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What is action research?

Session 1

Gisela Cebrián Bernat

Workshop on Action Research, Science and Technology for Sustainability

Content

• (^) Paradigms of social research –

Positivist, interpretive and critical theory

• (^) Action research –
  • DefinitionsMethodological principles
  • (^) Essential features
• (^) Small group activity
• (^) An example

Positivist

Paradigms of social research (Cohen, Manion and Morrison, 2011)

Postivist paradigm

Natural science^ Natural science basis basis GeneralisationGeneralisation ObjectivityObjectivity

explanationsTestable

/prediction

explanations^ Testable

/prediction Law based – cause^ Law based – cause^ and effect^ and effect^ CausalityCausality

manipulation^ manipulationControl,^ Control, Quantification,^ Quantification, large scale^ large scale^ obtained through observation andKnowledge

measurement

obtained through^ Knowledge

observation and measurement

possible to observe social life and establishIt is based on the assumption that it is reliable, valid knowledge about how it works

emphasis on superficial facts without any^ It is argued that it encourages misleading attention to underlying mechanisms that cannot be observed

possible to observe social life and establish^ It is based on the assumption that it is reliable, valid knowledge about how it works

emphasis on superficial facts without any^ It is argued that it encourages misleading attention to underlying mechanisms that cannot be observed

Positivist methods

Experiments^ Experiments

Tests^ Tests

Surveys^ Surveys

InterpretiveInterpretive

Paradigms of social research (Cohen, Manion and Morrison, 2011)

Identify topicIdentify topic Literature review^ Literature review Research design^ Research design Data collection^ Data collection Data analysis^ Data analysis Elaboration of^ Elaboration of concepts and concepts and theories theories

Report of findings^ Report of findings

Interpretive

Ethnographic

design

Interpretive

Ethnographic

design

Naturalistic methods

Ethnography^ Ethnography

documents^ documentsNarratives,^ Narratives,

descriptions^ descriptionsThick^ Thick^ ObservationObservation

Interviews^ Interviews

Critical theory paradigm

Ideology^ Ideology critique critique FeministFeminist (^) research researchPoliticalPolitical

research^ researchAction^ Action Equality and^ Equality and freedom^ freedom^ EmancipationEmancipation

relations^ relationsPower^ Power^ Social justiceSocial justice

Ideology critique

• critical theory

Describe existing situation^ Describe existing situation

Understand the reasons for existing situation^ Understand the reasons for existing situation

Interrogate/challenge legitimacy of reasons for / causes of existing situation (political, cultural,

social, economic, etc.)

Interrogate/challenge legitimacy of reasons for / causes of existing situation (political, cultural,

social, economic, etc.)

Set an agenda to improve the existing situation^ Set an agenda to improve the existing situation

Key steps

• (^) Research focus – research question
• (^) Decide on – position yourself –
  • Research paradigmHow do you understand knowledge?
  • – (^) How knowledge is created?

What methodological approach can help you answer you research questions?

Action research… any suggestions?

• (^) …
• (^) …
• (^) …

Wallace, 1987

“Action research combines a problem-solving approach towards action with the rigour of research.”

Edwards & Talbot, 1994

“Practitioner research can only be designated action research if it is actively carried out by professionals who are engaged in researching, through structured self- reflection, aspects of their own practice as they engage in that practice.”