How can teacher educators continue to ensure that literacy is placed in the forefront of the public domain? This author explores this question by first examining the narrow assumptions about reading and literacy that shaped the NCLB law. The author then argues that studies of literacy incorporating a sociocultural stance provide a different lens…

Counseling psychologists face many approaches from which to choose when they conduct a qualitative research study. This article focuses on the processes of selecting, contrasting, and implementing five different qualitative approaches. Based on an extended example related to test interpretation by counselors, clients, and communities, this article…

This paper reviews four currently recognized modes of inquiry available to reading researchers, including both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The paper discusses empiricism, interpretive research, critical science/theory, and action research, briefly describing the purposes, goals, and assumptions underlying each mode of inquiry. The…

This paper addresses one major question: What unique perspectives and skills does the university researcher, in interaction with the teacher/practitioner, contribute to help a collaborative research/evaluation team identify its research and achieve its goal? Case analysis of a recently completed National Institute of Education Project (Action…

This paper contains informal remarks on action research in social psychology from its post World War II origins to its current status. Kurt Lewin first described action research in the 1946 article, "Action Research and Minority Problems," as a three-step process of program planning, program execution, and follow-up evaluation. Ronald Lippitt and…

Many teachers and administrators would acknowledge there are areas of concern in their classrooms and schools. Whether termed "problems," "issues," "challenges," or, as Nunan (1994) put it "puzzles," they provide committed professionals with an opportunity to improve the status quo. Action research is one…

A detailed step-by-step description of a punctuation proficiency project utilizing a pretest, practice, and post-test plan is provided. (BP)

Reports a three-year case study of the effects of systematic interventions designed to enhance prosocial behavior among elementary school students. Particular attention is devoted to the scope and design of the study and a listing of the factors which were potential threats to its validity. (JDH)

Whether action research and management perspectives can be reconciled to support teachers' desires to participate in management of education institutions is explored. Five issues are presented that must be addressed if action research is to be used as a strategy for teaching teachers educational management. (MT)

Food service energy research identifies food service methods and equipment that save energy while maintaining food quality, especially nutrition. This article discusses (1) research findings; (2) applications of these findings, including energy management policies, and energy-efficient equipment and recipes; and (3) efforts to educate students…

It is common practice to associate recommendations for program improvement with evaluation reports. In this article, several classes of recommendations are identified, and aspects of one class are explored in some detail. Consideration is given to certain logical, methodological, and practical issues relating to the derivation of recommendations…

Focuses on action research as a strategy for the helping institution, as an organizationwide intervention in organization change efforts, and as a means of leadership development. (Author/IRT)

This Critical Practitioner Inquiry (CPI) Newsletter is a forum for exchanging ideas and experiences about CPI in different universities worldwide. This first edition of the newsletter contains the following articles: (1) Critical Practitioner Inquiry--Working Against the Grain (Lars Dahlstrom), which explains the concept of CPI; (2) Critical…

This report describes a program for increasing literacy skills in kindergarten students. The targeted population consisted of kindergarten students from two schools in a growing unit district located in a northwest suburb of Chicago, Illinois. The lack of literacy skills was documented through student assessment and teacher observation. Analysis…

A new teacher appraisal process involving 5 competencies and 163 indicators has been devised by the Provincial Government of Ontario, Canada. Principals are being held responsible for the appraisals, and the competencies and indicators are being imposed on professional practice. This paper suggests that a better approach to professional growth…