Theories of Science 5. Action-oriented Research

Action oriented research Also known as advocacy, or partisan research advocacy, or partisan research research for social change research for social change participatory appraisal, or assessment participatory appraisal, or assessment collaborative, or dialogue research collaborative, or dialogue research organizational learning organizational learning

Elements of Action Oriented Research personal engagement in what is studied personal engagement in what is studied narrative forms of presentation narrative forms of presentation reflective ambition reflective ambition giving voice, making visible, opening spaces giving voice, making visible, opening spaces ”conscientization” (Friere) ”conscientization” (Friere)

Roots in Pragmatism American theory of knowledge American theory of knowledge founded by Peirce, James, Dewey founded by Peirce, James, Dewey grew out of ”progressive” movement grew out of ”progressive” movement truth based in practice (justification) truth based in practice (justification) science as problem solving (discovery) science as problem solving (discovery)

Phronesis Aristotle’s third form of knowledge: beyond the theoretical and the practical Aristotle’s third form of knowledge: beyond the theoretical and the practical a kind of ethical wisdom a kind of ethical wisdom expertise in making judgments expertise in making judgments knowledge situated or localized knowledge situated or localized

Action research outgrowth of labor movement: outgrowth of labor movement: ”old social movements” related to social reform in cities related to social reform in cities neighborhood, or factory focus neighborhood, or factory focus science as empowerment science as empowerment

Technology assessment outgrowth of student revolts, critiques of ”big science” and Vietnam War outgrowth of student revolts, critiques of ”big science” and Vietnam War focus on social and environmental consequences of technology focus on social and environmental consequences of technology US Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) played paradigmatic role US Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) played paradigmatic role

Proactive TA and EIA European appropriations in 1980s, influenced by nuclear energy debates European appropriations in 1980s, influenced by nuclear energy debates citizen-expert communication, or ”communicative rationality” (Habermas) citizen-expert communication, or ”communicative rationality” (Habermas) consensus conference model consensus conference model

Participatory rural appraisal a form of development research a form of development research focus on competence building focus on competence building emphasis on dialogue methods emphasis on dialogue methods ”putting people first” (Chambers) ”putting people first” (Chambers)

Degrees of involvement partisanship, identification: ”taking sides” partisanship, identification: ”taking sides” participation, critical friendship: ”helping out” participation, critical friendship: ”helping out” professional detachment, academic distance: ”giving advice” professional detachment, academic distance: ”giving advice”

Varieties of case study microcosm approach: the case as a world of its own microcosm approach: the case as a world of its own comparative approach: the case as representative of a broader pattern comparative approach: the case as representative of a broader pattern exemplary approach: the case as a ”good example” or ”best practice” exemplary approach: the case as a ”good example” or ”best practice”

Types of processes studied ongoing processes: research as intervention, or interactive assessment ongoing processes: research as intervention, or interactive assessment finished processes: research as evaluation, or reactive assessment finished processes: research as evaluation, or reactive assessment future processes: research as forecasting, or foresighting future processes: research as forecasting, or foresighting

The Researcher’s Role ”fly on the wall” ”fly on the wall” ”spider in the web” ”spider in the web” ”queen bee in the honeycomb” ”queen bee in the honeycomb”

”Fly on the wall” traditional academic ideal traditional academic ideal researcher as participatory observer researcher as participatory observer neutral, objective role neutral, objective role ”deconstructive” story-telling ”deconstructive” story-telling scientific narrative approach scientific narrative approach

”Spider in the web” pragmatic, democratic ideal pragmatic, democratic ideal researcher as facilitator researcher as facilitator normative, partisan role normative, partisan role ”constructive” story-telling ”constructive” story-telling dramaturgical narrative approach dramaturgical narrative approach

”Queen bee in the honeycomb” managerial, leadership ideal managerial, leadership ideal researcher as catalyst, or change agent researcher as catalyst, or change agent expert consultant, advisory role expert consultant, advisory role ”reconstructive” story-telling ”reconstructive” story-telling evaluative narrative approach evaluative narrative approach