Doing Action Research in Early Childhood Studies: A step-by-step guide: a

"This is a very useful and practical resource that will help the reader create the structured approach essential to any successful action research project."
Early Years Update

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 projectReferences to real life research projects to illustrate key ideas, themes, practices and debatesAdvice 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 projectChecklists in each chapter of key concepts, processes and themes, together with further resourcesThe 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.

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.

Phase One: Choosing to Change
Introduction to Phase One
Step 1Choose a social practice to change or improve
Step 2Ask a question about your chosen social practice
Phase Two: Planning for a Change
Introduction to Phase Two
Step 3Learn more about the action research family
Step 4Learn more about your topic from the literature
Step 5Learn more about your ethical responsibilities
Step 6Learn about reflection, critical reflection and practice
Step 7Map 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 9Form 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 guidedby 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