What Is Action Research

What is Action Research?

Action Research is about action and research! It involves a cyclical process where planning, action, observation, and critical reflection take place in turn to allow for more responsive action and thus change. Action Research involves more than just understanding something better. It is also about doing things differently, and responding to specific contexts and needs.

Action research is a family of research processes whose flexibility allows learning and responsiveness. Vague beginnings can move towards better understanding and practical improvement through the critical analysis of the information, the interpretation of it, and the methods used. (Dick. B, 2000)[1]

Action Research is about researching alongside the participants rather than doing research on them (Quixley, 1997)

Key elements of Action Research[2]

Cyclical and evolving

Each Action Research cycle may be short – maybe just a few hours, days or weeks. There can be cycles within cycles. Over time, a particular piece of action research may evolve into something quite different from its start.

Each stage of the cycle is rigorous

The cycle doesn’t just happen. Accepted and appropriate methods of acting, observing, reflecting and planning are used in each cycle.

It is critical

Successful action research is based around shared curiosity not individual certainty. People are expected to put their practices, ideas, and assumptions to the test by gathering evidence that could convince them that those practices, ideas and assumptions may be wrong.

It tends to be collaborative

There is no distinction made between those involved in the “action” and those involved in the “research”. Everyone can be involved in both. The aim is to establish self-critical groups or communities participating in all stages of the cycle.

It often starts with an engaging question

Since action research is both action and research oriented, the inquiry starts best with an initial question that is action oriented. Those involved in a particular piece of action research will have many different perspectives and expectations. In order to engage them, this starting question needs to reflect some common ground between all those perspectives and expectations

It is qualitative

Action Research s more interested in capturing stories of change, than statistics

The Action Research cycle

Action research involves multiple cycles of planning, acting, observing / gathering evidence, and critical reflection, and can also be depicted as an evolving spiral.

Where is Action Research used? / Useful?

Action Research is about a group of people deciding to investigate a problem, situation, activity or process together with the aim of improving understanding and creating positive change. It works well when piloting a new activity or one where you want to try something different. Action Research evaluation uses action research principles to evaluate projects as the go along instead of just at the end. Action Research that involves community participant in the process is frequently called Participatory Action Research. ‘Good’ Action Research involves / may involve

· Responsiveness – to the situation, the community within which the action research is happening, and to the growing understanding of the participants.

· Learning by doing

· Critical reflection

· Continuous improvement

· Empowerment and change

· Participation and collaboration

· multiple and flexible methods including

· understanding of the local situation

· ‘fuzzy beginnings’ but progresses towards appropriate and more responsive endings

More Action Research resources

Dick, B. (2000) A beginner's guide to action research [On line]. Available at
http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/gcm/ar/arp/guide.html

FaHCSIA (2000) Reconnect Action Research Kit. Practical examples and tools for applying Action Research, as well as to services about other resources that can help them to incorporate Action Research as part of their work practices http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/housing/pubs/homelessyouth/reconnect_action_research_kit/Pages/default.aspx

Leinert, T. (2002) Why Use Action Research? Stronger Families Learning Exchange Bulletin No.1 Autumn 2002 pp.4-5 http://www.aifs.gov.au/sf/pubs/bull1/tl.html

Quixley, S. (1997), The Action Research Resource Kit, FaCS, Canberra.

[1] See http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/gcm/ar/arp/guide.html