff in a Classroom or Whole-School Setting
Principals
Whole Schools or School Districts
Reflective Question
Section 2: Efforts at Change
The Challenge of Inertia
Defensive Behaviors
Task 7.1: Analyzing Force Fields and Defensive Behaviors
Reflective Questions
Section 3: Measurement
Formative Evaluation
Focus and Responsiveness
Determining Variables With Which to Measure Short-Term Outcomes
Measuring Outcome Steps
Conclusion
8. Cycles of PAR: The Power of the Iterative Process
Reflective Questions
Section 1: Messy Cycles
Reflective Questions
Section 2: Iterative Growth
Diagnosis
Action
Measurement
Reflection
Time Line and Group Process for Significant Success
Task 8.1: Using the Forward Planner
Reflective Questions
Section 3: Theoretical Understanding Bolsters Action and Visa Versa
Conclusion
9. Final Analysis and Results
Alchemy
Reasoning and Writing
Standards for the Final Analysis
Reflective Questions
Section 1: Validity
My "Real" World--or Yours?
Theory Building and Testing
Reporting the Analysis Process to Others
Task 9.1: Building a Preliminary Report on the Analysis Process for Others
Reflective Questions
Section 2: Credible Interpretation
Graphic Organizers
Compelling Arguments
Disclaimers
Reflective Questions
Section 3: Reliability
Fallacy
Reflective Questions
Section 4: Passionate Conclusions
Task 9.2: One Sentence and Three Words
Conclusion
10. The Final Report
Reflective Questions
Section 1: The Formal Report
The Formal Academic Report
Reflective Questions
Section 2: The Formal Presentation
Prior to Beginning
Constraints
Openings and Closings
Content and How to Present It
Reflective Questions
Section 3: The Informal Individual Report
Reflective Questions
Section 4: The Community Report
Conclusion
11. PAR for Educational Leadership
Reflective Questions
Section 1: A Creative Tool in Environments of Chaos and Complexity
Counteracting Educator Mobility
Inclusion: Both/And Rather Than Either/Or
The Need for Flexibility
Prediction: The Study of Outliers
Feedback Loops
Reflective Questions
Section 2: A Tool for Adaptive Leadership
Creating a Holding Environment
Avoiding Implementation Failure
Reflective Questions
Section 3: PAR and Educational Reform Efforts
Professional Learning Communities and Communities of Practice
What Is Required?
The Development of an Inclusive Leadership Structure
Conclusion
Glossary
References
Index
About the Authors