Ethical Issues in Literacy Research

Literacy educators and researchers at all stages of their careers face ethical issues whenever they embark on research studies. In this book experienced literacy researchers identify and address multi-faceted, multi-dimensional ethical issues related to conducting studies in school, home, community, and virtual settings and share actions taken when faced with ethical dilemmas in their own investigations. Each chapter addresses a specific literacy research ethical issue. Part I focuses on conducting research in settings such as schools or literacy clinics. Part Two addresses research with pre-service teachers in college/university and school settings. Part Three looks at research in virtual worlds and online environments. Pedagogical features in each chapter engage readers in making connections between what they are reading and their own teaching and learning situations: A vignette to help readers understand the issue; pre-reading questions ; background information drawn from current research literature; suggested engagement activities; chapter summary. Additional resources (PowerPoint Presentations; Case Studies; Website Links; Interactive "Ask the Researcher Websites/Blogs/Tweets") are available on a website linked to the book: www.LiteracyResearchEthics.com

Carole S. Rhodes, Ph.D., a professor of Literacy Education at Queens College, City University of New York, has won numerous awards and grants for her teaching and research to promote the literacy of children and adolescents. A consultant to many school districts, she works with students, their parents, teachers and administrators to design curriculum and implement strategies for reading success. Her "reality based, humorous and highly informative" workshops result in her being much sought after as a speaker by teachers, and administrators who recognize and value the experience she brings as a classroom teacher and researcher. Carole serves on the Advisory Board of Sunrise Day Camp for children with cancer. Dr. Kenneth J. Weiss is Professor Emeritus of Reading and Language Arts, in the School of Education and Professional Studies at Central State University in New Britain, Connecticut, teaching both undergraduate and graduate level reading education courses. Ken is a frequent presenter at international, regional, state and local professional conferences. Ken serves as a member of the Board of Examiners of NCATE and served as a former president and conference chair for the Connecticut Reading Association. Ken's research interests center around the use technology as it relates to 21st century learners as well as in areas of children's literature and content area reading instruction.

ForewordP. David PearsonPrefaceChapter 1 - IntroductionCarole S. Rhodes and Kenneth J. Weiss PART I - Research with Teachers and Students Chapter 2 - Becoming Answerable to our Participants: A Methodological Essay on Life HistoryAmy Johnson Lachuk and Mary Louise Gomez Chapter 3 - Victims or Free Agents? Constructing Ethical Representations of At Risk YouthHeidi L. Hallman Chapter 4 - You Don't Have to Tell Anybody About It; You Just Write it Down: The Dilemma of Using Secrets as Data in Research Involving At Risk Adolescent Girls' Writing PracticesMellinee Lesley Chapter 5 - Ethical Issues in Conducting Research with Bilingual/Dual Language LearnersCynthia B. Leung and Alejandro E. Brice Chapter 6 - Assessment for Research Among Deaf and Hard of Hearing StudentsRachael Gabriel and Hannah Dostal ?PART II: Research with Preservice and In-service Teachers in College/University and School Settings Chapter 7 - What Happens to the Teachers and Students Who Fail: The Ethics of Proving the Effectiveness of an Academic InterventionRichard M. Oldrieve Chapter 8 - Yes, I Take It Personally: Examining the Unexplained Life of a Literacy EthnographerStacie L. Tate x?Chapter 9 - Caring for Whom? Ethical Dilemmas in Doing Research on and With Teachers in SchoolsNancy Flanagan Knapp ?PART III: Research in Virtual Worlds and Online Environments Chapter 10 - I Tweet, I Blog, I Post Responses Online, I Text Message, All for Class: Issues of Ethics When Dealing with University Students Who Use New Technologies as Part of Literacy Course RequirementsKenneth J. Weiss Chapter 11 - I Want What I Want When I Want It: Ethical Issues of Teaching and Research in Online ClassesCarole S. Rhodes Chapter 12 - Ethical Issues in Second Life: Do They Matter? Carol J. Delaney and Barbara Guzzetti Chapter 13 - Anonymity and Confidentiality in the Conduct of Online Surveys Cynthia B. Leung and Zafer Unal List of Contributors