Further Readings and Resources
Suggested Practitioner Action Research Studies
Luck, L., & Webb, L. (2009). School counselor action research: A case example. Professional School Counseling. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0KOC/is_6_12/ai_n35574390/.
This is a good example of a traditional positivist application of practitioner action research that emphasizes quantitative data and is conducted over a three-year period.
Reed. J. (2006). Using action research in nursing practice with older people: Democratizing knowledge. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 8, 1064–1067. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15840074.
This is a revealing application of practitioner action research in health care, with attention paid to the challenges of conducting studies in health care settings.
Other Suggested Readings
Berliner, D. C. (2009). Research, policy, and practice: The great disconnect. In S. D. Lapan & M. T. Quartaroli (Eds.), Research essentials: An introduction to designs and practices (pp. 295–313). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
This book chapter provides an excellent rationale for the use of practitioner research over traditional forms of study.
Coghlan, D., & Brannick, T. (2009). Doing action research in your own organization (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
This resource is often used by those conducting practitioner research in the health care, community, and education fields.
Kemmis, S., & McTaggart, R. (Eds.). (1988). The action research planner (3rd ed.). Geelong, Victoria, Australia: Deakin University Press.
This book is considered one of the best sources for applying practitioner research to professional practice. It includes rationales and specific guidelines for professionals to follow.
Kemmis, S., & McTaggart, R. (2006). Participative action research: Communicative action and the public sphere. In N. K. Denzin & Y. L. Lincoln (Eds.), Handbook of qualitative research (3rd ed., pp. 559–603). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Authored by the recognized experts in the field, this chapter is arguably one of the most thorough treatments of practitioner research and addresses issues of politics, ethics, and professional involvement.
Parkin, P. L. (2009). Managing change in healthcare: Using action research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
This book is a refreshing application of practitioner research designs and strategies for individuals and teams of professionals related to the patient-service interface.
Organizations and Web Sites
American Educational Research Association—Action Research Special Interest Group (SIG #2) (www.aera.net/Default.aspx?menu_id=368&id=4718)
According to the group's stated purpose, this SIG “builds community among those who are engaged in action research and those who teach others to do action research. This is accomplished through dialog about professional development strategies, educational practices and theory, and methods of action research.”
Action Research Electronic Reader (www.scu.edu.au/schools/gcm/ar/arr/arow/default.html)
This source offers study reports of practitioner research across many fields, including health care and business; it also supplies information about conducting studies.
Action Research Network (http://actionresearch.altec.org/)
The Action Research Network provides very good, no-cost access, especially for teachers and professors engaging their students in practitioner research assignments.
Center for Action Research in Professional Practice (CARPP) (www.bath.ac.uk/carpp)
This Web site offers guidance in conducting practitioner research studies and includes links to other sites.
Collaborative Action Research Network (CARN) (www.did.stu.mmu.ac.uk/carnnew/)
Founded in 1976 in order to continue the development work of the Ford Teaching Project in U.K. primary and secondary schools, CARN has grown to become an international network. It draws its members from educational, health care, social care, commercial, and public services settings.
Voices from the Field (www.alliance.brown.edu/pubs/voices/3qrt1999/actref.shtml)
This Web site offers stories from practitioners' own research and includes links to other sites.