“A model for enacting local, action- oriented approaches of investigating” Readings: Berg Ch. 7 and “Action Research Cases 1” from What is Action Research (Greenwood and Levin) Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 PARTICIPATORY-ACTION RESEARCH

Action Research Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Research Framework  Produce useful knowledge through research, education, and sociopolitical action  Enlighten and empower the average person in a group

Methods of Action Research Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Be systematic Don’t start with an answer Be well-organized and concise Provide adequate planning Projects vary in length Use regular observations Create a simple to detailed continuum May be grounded in theory No quantitative requirement Results are limited

The Basics of Action Research Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Looking  Gathering information, identifying stakeholders Thinking  Making interpretations, analyzing collected data Action  Application of results to improve lives of stakeholders

Procedure for Action Research Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009 Indentifying the research questions Gathering the information to answer the questions Analyzing and interpreting the information Sharing the results with the participants

Guiding Questions of Analysis Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009 Why?  Establishes a general focus for the investigator and stakeholders What and How?  Help to establish the problem issues Who, Where, and When?  Specific actors, events, and activities

The Action Researcher’s Role Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Holistic  Collaboration with local practitioners  Collaboration with local stakeholders

Types of Action Research Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Technical/Scientific/Collaborative  Testing interventions based on a theoretical framework  Researcher collaborates with practitioner  Practitioner facilitates implementation

Types of Action Research Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Practical/Mutual Collaborative/Deliberate  Researcher and practitioner collaboration Mutual identification of problems, causes, and interventions  Empowering and emancipating stakeholders

Types of Action Research Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Emancipating or Empowering/Enhancing/Critical Science  Apply theory and book knowledge to the real world  Raise collective consciousness of practitioners  Promote change

Photovoice Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Subjects photograph certain aspects of their lives  Empower and enable reflection  Encourage dialogue and knowledge transfer  Share perceptions of those not in control with those in control

Methods of Photovoice Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Selecting Photographs  Which photographs most accurately reflect the issues? Contextualizing Stories  Offer accounts about photographs Codifying  Identify central issues, themes or theories

Stongfjorden Aim: To support local community development How was renewed development achieved? Was the project completely successful? How did the researchers’ roles shift during the process? What ethical issues arose? What, in your opinion, could have been done differently?

Mondragón Aim: To help resolve organizational problems What was the initial conflict between the research team and the organization? Could this (above) be a common problem? How does this relate to the ethical issue faced by the researchers in Stonfjorden? What organizational problems needed to be overcome in Mondragón? How did helping the Fagor Group improve their “internal research capacity” lead to an ultimate understanding of the organizational problems?

Berg’s Action Framework Taxonomy Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2010 Includes:  Experience Collaboration, observation, sharing  Enquiry Methods of asking questions  Examining Reviewing and using collected information Can you identify the above features in the research performed at Stongfjorden and Mondragón?