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Action research
comprises a family of research methodologies which aim to pursue
action and research outcomes at the same time (PAR, action learning,
soft systems methodology, etc.). It therefore has some components
which resemble consultancy or change agency, and some which resemble
field research. The focus is action to improve a situation and the
research is the conscious effort, as part of the process, to formulate
public knowledge that adds to theories of action that promote or
inhibit learning in behavioural systems. In this sense the participatory
action researcher is a practitioner, an interventionist seeking
to help improve client systems. However, lasting improvement requires
that the participatory action researcher help clients to change
themselves so that their interactions will create these conditions
for inquiry and learning”. Hence to the aims of contributing
to the practical improvement of problem situations and to the goals
of developing public knowledge we can add a third aim of participatory
action research, to develop the self -help competencies of people
facing problems.
The principles
of action research can be seen to underpin the development and improvement
of practice in all the fields of inquiry within this site. The concept
of “learning by doing” in which learning is perceived
as experiential and reflexive (see ../change &
learning/) is fundamental to this approach. It recognises that
people learn through the active adaptation of their existing knowledge
in response to their experiences with other people and their environment.
Moreover, the process of building on experience is a natural one
for most people and action research provides a framework for formalising
and making this process more effective. By making explicit and documenting
the processes by which individuals carry out their activities and
problem solving processes allows for the fine tuning and improvement
of these processes. And while action research is inherently a collaborative
approach, it is also useful as an approach to one's individual work.
- The role
of action research in environmental management In this paper
Will Allen outlines the underlying concepts of action research
in more detail. Some differences between action research and
mainstream science are then explained, particularly to justify
its use as an appropriate methodology to address social and
institutional issues related to improving environmental management.
Some more practical details of practising action research are
then discussed. Finally the process of critical reflection in
action research is highlighted, and an illustration of how it's
use in practice can help in getting people to think more deeply
about the use of environmental practices is outlined.
The following links
provide access to a number of sites which contain quite substantive
information on action research and its practice.
- Action Research International a refereed on-line journal
of action research. See Paper 1: Pam Swepson (1998): Separating the ideals of research from the methodology of
research, either action research or science, can lead to better
research; and Paper 2: Yoland Wadsworth (1998) What is Participatory Action Research?
- Action
Research Resources This recently updated site by Bob Dick
provides comprehensive links and material to key action research,
action learning and related resources. This site also acts as
home to Areol, action research and evaluation on line, which
is a set of on-line learning sessions provided (as a 15-week
public on-line course offered each semester) as a public service
by Southern Cross University and the Institute of Workplace
Research Learning and Development.
- PARnet
A major web resource for students, faculty, and other practitioners
involved in social research for social change. This site has
recently been redesigned to encourage the sharing of information
(available literature, new tools, web resources) among practicioners.
- Action
Research Electronic Reader (AROW) site at the University
of Sydney. Home to a number of on-line action research learning
resources including a reading list, links to recent publications,
the Action Research Electronic Reader, and links to other resources
on the Web.
Action Research Resources A comprehensive collection
of on-line papers and other resources hosted by the Denver campus
of the University of Colorado
- Organizational Development and Action Science The aim
of this site from the Action Science Network is to accurately
describe and efficiently demonstrate the theory and practice
of Action Science, a strategy of organizational development
-- defined and vigorously advanced primarily by Dr. Chris Argyris
over the past 50 years. (In the field of Organizational Development,
Action Science is also known as Action Inquiry, Action Research,
and Organizational Learning.) The Network also maintains a comprehensive
bibliography of books and articles by Chris Argyris.
Useful papers on
the history and application of action research include:
- A Set of Principles for Conducting and Evaluating Interpretive
Field Studies in Information Systems This paper by Heinz
K. Klein and Michael D. Myers discusses the conduct and evaluation
of interpretive research in information systems. While the conventions
for evaluating information systems case studies conducted according
to the natural science model of social science are now widely
accepted, this is not the case for interpretive field studies.
A set of principles for the conduct and evaluation of interpretive
field research in information systems is proposed, along with
their philosophical rationale. The intention of the paper is
to further reflection and debate on the important subject of
grounding interpretive research methodology.
Action research
is becoming increasingly popular as a methodology for student projects.
Sites with practical tips on how best to conduct and write up a successful
action research project include:
Some useful links
on other social research resources and methodological approaches include:
- QUALPAGE Judy Norris' guide to on-line resource for qualitative
researchers.
- Knowledge Base Home Page an online hypertext textbook
on applied social research methods that covers everything you
want to know about defining a research question, sampling, measurement,
research design and data analysis.
- Qualitative Research in Information Systems This site
aims to provide qualitative researchers in IS - and those wanting
to know how to do qualitative research - with useful information
on the conduct, evaluation and publication of qualitative research.
Qualitative researchers can be found in many disciplines and
fields, using a variety of approaches, methods and techniques.
In Information Systems, there has been a general shift in IS
research away from technological to managerial and organizational
issues, hence an increasing interest in the application of qualitative
research methods.
- Summary Notes of Writing for Social Scientists: How to Start
and Finish Your Thesis, Book, or Article A thought provoking
piece that reflects upon the essence and the philosophy of writing,
and the fears, anxieties, joys and frustrations involved in
the process, in a down to earth tone.
- How to do research Aimed at post-graduate students who
may have no formal training in the processes of research. The
objectives of this material are to allow new researchers to
immediately increase their knowledge of the research processes
and get started on their projects sooner.
Discussion groups,
on-line journals and bibliographies can be accessed from:
- action
research list
- References on Action Research Part of the ISWORLD network.
After a brief introduction which suggests those works which
are essential reading for newcomers to the field, the list is
organized into two parts: the first part lists some important
citations related to the approach in other disciplines (including
the source disciplines), the second lists citations related
to the approach in Information Systems.
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