Introduction to Educational Research

Craig A. Mertler is currently an Associate Professor at Arizona State University. He began his career as a high school biology teacher. He has been an educator for 32 years--22 of those in higher education at Bowling Green State University, the University of West Georgia, Lynn University, and Arizona State University, and nine years as an administrator (department chair, doctoral program director, and education dean). Over his career, he has taught courses focused on the application of action research to promote educator empowerment, school improvement, and job-embedded professional development, as well as classroom assessment, research methods, and statistical analyses. He has served as the research methodology expert on more than 100 doctoral dissertations and master's theses. He is the author of 23 books, 8 invited book chapters, and 20 refereed journal articles. He has also presented more than 35 research papers at professional meetings around the country, as well as internationally. He conducts workshops for in-service educational professionals (at all levels) on classroom-based action research and on the topics of classroom assessment and assessment literacy, as well as data-driven educational decision making. His primary research and consulting interests include classroom-based action research, data-driven educational decision making, professional learning communities, and classroom teachers' assessment literacy. In his leisure time, he enjoys playing golf and traveling with his family. Dr. Mertler can be reached at craig.mertler@gmail.com for consulting, professional development, and speaking engagements. Additionally, you can visit his website at www.craigmertler.com