Action Research in Teaching and Learning

Lin Norton is an Emeritus Professor of Pedagogical Research at Liverpool Hope University, UK

• Part 1: The Theoretical BackgroundChapter 1: What do we mean by teaching excellence? Chapter 2: Why is the professionalization of university teaching important?Chapter 3: What does being a reflective practitioner actually mean?Chapter 4: What contributions can action research make to professionals who work in roles other than full-time university teaching?Part 2: The Practice of Action ResearchChapter 5: Where do you start a pedagogical action research study?Chapter 6: What are the most suitable research methodologies? Chapter 7: How can you analyse qualitative data in pedagogical action research?Chapter 8: How can you analyse quantitative data in pedagogical action research?Chapter 9: Are there any useful tools? Chapter 10: What are the ethical issues?Chapter 11: How can you grow the influence of your findings?

This work is a powerful and well-informed discussion of the ways in which learning may be enhanced in the university sector through pedagogical action research as a practice-changing practice. Importantly, it gives back to academic practitioners a sense of agency in an environment too often constrained by regulatory frameworks devised by others. The book acknowledges the diversity of today’s tertiary students and their teachers and the dilemmas of practice that arise for each. It employs vignettes as occasions for reflection and learning. The practice examples are derived from a variety of professional fields from visual arts to engineering and psychology. The book acknowledges that teaching is forever unfinished business and should be open to ongoing change and improvement, in particular by drawing attention to the notion of praxis as morally informed action that employs ethics as a means of enhancing quality control.Susan Groundwater-Smith AM, Honorary Professor, Sydney School of Education and Social Work, University of Sydney, AustraliaThis is a timely and useful second edition which provides an invaluable guide on undertaking action research for pedagogical (or andragogical) research in higher education. This updated text shows how it is possible to combine a desire to understand with an impetus to act. It show how practical interests can be combined with theory to generate both practical and theoretical insights. Embracing this text would add sophistication to current trend for metrics to be the ultimate measure of quality. Following Norton's advice is likely to have an impact on these measures of performance but will more importantly ensure that any changes are deeper, more sophisticated and arguably more authentic. It is a reminder that everyone involved in education in universities can be involved in, and can benefit from, educational action research. Andrew Townsend, Associate Professor, School of Education, University of Nottingham, UK