Action Research
Action Research

Author: Jerry W. Willis

Publisher: IAP

Published: 2014-08-01

Total Pages: 343

ISBN-13: 1623966574

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The first three chapters of Action Research: Models, Methods, and Examples covers the history, foundations, and basics of conducting action research projects. In those chapters you will learn about the origins of action research as well as about the different methods and models of action research - from the original approaches used by Kurt Lewin and his students in the 1940s and 1950s to the diversity of current approaches to AR that are used to develop both solutions to real world problems and to construct a better understanding of important issues and concern in communities, schools, businesses, and organizations. The nine chapters in the second part of the book illustrate the many ways action research is practiced today. Those chapters illustrate the use of action research methods to accomplish everything from individual personal professional development to changing policies and practices in large organizations and systems. The chapters detail many specific methods of doing AR such as participatory action research, emancipatory action research, designbased action research, collaborative inquiry, and many others.

Toward a Structural Theory of Action
Toward a Structural Theory of Action

Author: Peter H. Rossi

Publisher: Academic Press

Published: 2013-10-22

Total Pages: 400

ISBN-13: 1483288277

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Toward a Structural Theory of Action: Network Models of Social Structure, Perception, and Action centers on the concept of social structure, perceptions, and actions, as well as the strategies through which these concepts guide empirical research. This book also proposes a model of status/role-sets as patterns of relationships defining positions in the social topology. This text consists of nine chapters separated into three parts. Chapter 1 introduces the goals and organization of the book. Chapters 2-4 provide analytical synopsis of available network models of social differentiation, and then use these models in describing actual stratification. Chapter 5 presents a model in which actor interests are captured. Subsequent chapter assesses the empirical adequacy of the two predictions described in this book. Then, other chapters provide a network model of constraint and its empirical adequacy. This book will be valuable to anthropologists, economists, political scientists, and psychologists.

Decision Making in Action
Decision Making in Action

Author: Gary A. Klein

Publisher: Ablex Publishing Corporation

Published: 1992-08-01

Total Pages: 480

ISBN-13: 9780893919436

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This book describes the new perspective of naturalistic decision making. The point of departure is how people make decisions in complex, time-pressured, ambiguous, and changing environments. The purpose of this book is to present and elaborate on past models developed to explain this type of decision making. The central philosophy of the book is that classical decision theory has been unproductive since it is so heavily grounded in economics and mathematics. The contributors believe there is little to be learned from laboratory studies about how people actually handle difficult and interesting tasks; therefore, the book presents a critique of classical decision theory. The models of naturalistic decision making described by the contributors were derived to explain the behavior of firefighters, business people, jurors, nuclear power plant operators, and command-and-control officers. The models are unique in that they address the way people use experience to frame situations and adopt courses of action. The models explain the strengths of skilled decision makers. Naturalistic decision research requires the examination of field settings, and a section of the book covers methods for conducting meaningful research outside the laboratory. In addition, since his approach has applied value, the book covers issues of training and decision support systems.

Action Research in Education
Action Research in Education

Author: Sara Efrat Efron

Publisher: Guilford Publications

Published: 2019-11-18

Total Pages: 297

ISBN-13: 1462541666

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Acclaimed as a text and professional development tool, this user-friendly resource has now been revised and updated, and offers expanded coverage of collaborative action research (CAR) and participatory action research (PAR). Preservice and inservice educators get crucial step-by-step guidance for conducting classroom- and school-based studies to improve their instructional practices. Organized to mirror the full cycle of action research, the book provides balanced coverage of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Vivid vignettes and examples illustrate research approaches for a range of teaching and learning situations, school subjects, and age groups (PreK–12). Readers learn how research approaches are driven by the research question, as well as how to develop data collection strategies; design and/or evaluate assessment tools; interpret, analyze, report, and implement study results; and design a new cycle of research that builds on the previous one. New to This Edition *In-depth descriptions of CAR and PAR--which enable groups of teachers to work together to solve problems in a classroom or school--plus examples of both throughout the book. *Expanded or new discussions (with examples) of such topics as how research approaches and methods are driven by the research question, how to assess different types of reliability and validity, the differences between analysis and interpretation, and how to use sequential cycles of research for continuous improvement and professional development. *Fully updated references and resources. Pedagogical Features *Both individual and group exercises and activities in every chapter. *New and updated checklists and guidelines that enable busy educators to self-assess the progress and quality of their studies. *Sample templates to assist in development of research instruments. *Example boxes illustrating the components of an action research report. *Summary tables highlighting key aspects of different research strategies. *Chapter summaries (now shorter for ease of use) and suggestions for further reading.

Game Theory in Action
Game Theory in Action

Author: Stephen Schecter

Publisher: Princeton University Press

Published: 2016-04-05

Total Pages: 288

ISBN-13: 0691167656

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The essential textbook for learning game theory strategies Game Theory in Action is a textbook about using game theory across a range of real-life scenarios. From traffic accidents to the sex lives of lizards, Stephen Schecter and Herbert Gintis show students how game theory can be applied in diverse areas including animal behavior, political science, and economics. The book's examples and problems look at such fascinating topics as crime-control strategies, climate-change negotiations, and the power of the Oracle at Delphi. The text includes a substantial treatment of evolutionary game theory, where strategies are not chosen through rational analysis, but emerge by virtue of being successful. This is the side of game theory that is most relevant to biology; it also helps to explain how human societies evolve. Aimed at students who have studied basic calculus and some differential equations, Game Theory in Action is the perfect way to learn the concepts and practical tools of game theory. Aimed at students who have studied calculus and some differential equations Examples are drawn from diverse scenarios, ranging from traffic accidents to the sex lives of lizards A substantial treatment of evolutionary game theory Useful problem sets at the end of each chapter

Perception-Action Cycle
Perception-Action Cycle

Author: Vassilis Cutsuridis

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2011-02-02

Total Pages: 785

ISBN-13: 1441914528

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The perception-action cycle is the circular flow of information that takes place between the organism and its environment in the course of a sensory-guided sequence of behaviour towards a goal. Each action causes changes in the environment that are analyzed bottom-up through the perceptual hierarchy and lead to the processing of further action, top-down through the executive hierarchy, toward motor effectors. These actions cause new changes that are analyzed and lead to new action, and so the cycle continues. The Perception-action cycle: Models, architectures and hardware book provides focused and easily accessible reviews of various aspects of the perception-action cycle. It is an unparalleled resource of information that will be an invaluable companion to anyone in constructing and developing models, algorithms and hardware implementations of autonomous machines empowered with cognitive capabilities. The book is divided into three main parts. In the first part, leading computational neuroscientists present brain-inspired models of perception, attention, cognitive control, decision making, conflict resolution and monitoring, knowledge representation and reasoning, learning and memory, planning and action, and consciousness grounded on experimental data. In the second part, architectures, algorithms, and systems with cognitive capabilities and minimal guidance from the brain, are discussed. These architectures, algorithms, and systems are inspired from the areas of cognitive science, computer vision, robotics, information theory, machine learning, computer agents and artificial intelligence. In the third part, the analysis, design and implementation of hardware systems with robust cognitive abilities from the areas of mechatronics, sensing technology, sensor fusion, smart sensor networks, control rules, controllability, stability, model/knowledge representation, and reasoning are discussed.

Models and Frameworks for Implementing Evidence-Based Practice
Models and Frameworks for Implementing Evidence-Based Practice

Author: Jo Rycroft-Malone

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2011-09-07

Total Pages: 288

ISBN-13: 1444358731

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The Evidence-Based Nursing Series is co-published with Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI). The series focuses on implementing evidence-based practice in nursing and mirrors the remit of Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing, encompassing clinical practice, administration, research and public policy. Models and Frameworks for Implementing Evidence- Based Practice: Linking Evidence to Action looks at ways of implementing evidence gained through research and factors that influence successful implementation. It acknowledges the gap that exists between obtaining evidence and the practicalities of putting it into practice and provides direction to help to close this gap. This, the first book in the series, helps the reader to make decisions about the appropriateness of using various models and frameworks. A selection of models and frameworks are examined in detail including examples of their use in practice. The book concludes with an analysis and synthesis of the included models and frameworks. The models and frameworks that have been included are based on a number of criteria: that they are internationally recognised, have undergone widespread evaluation and testing, are transferable across different settings, and can be used by different disciplines. Models and frameworks include: Stetler Model Ottowa Model of Research Use IOWA model of evidence-based practice Advancing Research and Clinical Practice through Close Collaboration (ARCC) model Dobbins’ dissemination and use of research evidence for policy and practice framework Joanna Briggs Institute model Knowledge to Action framework Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (PARIHS) Key Points: Includes an overview of implementation issues and the use of theory and frameworks in implementing evidence into practice Chapters are written by the developers of the model or framework Each chapter provides background on an implementation model or framework, suitable applications, underlying theory and examples of use Each chapter examines strengths and weaknesses of each model alongside barriers and facilitators for its implementation

100 Questions (and Answers) About Action Research
100 Questions (and Answers) About Action Research

Author: Luke Duesbery

Publisher: SAGE Publications

Published: 2019-03-07

Total Pages: 177

ISBN-13: 1544305443

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100 Questions (and Answers) About Action Research by Luke Duesbery and Todd Twyman identifies and answers the essential questions on the process of systematically approaching your practice from an inquiry-oriented perspective, with a focus on improving that practice. This unique text offers progressive instructors an alternative to the research status quo and serves as a reference for readers to improve their practice as advocates for those they serve. The Question and Answer format makes this an ideal supplementary text for traditional research methods courses, and also a helpful guide for practitioners in education, social work, criminal justice, health, business, and other applied disciplines.

Theorists' Models in Action
Theorists' Models in Action

Author: Marvin Alkin

Publisher: Jossey-Bass

Published: 2005-08-11

Total Pages: 148

ISBN-13:

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This volume analyzes how evaluation theorists apply their approach in practice. A scenario of a situation at an elementary school is presented to four prominent theorists, who describe how they would design and conduct an evaluation of the school's program. The editors consider the theorists' proposed evaluations, as well as their subsequent comments, to develop themes related to the influence of theory and context on practice. They also provide a comparative analysis of the theorists' evaluation approaches in relation to the context of evaluation case presented. Evaluation theorists seem to be quite good at propounding on how they think the evaluation world ought to work. Yet do we really know that what theorists say they would do in practice is indeed what they would actually do? Evaluation, after all, is situational. Each context offers its own constituency, set of values, programmatic elements, bureaucratic hurdles, and other variables. This volume demonstrates why evaluators need to adapt their point of view to a particular situation, and provides much-needed study and analysis on the way in which they make those adaptations. This is the 106th volume of the Jossey-Bass quarterly report series New Directions for Evaluation.

Language in Action
Language in Action

Author: William Turnbull

Publisher: Psychology Press

Published: 2003

Total Pages: 247

ISBN-13: 0415198674

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Face-to-face conversation is the site of sociality in all cultures and its child to adult mode facilitates social and cognitive development.