Types of Action Research Lynn W Zimmerman Ph

Types of Action Research Lynn W Zimmerman, Ph. D

Current Types of Action Research �Traditional �Contextual �Radical �Educational

Traditional Action Research �From Lewin’s work in organizations �Field theory, group dynamics, T-groups, the Clinical Model �Conservative �Generally maintaining the status quo with regards to organizational power structures

Contextual Action Research (Action Learning) �From Trist’s work on relations between organizations �Focuses on relations between actors in a social environment �Domain-based, trying to involve all affected parties and stakeholders �Holistic as each participant understands the working of the whole �Stresses that participants are designers and coresearchers

Radical Action Research �Roots in Marxian ‘dialectical materialism’ and praxis orientation of Gramsci �Strong focus on overcoming power imbalances �Participatory Action Research �Strives for social transformation via an advocacy process to strengthen peripheral/marginal groups in society

Educational Action Research �Dewey – early 20 th century American educational philosopher �Professional educators should become involved in community problem-solving �Focus on the development of curriculum, professional development, and applying learning in a social context �University-based action researchers usually work with primary and secondary school teachers and students on community projects

Action Research Tools �Holistic approach to problem solving �Various methods �Keeping a research journal �Document collection and analysis �Participant observation recordings �Questionnaire surveys �Structured and unstructured interviews �Case studies

The Search Conference �Developed by Trist and Emery (1959) �Members of an organization identify issues �Small groups discuss the issues in depth �A composite picture is formed �The group then examines its organization against this background �They create a picture of a desirable future

Role of the Action Researcher �An outside researcher enters a group produce a mutually agreeable outcome for all participants that can be maintained by the group afterwards. �The researcher may have to adopt many different roles during the process Planner Listener Facilitator Catalyst Synthesizer Designer Evaluator Teacher Leader Learner Observer Reporter

Examples of Action Research Projects �Case Study 1: Development of nature tourism in the Windward Islands �Case Study 2: Internet-based collaborative work groups in community health �Case Study 3: Computer conferencing in a learning community