Action Research
Action research is a research method that aims to investigate and solve an issue simultaneously. It is based on a community development philosophy that seeks community members’ involvement in planning, undertaking, developing, and implementing research and program agendas.
It follows a cyclical process used to identify the issues, develop strategies, implement the programs to deal with them, and assess strategies again in light of the issues. The researchers assert that research is shaped by both theory and observation. They advocate mixed research methods, i.e., qualitative and quantitative methods.
However, qualitative methods are better suited to this purpose (Pope & Mays, 1995). Therefore, it is typically drawn on qualitative methods such as interviews and observation.
The social psychologist Kurt Lewin coined the term “action research” in the 1930s (Mills & Hillier, 2011). Lewin felt that group discussions might have enhanced social conditions in the 1940s—such as the shortage of meat, the need for aerial reconnaissance during World War II, and the improvement of intercultural group relations after the war (Kemmis, 2008).
An interactive approach, it is commonly employed in the social sciences, especially in educational and community settings.
Focuses of Action Research
There are two focuses of action research:
- An existing program or intervention is studied to identify possible areas for improvement in terms of enhanced efficacy and/or efficiency. The results serve as a foundation for implementing necessary changes.
- A professional recognizes an unidentified problem or issue in the community or among a client group, and collects research evidence to support the implementation of an innovative program or intervention. Research techniques are used to determine the extent of a problem or the significance of an issue, allowing necessary steps to be taken in order to resolve it.
Characteristics of Action Research
Most action research shares five characteristics (Kumar, 2018):
- The people who are studied are active participants in the research process.
- The study incorporates the popular knowledge and concerns of ordinary people.
- The study examines power relations and documents social inequality or injustice.
- Study findings are shared to raise awareness and empower ordinary people.
- The research is tied directly to social-political action and achieving social goals.
Action Research Models
There are three models commonly used to represent action research: operational (also known as technical), collaboration, and critical reflection.
Operational
It is typically illustrated as a spiral that follows a sequence of steps, such as “planning → acting → observing → reflecting.”
Collaboration
It has a strong emphasis on community involvement, with a focus on connecting people with similar interests (such as college professors in a specific location) and gathering insights from continuous feedback cycles.
Critical Reflection
It helps to provide context for ongoing systemic processes (for example, by retrospectively analyzing existing school systems and questioning the reasons behind certain practices and their development).
Types of Action Research
There are 2 common types of action research: practical action research and participatory action research.
Practical Action Research (PAR)
Practical action research is centered around the process of conducting research and aims to tackle and resolve particular problems, frequently within educational and community settings. The primary goal of PAR is to improve practices in a particular situation rather than generate broad theoretical knowledge.
Example: Examining how instructors perceive and use new classroom tactics. How is the strategy used? How do students react to the strategy? How does the strategy affect classroom practices? Do new skills boost exam scores? Do classroom teachers think the technique helps students learn?
If the research involves students or parents actively participating in developing or implementing the strategy, it would be more akin to participatory action research.
Process of Practical Action Research
Practical action research adheres to a cyclical approach. Here is a concise analysis:
Planning
Analyze the issue, formulate research questions, and devise a strategy for executing a new approach.
Acting
Introduce the strategy into the classroom setting and put it into action.
Reflecting
Maintain a close eye on the strategy’s effectiveness and compile data on it. Carry out an analysis of the data and consider how effective it was.
Refining
Restart the cycle by either refining the method or attempting a different approach, depending on what you learn from the reflection.
Participatory Action Research
The study stresses the importance of participants being members of the study community, as this empowers those who are directly affected by the research conclusions. In this approach, participants have an active role as co-researchers, where their personal experiences are considered important in shaping the research process.
Participatory research aims to reduce the distance between the researcher and the study participants by involving the community and enhancing their participation. This is done to ensure that the research findings are more relevant to the needs of the community.
It is presumed that such engagement will enhance the likelihood of the community embracing the research findings and, if necessary, its willingness and participation in addressing its challenges and concerns.
Features of Participatory Action Research
As a researcher, you work in two aspects: community organization and research. (Kumar, 2018)
- Through community organization, you seek a community’s involvement and participation in the planning and executing of the research tasks and share research findings with its members.
- In terms of research, your main responsibility is to develop, in consultation with the community, the research tasks and procedures. Consultation with research participants is a continuous and integral part of these designs.
Process of Participatory Action Research
The participatory action research (PAR) cycle closely resembles practical action research, but places a significant emphasis on cooperation at every stage of the process. Below is a comprehensive analysis of the PAR cycle:
Problem Identification and Relationship Development
In the first phase, the task entails identifying an ongoing issue or convern in a community or organization, such as teachers in a school. Collaborative efforts are frequently employed to cultivate trust and establish a good relationship among participants, including instructors, students, parents, and researchers.
Collaboration
Participants collaborate to establish research questions, objectives, and approaches for gathering data. This guarantees that all individuals have a sense of ownership and comprehend their responsibilities.
Implementation
The selected strategy or intervention is executed within a particular context, such as the implementation of a novel teaching approach in schools.
Data Collection
Data regarding the impact of the plan is collected through various means such as observations, surveys, interviews, and so on. Participants convene to scrutinize the data, evaluating its significance and implications.
Evaluation
After conducting the analysis, the group makes the decision to either alter the plan or investigate alternative approaches. This phase of action can encompass more cycles of preparation, execution, and reflection. An assessment is conducted on the entire study process and its influence on the community or group.
Dissemination
The results of the cooperative learning encounter are disseminated to a broader audience. This can encompass several forms of communication, such as presentations, reports, or workshops, with the goal of making a meaningful impact on society and promoting social change.
When to Use Action Research?
- When considering action research, first determine the problem and the change needed to address the problem (i.e., research problem and research purpose). Action research is a method that seeks to modify how individuals approach a problem or situation with the goal of improving practice.
- You may need site permission if the study will be conducted at a community site or educational organization. Assess if approval will be granted to carry out the research.
- Consider the individuals in the data collection (e.g., key persons, teachers, administrators, parents, or others). Will a representative sample be willing to participate in the research?
- As you develop your data collection plan, consider the timeline and feasibility of data collection.
- Action research does not follow an experimental design, hence the objective is not to accept or reject a hypothesis. There is a lack of both independent and dependent variables. It lacks generalizability to a broader context. The objective is to comprehend the events taking place in the chosen setting in order to formulate a strategy for enhancing practices.
Advantages of Action Research
- Action research is extremely flexible, enabling researchers to customize their analyses to suit their specific needs and implement practical, personalized modifications.
- Action research offers a prompt and practical approach to addressing deeply rooted problems, as opposed to proposing complex, long-term remedies based on complicated data.
- When conducted accurately, action research can have a significant impact on individuals’ sense of empowerment.
- It informs social change and allows participants to effect that change in meaningful ways for their communities.
Disadvantages of Action Research
- Action research studies have limited generalizability and are challenging to repeat due to their flexibility. They are lacking in theoretical precision due to the researcher’s ability to draw conclusions.
- Structuring action research ethically can be a complex task. Participants may experience pressure to engage or behave in a specific manner.
- Action research is prone to study biases, including selection bias, social desirability bias, and various cognitive biases.
References
Kemmis, S. (2008). Critical theory and participatory action research. The SAGE handbook of action research: Participative inquiry and practice, 2(2008), 121-38.
Kumar, R. (2018). Research methodology: A step-by-step guide for beginners.
McIntyre‐Mills, J., Goff, S., & Hillier, D. (2011). Systemic action research: a strategy for whole system change.
Pope, C., & Mays, N. (1995). Qualitative research: Reaching the parts other methods cannot reach: An introduction to qualitative methods in health and health services research. British Medical Journal, 311(6996), 42-45.
