Action Research Daniel Morten Ren Lars Intro About

Action Research Daniel Morten René Lars - Intro - About - Conclusion

Action Research - Introduction n System suited for Information Systems research Merges research and praxis thus producing exceedingly relevant research findings. Not popular (in North American IS research) despite it’s overwhelming acceptance in organizational development. Most popular in Northern Europe, England Australia.

Action Research - Introduction n n Involves the close collaboration of both researchers and practitioners Interests in Action Research ( and other research methods such as grounded theory and deconstruction) grew inside Information Systems research because of some inadequecy in IS research before. Such inadequecy were; n n n Lack in task and vadility in IS research IS survey research suffered from poor instruments and lack of control General lack of statistical power in IS research

Action Research - Introduction n n The need for it also came from the growing concerns of scientists in IS with the social and psychological aspects of the introduction of technology into human work place, rather than concentrating only on the technical aspects. Development of the method started after the 2 nd world war firstly by Kurt Lewin.

Blum (1955) 2 stage process n Diagnostic stage n n Involves a collaborative analysis of the social situation by the researcher and the subject of the research Therapeutic stage n Involves collaborative analysis of the social situation concerning the nature of the research domain

Susman & Evered, 1978 n Cyclical 5 phase process n n ”Ideal” formulation of action research Requires the establishment of clientsystem infrastructure Five identifiable phases are iterated Practitioner as part of a set of actors n Oriented to solution of practical problems

The Action Research Cycle 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Diagnosing Action planning Action taking Evaluating Specifying learning Diagnosing Specifying learning Action planning Clientsystem infrastructure Evaluating Action taking

Action Research n Attempts to link n n Theory and practice Thinking and doing Practical and research objectives Dealing with reality is more desirable than a representation of reality

Domain of ideal use n Understanding of complex human process (rather than a universal truth) n n Communication in ”Kitchen Stories”? Checkland: n Cycle of continuous inquiry: theory interacts with practice n If research is most focused on the techniques, then tautological…

Questions & Answers n n A Critical Perspective on Action Research as a Method for Information Systems Research - R. L. Baskerville & A. T. Wood-Harper