Social Action Research History of Kurt Lewin and

Social Action Research History of Kurt Lewin and an analysis of a qualitative exploratory study Presented by Adele Dobry 15 October 2009

Overview Who was Kurt Lewin and why are his theories important? What is action research? Analysis of a qualitative exploratory study of information literacy in the workplace

Kurt Lewin (1890 -1947) Born in Prussia (now Poland) From a Jewish family Concerned with equality and democracy Taught psychology and philosophy University of Iowa 1935 (Smith 2001)

Lewin’s Research Interests Influenced by the war Social processes Minorities Inter-group relations Field theory (Lewin 1951, 188 -190) (Smith 2001)

Influence of Ernst Cassirer Cassier’s Philosophy of Science and the Social Sciences (1949) What is considered “unscientific” or “illogical” is important for progress Quantitative versus qualitative (Lewin 1951, xv-30)

Theoretical and Applied Social Psychology Importance of group problems Experimenter does not determine policy, but rather investigate and secure data Data is important for policy determination (Lewin 1951, 68)

Changes in Group Dynamics Applied to modern culture Experiment outside the lab Integrate social science Focus on problems of group life instead of description of group New techniques of social research (Lewin 1951, 188)

Social Action Research Social management Research of social action Effects of social action Research that leads to social action Collecting data just to collect data is not enough Create change (Smith 2001)

Spiral of Steps Identify idea Find information Plan First action phase Evaluate Adjust plan if needed Second action phase (Smith 2001)

Information Literacy in the Workplace A Qualitative Exploratory Study Scottish Information Literacy Project Adult Literacies Interview based Need for information literacy training programs through the public library (Crawford et al. 2009)

Pedagogic Theory Lave and Wenger Community of practice Social dimension Social interaction (Crawford et al. 2009)

Eleven ways to learn in the workplace (Gerber) 1. Learn from mistakes 2. Self education 3. Personal values 4. Theory and skill 5. Problem solving 6. Interaction 7. Planning 8. Advocate

Ways to learn in the workplace, continued 9. Leadership 10. Training 11. Practice (Crawford et al. 2009)

Implications of theories Social learning and information literacy Pedagogic authorities Professional qualifications a factor Training programs can be important Multiple Learner Model Changing nature of work from manual to literate (Crawford et al. 2009)

The Research Interviews with Adult Literacy trainers Interviews with Tribunal Services staff Interviews with Scottish Government Civil Service Staff Interviews with social work/health staff (Crawford et al. 2009)

Discussion Pedagogical implications People learn together in the workplace through social interaction Need for information literacy Knowledge management systems Role of the public library (Crawford et al. 2009)

Conclusions Traditional view of information and people as a source of information Human relationships important Information Literacy training opportunities Change public library image Skills audits (Crawford et al. 2009)

Recommendations Contact chamber of commerce Information policy Assess staff information literacy skills Viability of developing IL programmes Private sector should be researched further Provision of IL programmes by public libraries Developmental work with Adult Literacy agencies

Recommendations continued Further research is planned Health literacy Develop or utilize existing IL training programs (Crawford et al. 2009)

Bibliography Crawford, John, and Christine Irving. “Information Literacy in the Workplace: A qualitative Exploratory Study. ” Journal of Librarianship and Information Science 41, no. 1(March 2009), http: //lis. sagepub. com. Lewin, Kurt. Field Theory in Social Science Selected Theoretical Papers. Edited by Dorwin Cartwright. New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1951. Smith, Mark K. “ Kurt Lewin: groups, experimental learning, and action research. ” Infed. http: //www. infed. org/thinkers/et-lewin. htm (accessed October 13, 2009).