Stringer, E.T. (1999). Action research (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

In the second edition of this practitioner-oriented book, Stringer extends his audience to include not only the community-based practitioners addressed in the first edition but also the ever growing number of scholars and students engaging in research in the university setting. The language of this volume is very accessible and one does not need to be familiar with typical research to grasp the research tools here provided. Procedures are set out in detailed step-by-step fashion and, new to this second edition, each chapter ends with a boxed summary that may be used as check-lists. Throughout the book, the author has provided personal anecdotes to support the techniques described. Chapter topics cover all aspects of action research from its genesis and methodology, based on the simple routine — look, think, act — that guides the research process, to the details of setting up a study, gathering information, analyzing situations, formulating practical solutions and putting these into action, and organizing and writing formal reports. The final chapter revisits the research processes presented in the book and reflects on issues such as legitimacy in community-based action research and giving voice to the participants in research.

Internet Resources

http://carbon.cudenver.edu/~mryder/itc/act_res.html
This is an excellent up-to-date site with links to definitions, journals, and numerous references on action research. More than 100 other sites are also accessible through this site, which includes sources from Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and others apart from the USA.

http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/gcm/ar/ari/arihome.html
A refereed on-line journal of action research. This new site out of Southern Cross University in Australia already has the first papers posted and promises to be another source for recent articles on action research.

http://www.triangle.co.uk/ear/index.htm
Educational Action Research: A refereed international journal concerned with exploring the unity between educational research and practice. Site contains many full text articles.

http://www.ed.gov/databases/ERIC_Digests/ed355205.html
One of several ERIC Digest sites of interest to action researchers.