Making Sense of Research: What’s Good, What’s Not and How to Tell the Difference

In this book, the authors bring the best of two worlds to the writing of this book - the real world where education is practiced daily and the research world where the disciplined search for knowledge (Smith & Glass, 1987, p.6) is ongoing. This book is for those who make decisions - from the seemingly smallest teacher-made decision regarding time allocation during reading instruction to major national policy decisions such as reducing class size. When carefully read and thoughtfully considered, quality research can inform, enlighten, and provide direction to practitioners that will save time and money, but more importantly enhance the effectiveness of schools and increase the opportunities for student. Making sense of research is also about doing your own site-specific, user-driven research as a way of sustaining school improvement, keeping vision alive, and attaining your mission.