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Action Research

Action Research. IS 280 October 22, 2008 Dr. Richardson By Morgan Kroll. What is Action Research?. “a collaborative approach to inquiry or investigation that provides people with the means to take systematic action to resolve specific problems” (Stringer, 1999)

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Action Research

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  1. Action Research IS 280 October 22, 2008 Dr. Richardson By Morgan Kroll

  2. What is Action Research? • “a collaborative approach to inquiry or investigation that provides people with the means to take systematic action to resolve specific problems” (Stringer, 1999) • “participative organizational research, focused on problem definition and resolution, which involves (usually) an external researcher who works with organizational members to arrive at workable solutions to their problems within the framework of some theoretical perspective” – (Wilson, 2003) • direct impact on the immediate workplace, pragmatic, flexible, and adaptive • A combination of theory and practice or the “mediating discourse” between the two (Curry, 2005)

  3. Origins of Action Research • Kurt Lewin (1890-1947) – social psychologist studying group dynamics and field theory • Democratic methodology useful for studying underrepresented communities – striving for equality/justice Common Criticisms of Action Research: • No external or internal validity • Findings are context specific • Lack of impartiality by researchers and dual role of researcher/participant

  4. Checkland and Holwell (1997)

  5. Research Areas in LIS • Role of schools in information literacy (Barrett and Danks 2003) • Distance learning (Knop and Lamaster 2004) • Collection management in a school library (Greenan 2002) Ann Curry’s examples of action research (2005): • “Can we evaluate the reference services to LBGTQ and international students in Vancouver?” • “What do teenagers want their public library to be like?” • “Can the academic library be closed at 9pm instead of 10pm?” • “What do patrons like or dislike about library building architecture?”

  6. References & Resources Emerging Technologies – global resources: http://www.emtech.net/actionresearch.htm UCLA Institute for Social Science Research http://www.issr.ucla.edu/research Wikipedia: ://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_research “Action Research Made Simple” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg83f72_6Gw “Regina Community Plan on Homelessness” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvTZ3kklAAw Social Action Research Behind Queens of Heart: Community Therapists in Drag: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0RoPHLri2M

  7. Resources cont. Baskerville, Richard, and Wood-Harper, A. Trevor. 1996. “A critical perspective on action research as a method for information systems research.” Journal of Information Technology 11: 235-246. Blum, Fred H. 1955. “Action research – a scientific approach?” Philosophy of Science 22 (1) 1-7. Borda, Orlando Fals. 2001. “Participatory (action) research in social theory: origins and challenges.” Chapter in Handbook of Action Research: Participative Inquiry and Practice. Edited by Peter Reason and Hilary Bradbury. London: Sage Publications, 27-37. Checkland, Peter and Sue Holwell. 1998. “Action research: Its nature and validity.” Systemic Practice and Action Research, 11 (1), 9-21. Curry, Ann. 2005. Action research in action: involving students and professionals. World Library and Information Congress: 71stIFLA General Conference and Council. Gustavsen, Bjorn. 2001. “Theory and practice: the mediating discourse.” Chapter in Handbook of Action Research: Participative Inquiry and Practice. Edited by Peter Reason and Hilary Bradbury. London: Sage Publications, 17-26. Stringer, Ernest. 1999. Action Research. 2nd ed. London: Sage Publications.

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