Research Journey

 Sharon F. Rallis is Dwight W. Allen Distinguished Professor of Education Policy and Reform at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she is also Director of the Center for Education Policy. Dr. Rallis has coauthored 10 books, including several on leadership. Her interests include research and evaluation methodology, ethical practice in research and evaluation, education policy and leadership, and school reform. A past president of the American Evaluation Association, Dr. Rallis has been involved with education and evaluation for over three decades as a teacher, counselor, principal, researcher, program evaluator, director of a major federal school reform initiative, and an elected school board member.  Gretchen B. Rossman is Chair of the Department of Educational Policy, Research and Administration and Professor of International Education at the Center for International Education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her work focuses on qualitative research design and methods, mixed methods monitoring and evaluation, and inquiry in education, including the analysis and evaluation of educational reform initiatives both in the United States and internationally. She has coauthored nine books, including the major qualitative research texts Learning in the Field (with Sharon F. Rallis) and Designing Qualitative Research (with Catherine Marshall).Â

Wow! I was impressed by the quality of the content, the readability and flow, and the apt use of the journey metaphor. This book will serve as a key resource for education and other social science graduate students conducting research projects or for professionals writing research grant proposals for funding. Through dialogue, example, activity, and exploration, the authors illustrate that research can be engaging and fun. Each chapter has one or more reflective activities that guide readers to apply the principles presented, work collaboratively in learning groups, develop a conceptual framework for a project, and learn to generate knowledge through systematic inquiry. The activities help students navigate the entire inquiry process, from problem selection to written report. I will recommend this book to my doctoral students at the dissertation stage. The chapter on conceptual frameworks is priceless.--Eleni Coukos Elder, EdD, Department of Educational Administration, Tennessee State UniversityThis book offers a practical overview of basic skills required for the budding researcher in the social sciences. A major theme is promoting the development of an open, inquisitive, reflective stance that enables the researcher to take in new information and generate knowledge. Each chapter offers succinct information and examples and poses questions suitable for seminar discussion. In the research design chapter, weaving a fictional student's thinking about her project into the discussion to illustrate key points is quite effective. This book promises to be a useful supplement for research design and methods courses.--Arlene Bowers Andrews, PhD, Carolina Distinguished Professor, College of Social Work, University of South CarolinaThe best among a new generation of texts that helps the student learn to think like a scholar and researcher. In a single, readable volume, Rallis and Rossman distill key ideas and conceptual frameworks that currently require several textbooks and readings in my classes. They do so without getting entangled in arcane or overly technical arguments. The vignettes, examples, and exercises will help advanced graduate students and junior researchers to apply the concepts across the social and behavioral sciences, in both applied and pure fields of inquiry.--David N. Boote, PhD, School of Teaching, Learning, and Leadership, and Department of Educational and Human Sciences, University of Central FloridaThe book does an excellent job--especially through the exercises--of unblocking the thinking and writing of terrified graduate students.--Sande Milton, College of Education, Florida State University -This book can easily fit into a research course. It is easy to understand, and the learning activities are excellent for stimulating discussion and assessing understanding. 5 stars.--Doody's Reviews, 7/1/2012

• 1. Inquiry as Learning: Beginning the Journey Introduction What Is Inquiry? The Learner as Knowledge Generator Drawing on Values and Passion Your Journey into Systematic Inquiry For Further Reading 2. Ways of Knowing: Finding a Compass Ways of Knowing Fundamental Assumptions Mapping Perspectives Back to Ontology and Epistemology For Further Reading 3. The Cycle of Inquiry: More Than One Way to Get There Inquiry in Action/Inquiry as Practice The Systematic Inquiry Cycle Validity, Credibility, and Trustworthiness For Further Reading 4. Being an Ethical Inquirer: Staying Alert on the Road Ethics in Inquiry The Inquirer as a Moral Practitioner Standards for Practice and Procedural Matters Ethics, Trustworthiness, and Rigor Ethical Theories Ethics and Reflexivity For Further Reading 5. Constructing Conceptual Frameworks: Building the Route What Is a Conceptual Framework? Building an Argument Entering the Conversation: Your Community of Practice Entering the Conversation: Your Engagement Entering the Conversation: The Communities of Discourse Ways of Organizing Chapter Summary For Further Reading 6. Designing the Inquiry Project: Finding “True North” Moving from the Conceptual Framework into Design Considering Various Designs Samira’s Research Questions and Possible Designs A Short Course on Research Methods Planning for Analysis and Interpretation The Research Proposal: Bringing it All Together An Example of Connecting the What and the How Chapter Summary For Further Reading 7. Things to Consider in Writing: Staying in the Right Lane Writing Introductions The Nasty Problem of Plagiarism Using Proper Citation Format For Further Reading 8. Knowledge Use: Arriving at Your Destination Using What You have Learned Who Cares?: Potential Audiences Communicating for Use Passions and Closing the Loop For Further Reading