Action Research

RESEARCH IN PROFESSIONAL AND PUBLIC LIFE The Purposes and Applications of Action Research: Who does action research and why do they do it? Research: Methodical Processes of Inquiry A Basic Routine Community-Based Action Research: Participatory Approaches to Inquiry Inquiry in Use The Literature On Action Research THEORY AND PRINCIPLES OF ACTION RESEARCH Introducing the Theoretical Foundations of Action Research The Cultural Style of Action Research: Capacity Building Processes The Role of the Researcher Working Principles Relationships Communication Participation Inclusion SETTING THE STAGE: PLANNING A RESEARCH PROCESS Constructing Effective Research Plans Seeking Consensus: Constructing Meaningful Research Looking at the Lay of the Land: Preliminary Activity Establishing Contact Sampling: Identifying Stakeholding Groups Sampling: Identifying Key People Establishing a Role Agenda Stance Position Constructing a Preliminary Picture The Ethics of Action Research Rigor (Not Mortis): The Research Is Alive and Well Credibility Transferability Dependability Confirmability Sociable Research Processes Conclusion LOOK: BUILDING THE PICTURE Gaining Insight: Gathering Data Sources of Information Interviews: Guided Reflection Questions Field Notes Tape Recorders Focus Groups Participant Observation Documents, Records and Reports Surveys Reviewing the Literature: Evidence From Research Studies Measuring: Quantitative Information--How Many...? Extended Understanding: Descriptive Analysis Alternative 1: Working Ethnographically: --Collaborative Descriptive Accounts Alternative 2: Six Questions--Why, What, How, Who, Where, When Alternative 3: Community Profile Meetings: Group Processes for Collaborative Inquiry Preliminary Meetings Organizing Meetings THINK: INTERPRETING AND ANALYZING Interpretation: Clarifying Meaning Analysis and Interpretation I : Distilling the Data Categorizing and Coding (1) Analyzing Key Experiences (2) Case Example: Facilitating Workshops Identify learning tasks Analysis and Interpretation II: Enriching the Analysis Extending Understanding: Frameworks for Interpretation Alternative 1: Interpretive Questions: Why, What, How, Who, Where, When Alternative 2: Organizational Review Alternative 3: Concept Mapping Alternative 4: Problem Analysis--Antecedents and Consequences Writing Reports Collaboratively Organizing Meetings Procedures for Analysis Presentations and Performances Conclusion ACT: RESOLVING PROBLEMS--PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS From Problems To Solutions Planning Identifying Priorities For Action Action Plans Quality Check Implementing Supporting Modeling Linking Reviewing Evaluating Conclusion STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR SUSTAINABLE CHANGE AND DEVELOPMENT Managing Processes of Change and Development Strategic Planning A Unifying Vision Operational Statements: Enacting the Vision Action Plans Reviewing the Plans Political Dimensions Financial Planning Guiding the Research Process Principles in Operation Appropriate Language Making Decisions Support and Monitoring Evaluating Steps to Evaluation Celebrating FORMAL REPORTS Formal Reports, Theses, and Dissertations The Research Orientation: Assumptions of Interpretive Research Reports, Theses, and Dissertations Structure of a Report Section 1: Introduction--Focus and Framing Section 2: Review of the Literature Section 3: Methodology Introduction Methodological Assumptions: Philosophical Rationale Research Methods Rigor Limitations Ethical Issues Section 4: Research Outcomes/Findings Setting the Scene: Describing the Context Constructing Accounts: Telling People's Stories Constructing a General Account Section 5: Conclusion-Discussion of Findings Giving Voice: Alternative Report Structures UNDERSTANDING ACTION RESEARCH The Place of Theory In Action Research The Theory Behind the Practice "But It's Not Scientific": The Question of Legitimacy Power, Control, and Subordination Understanding Power and Control: Postmodern Perspectives The Next Generation: Community-Based Action Research Giving Voice: Representing People's Experience Changing Our Work and Social Practices: "Scripts" For Policies, Plans, Procedures and Behavior In the Company of Friends Reflection and Practice Appendix