Willfred Carr 2008

There is two problems with action research;

the first is ACTION and the second is RESEARCH

Scientific ResearchAction

Research

Uneasy Bedfellows I

Scientific Research

Action Research

Uneasy bedfellows II

Another arena, another kind of rules

Critical educational researcher

Action Research asprofessional

dancing

two becoming one

Sisters are circling for themselves

near/close – at a distanceprivate/individual – public/general

subjective - objectiveaction – prerequisites/consequencesactor/subject – object to be observed

everyday actions - experimentsqualitative – quantitative

to understand – to explainculture – structure

contextuality - generalizationsexplorative – verifying/confirmingInductive– abductive – deductive

Polyphony – The Truth

EITHER - OR

near/close – at a distanceprivate/individual – public/general

subjective - objectiveaction – prerequisites/consequencesactor/subject – object to be observed

everyday actions - experimentsqualitative – quantitative

to understand – to explainculture – structure

contextuality - generalizationsexplorative – verifying/confirmingInductive– abductive – deductive

Polyphony – The Truth

BOTH AND

knowledge-in/on-action, reflection-in/on-action tacit knowledge

New knowledgeChange of praxis

ExaminationTrustworthiness

FormCommunication

RelevanceRelevance

AutonomyIntegrity

AnalysisReflection

An empirical fieldLife experiences

InquiryInquiry culture

PerspectiveCritical approach

TheoryTheory-praxis

MethodEmpowerment

EthicsSolidarity

ScienceAction research

Praxis-related research: Serving two masters?Requirements of academic report and aspects of praxis-related research

Mattsson & Kemmis 2007

ACTION RESEARCH is a form of collective self-reflective inquiry undertaken by participants in social situations in order to improve the rationality and justice of their own social or educational practices, as well as their understanding of those practices and the situations in which the practices are carried out.

The approach is only action research when it is collaborative, though it is important to realise that action research of the group is achieved through the critically examined action of individual group members.

Kemmis and McTaggart 1988, 5-6

ACTION RESEARCH can only be made intelligible as a mode of inquiry that aspires to create and nurture dialogical communities [ .. ] form of inquiry that recognized that practical knowledge and understanding can only be developed and advanced by practitioners engaging in the kind of dialogue and conversation through which the tradition-embedded nature of the assumptions in their practice can be made explicit and their collective understanding of praxis can be transformed.

Carr 2006, 433

ACTION RESEARCHParticipatory, democratic process concerned with developing practical knowing in the pursuit of worthwhile human purposes, grounded in a participatory worldview which we believe is emerging at this historical moment. It seeks to bring together action and reflection, theory and practice, in participation with others, in the pursuit of practical solutions to issues of pressing concern to people, and more generally the flourishing of individual persons and their communities.

Reason & Bradbury 2006, 1

.. refers to a practical way of looking at your own work to check that it is as you would like it to be. Because action research is done by you, the practitioner, it is often referred to as practitioner based research; and because it involves you thinking about and reflecting on your work, it can also be called a form of self-reflective practice. The idea of self reflection is central. In traditional forms of research – empirical research – researchers do research on other people. In action research, researchers do research on themselves. Empirical researchers enquire into other people’s lives. Action researchers enquire into their own.

McNiff 2002

ACTION RESEARCH

ACTION RESEARCH

Karin Rönnerman (2004, 13) Practice/action as a basis/starting pointThe researcher & the practitioner in collaborationResearch aiming at change

Arja Kuula (1999, 10) Problembased and oriented towards practiceThe involvement of those to be ”researched” Research oriented towards change

‘Action research is not a ‘method’ or a ‘procedure’ for research but a series of commitments to observe and problematize through practice a series of principles for conducting social enquiry’.

The notion of a spiral may be a useful teaching device – but it is all too easily to slip into using it as the template for practice McTaggart 1996, 249

Action research express explicitly both the aim and the method. It is about changing peoples ways of thinking and acting or changing the social and material conditions. Tiller 1999, 53

RESEARCH LEARNING

ACTI

ON ACTIO

N

Intentional, continuous collegial process of

learning and reflection in order to improve actions and affect the contexts of

the actions

Systematic, analytical and pragmatic inquiry with the members of a community or organization in order to

improve actions and affect the contexts of the

actions

Critical distance engaged immediacy

Easy bedfellows

ACTION RESEARCHcollaborative

participatory

inquiry

science

Co-operative inquiry

Communicative research

Community adult education

Popular education

Folk enlightenment Study circles Research circles

Self-reflectice inquiry

Community work/development

learning

Community-basedEmancipatoryCriticalPractical

Teacher research Classroom research Teacher-as-researcher

Social work

Praxis-related/close research

Social movements

interactive

FOLK ENLIGHTENMENT – STUDY CIRCLESTHE ENLIGHTENING DISPORTS

(knowlegde + experience, engagement, affection)

SOCIOCULTURAL, -CONSTRUCTIVIST, -COGNITIVE

configuration of learning and knowlegde

Liberte, equalite, fraternite!

BILDUNGA humanist conception and construction of human being(s)

Growing as a human being Becoming a citizen Developing as an engaged worker

Folk enlightenment

Study circlesCollaborative knowledge

construction for social change

Welfare stateDemocracy, generality, equality, accessability,

Civil societyparticipation, engagement, networks, associations

Collaborative, experiential, informal learningdeliberation – communication - action

Research circlesCollaboration and partnerships between

researchers and practitioners

Working lifelabour unions, social work

Participatory Action Research

University

AR encompassing the personal, the political and the professional

Critical-emancipatory/Practical Theoretical perspective Technical perspective

ACTION RESEARCHAs human development, as adult learning

Systematic and conscious deliberative negotiations about what it means to be

a human being and finding out meaningsful ways of becoming more

human in a certain social practice.