Action Research
Supplementary Materials for LSI 580 Evaluation and Research
Department of Library Science and Instructional Technology
Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven CT

LSI 580-70
Fall 1999

CONTENTS:
1. Context for action research
2. Major concepts and principles of action research
3. Techniques of action research
4. The research notebook
5. Analyzing action research data
6. Ethical criteria for action researchers
7. The written action research report

ETHICAL CRITERIA for Action Researcher

1. All those affected by an action research study have a right to be informed, consulted, and advised about the object of the inquiry.
2. Action research should not proceed unless permission has been obtained from parents, administrators and others concerned.
3. No individual participant will have unilateral rights to veto the content of any project report.
4. All documentary evidence, such as files, correspondence and such, should not be examined without official permission. Copyright law should always be strictly observed.
5. The researcher is responsible for the confidentiality of the data.
6. Researchers are obliged to keep efficient records of the project and make these available to participants and authorities on demand.
7. The researcher will be accountable to the school community (other teachers, parents, students) who impact on the project.
8. The researcher is accountable to report the progress of the project at periodic intervals.
9. This criteria will also help to satisfy the need for ongoing formative evaluation to determine new lines of interest and problem redefinition.
10. Research should never be undertaken which can cause physical or mental harm to any of the subjects concerned.
11. Administering drugs to unknowing participants whould count as an extreme example of such a violation.
12. The researcher has a right to report the project fairly.
13. The researcher must make the ethical contractual criteria known to all involved.
14. Researchers have a right to have their name on any publication resulting from the project. This will help answer the delicate ethical question of "Who gets credit for publications?" That is, whose name will appear on the article or report?

REFERENCES:
McKernan, James. (1991). Curriculum action research: A handbook of methods and resources for the reflective practitioner, pp.249-250. New York: St. Martin's Press.