Applied Research for Sustainable Change

In Applied Research for Sustainable Change, Sharon M. Ravitch and Nicole Mittenfelner Carl make the case for "local knowledge generation"--inquiry-based, school-level research that can contextualize quantitative data, enrich insight, and guide leaders in making more effective decisions leading to sustainable organizational change. Drawing on twenty years of experience, the authors offer a framework for conducting applied research that connects practitioner research to theories of transformational leadership and professional development. They show how to align research studies with the school's mission and context and offer step-by-step guidance on forming a research team, designing the research project, collecting and analyzing data, and formulating, sharing, and acting on results. Applied Research for Sustainable Change highlights the power of participatory research to counter simplistic, often deficit-based narratives about patterns of student achievement and to foster transformational, sustainable change. "In an age of data fetishism, this book puts the inquiry back into 'data use' and redefines what counts as data for school professionals. Teachers and leaders who want to lead through collaborative learning will cherish this book." --Gary L. Anderson, professor, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York University "If you ever struggled with how to effectively design and lead a research team, then look no further because Applied Research for Sustainable Change has developed the road map. The strategies laid out in this book provide all that you and your colleagues will need to become a true applied research team." --Wagner Marseille, superintendent of schools, Cheltenham School District, Pennsylvania Sharon M. Ravitch is a professor of practice at the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education. Nicole Mittenfelner Carl is a postdoctoral fellow in the Teaching, Learning, and Leadership Division at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education.