The book is designed to enable readers to become intelligent consumers of educational research in order to help create effective and accountable learning environments. Written in a very clear and user-friendly style, this book focuses on understanding the intent of the researcher, the procedures, and the results so that readers can use appropriate research findings to inform school change. The author emphasizes how responses to the accountability movement in schools can be focused around using and understanding scientific inquiry.nbsp;The book balances quantititive and qualitative research methodology and discusses action research and mixed methods in detail. Readers are shown how to analyze and evaluate the research, and judge the usefulness of the findings for educational practice.nbsp; In addition, readers are shown how this knowledge can translate to classroom practice.