Action and Case Research in Management and Organizational Contexts

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Learning Objectives • To understand the nature of action research; • To sample the different styles of action research; • To identify the differences of action research from other methods. 2

What is distinctive about Action Research (AR) • It is interventionist – it seeks to change the situation under investigation (for the better); • It has a distinctive world view; • It is collaborative – investigation

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Characteristics of Action Research • Participation and democracy • Human Flourishing • Deals with practical issues • Deploys knowledge-in-action

Bradbury and Reason (2001), page 2.

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Dimensions of a participatory world view • Meaning and purpose are important • Practical being and acting are fundamental • Extended epistemology • Relational ecological form

Bradbury and Reason (2001), page 7.

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Extended epistemology An epistemology is a way of knowing, Bradbury and Reason talk about four distinct ways of knowing: • Experiential knowing (via face to face experience); • Presentational knowing (through articulation or expression of experiential knowing to others); • Propositional knowing (through concepts and ideas); • Practical knowing (through action).

Bradbury and Reason (2001), page 9.

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Relational ecological form The ecology of human life is about relationships and the rights of all to participate; – Politically democratic and inclusive; – Researchers and the subjects of research are treated as co enquirers; – The powerful and influential are not privileged in terms of knowledge or right to speak; – There is a respectful relationship to the planet

Bradbury and Reason (2001), page 10.

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Validity and quality in inquiry in Action Research Questions about significance Questions of outcome and practice Questions about plural ways of knowing Questions of relational practice

Bradbury and Reason (2001), page 12.

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Validity and Quality Factors Does the research lead to questions about emergence and enduring consequences? Such as: – Pragmatic issues such as: What are the outcomes of research, does it work, what are the processes of inquiry, are they authentic/life enhancing?

– Does it use the extended epistemology?

– Does it recognise plural ways of knowing?

– Does it deal with questions of relational practice, i.e. Have the values of democracy been actualised in practice?

– Does the work have significance, i.e. Was it worthwhile, have values been actualised?

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Varieties of Action Research • Participatory action research; • Collaborative inquiry; • Action Science; • Appreciative Inquiry; • Many others.

• We will view a number of these later

Bradbury and Reason (2001).

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References

Bradbury and Reason (a), (2001), Introduction, in Bradbury and Reason, (eds), (2001), “Handbook of Action Research”. London: Sage.

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