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Action and Case Research in Management and Organizational

Contexts

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Learning Objectives

• To understand the nature of action research;• To sample the different styles of action research;• To identify the differences of action research from

other methods.

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What is distinctive about Action Research (AR)

• It is interventionist – it seeks to change the situation under investigation (for the better);

• It has a distinctive world view;• It is collaborative – investigation with not on.

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Characteristics of Action Research

Bradbury and Reason (2001), page 2.

• Participation and democracy• Human Flourishing• Deals with practical issues• Deploys knowledge-in-action

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Dimensions of a participatory world view

Bradbury and Reason (2001), page 7.

• Meaning and purpose are important

• Practical being and acting are fundamental

• Extended epistemology• Relational ecological form

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Extended epistemology

An epistemology is a way of knowing, Bradbury and Reason talk about four distinct ways of knowing:• Experiential knowing (via face to face experience);• Presentational knowing (through articulation or expression

of experiential knowing to others);• Propositional knowing (through concepts and ideas);• Practical knowing (through action).

Bradbury and Reason (2001), page 9.

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Relational ecological form

The ecology of human life is about relationships and the rights of all to participate;

– Politically democratic and inclusive;– Researchers and the subjects of research are treated as co-

enquirers;– The powerful and influential are not privileged in terms of

knowledge or right to speak;– There is a respectful relationship to the planet

Bradbury and Reason (2001), page 10.

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Validity and quality in inquiry in Action Research

Bradbury and Reason (2001), page 12.

Questions about significanceQuestions of outcome and practiceQuestions about plural ways of knowing Questions of relational practice

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Validity and Quality Factors

Does the research lead to questions about emergence and enduring consequences? Such as:– Pragmatic issues such as: What are the outcomes of research, does it

work, what are the processes of inquiry, are they authentic/life enhancing?

– Does it use the extended epistemology?– Does it recognise plural ways of knowing?– Does it deal with questions of relational practice, i.e. Have the values

of democracy been actualised in practice?– Does the work have significance, i.e. Was it worthwhile, have values

been actualised?

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Varieties of Action Research

• Participatory action research;

• Collaborative inquiry;

• Action Science;

• Appreciative Inquiry;

• Many others.

• We will view a number of these laterBradbury and Reason (2001).

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References

Bradbury and Reason (a), (2001), Introduction, in Bradbury and Reason, (eds), (2001), “Handbook of Action Research”. London: Sage.