How to do things with words

2004 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Øyvind Pålshaugen
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Personal Experience ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
General Knowledge ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Actionable Knowledge ◽  
Linguistic Turn ◽  
Practical Experiences ◽  
To Come ◽  
Practical Demonstration

This article argues that the question of what actionable knowledge is, can hardly be answered appropriately either by solely theoretical argumentation or by solely practical demonstration. It is in the very interplay between theory and practice that knowledge can prove to be actionable. Thus it becomes crucial to come to an adequate theoretical understanding of this interplay on the basis of practical experiences. This article, however, does not argue in favour of any particular theoretical model as the only adequate interpretation of this interplay. Rather, the main argument is that experiences from Scandinavian action research programs over the last decades indicates that it is necessary to deconstruct the conventional concepts of general knowledge to be able to construct actionable knowledge. The briefly article presents some of the main steps in this development, and thereby some new perspectives on the main features of actionable knowledge. On this basis, the final part of the article presents some arguments why a linguistic turn in action research and in management and organisation studies may pave the way for a hitherto greatly underexploited resource for creating actionable knowledge: the personal experience of the researchers.

Human Rights and Community-led Development

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Cislaghi
Keyword(s):  
Human Development ◽  
West African ◽  
Ethnographic Study ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Qualitative Evidence ◽  
Actual Change ◽  
Grassroots Level ◽  
Education And Development

How can we best empower people living in the most economically disadvantaged areas of the world to improve their lives in ways that matter to them? This book investigates work of the NGO Tostan as a working model of human development. The study is grounded in the ethnographic study of the actual change that happened in one West African village. The result is a powerful mix of theory and practice that questions existing approaches to development and that speaks to both development scholars and practitioners. Divided into three parts, the book firstly assesses why top-down approaches to education and development are unhelpful and offers a theoretical understanding of what constitutes helpful development. Part two examines Tostan's community-based participatory approach as an example of a helpful development intervention, and offers qualitative evidence of its effectiveness. Part three builds a model of how community-led development works, why it is helpful, and what practitioners can do to help people at the grassroots level lead their own human development.

scholarly journals Teacher education

2005 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 147-150
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Teacher Development ◽  
Academic Writing ◽  
Professional Growth ◽  
Linguistic Diversity ◽  
Cultural Beliefs ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Teachers Attitudes

05–334Angelides, Panayiotis, Maria Evangelou & James Leigh (Intercollege, Cyprus), Implementing a collaborative model of action research for teacher development. Educational Action Research (Oxford, UK), 13.2 (2005), 275–290.05–335Brock, Cynthia, Lori Helman & Chitlada Patchen (U of Nevada, USA), Learning to conduct teacher research: exploring the development of mediated understandings. Teachers and Teaching: Theory and Practice (Abingdon, UK) 11.1 (2005), 73–94.05–336Burdelski, Matthew (California U, USA; [email protected]), Close- and open-ended narratives of personal experience: weekly meetings among a supervisor and teaching assistants of a ‘Japanese language education practicum’. Linguistics and Education (Amsterdam, the Netherlands) 15.1–2 (2004), 3–32.05–337Dooly, Melinda (U of Barcelona, Spain), How aware are they? Research into teachers' attitudes about linguistic diversity. Language Awareness (Clevedon, UK) 14.2/3 (2005), 97–112.05–338Ezer, Hanna (Levinsky College of Education, Tel-Aviv, Israel; [email protected]) & Tamar Sivan, ‘Good’ academic writing in Hebrew: the perceptions of pre-service teachers and their instructors. Assessing Writing (Amsterdam, the Netherlands) 10.2 (2005), 117–133.05–339Hayes, David (U of Birmingham, UK), Exploring the lives of non-native speaking English educators in Sri Lanka. Teachers and Teaching: Theory and Practice (Abingdon, UK) 11.2 (2005), 169–194.05–340Korthagen, Fred (Utrecht U, the Netherlands) & Angelo Vasalos, Levels in reflection: core reflection as a means to enhance professional growth. Teachers and Teaching: Theory and Practice (Abingdon, UK) 11.1 (2005), 47–71.05–341Lynch, Brian (Portland State U, USA; [email protected]) & Peter Shaw, Portfolios, power, and ethics. TESOL Quarterly (Alexandria, VA, USA) 39.2, 263–298.05–342Roulston, Kathryn, Roy Legette, Monica DeLoach & Celeste Buckhalter Pittman (U of Georgia, USA), What is ‘research’ for teacher-researchers?Educational Action Research (Oxford, UK) 13.2 (2005), 169–190.05–343Santagata, Rossella (California U, USA; [email protected]), ‘Are you joking or are you sleeping?’: cultural beliefs and practices in Italian and U.S. teachers' mistake-handling strategies. Linguistics and Education (Amsterdam, the Netherlands) 15.1–2 (2004), 141–164.05–344Waters, Alan (Lancaster U, UK; [email protected]), Ma. Luz. C. Vilcheseo, Managing innovation in language education: a course for ELT change agents. RELC Journal (Thousand Oaks, CA, USA) 36.2 (2005), 117–136.

Using action research in innovation project management: building legitimacy and organizational learning in an SME during a merger process

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Constance Elizabeth Kampf ◽  
Charlotte J. Brandt ◽  
Christopher G. Kampf
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Organizational Learning ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Innovation Process ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Organizational Level ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Innovation Project

PurposeThe purpose is to explore how the process of action research (AR) can support building legitimacy and organizational learning in innovation project management and portfolio practices in merger contexts.Design/methodology/approachMeta-reflection on method issues in Action Research through an action research case study with an innovation group during an organizational change process. This case demonstrates an example of an action research cycle focused on building practitioner legitimacy rather than problem-solving.FindingsKey findings include (1) demonstrating how AR can be used for building legitimacy through visualizing the innovation process, and embedding those visuals in top management practices of the organization; and (2) demonstrating how AR can work as an organizational learning tool in merger contexts.Research limitations/implicationsThis study focuses on an action research cooperation during a two-and-a-half-year period. Thus, findings offer the depth of a medium term case study. The processes of building legitimacy represent this particular case, and can be investigated in other organizational contexts to see the extent to which these issues can be generalized.Practical implicationsFor researchers, this paper offers an additional type of AR cycle to consider in their research design which can be seen as demonstrating a form of interplay between practitioner action and organizational level legitimacy. For practitioners, this paper demonstrates a connection between legitimacy and organizational learning in innovation contexts. The discussion of how visuals were co-created and used for building legitimacy for an innovation process that differs from the standard stage gate model demonstrates how engaging in AR research can contribute to developing visuals as resources for building legitimacy and organizational learning based on connections between theory and practice.Originality/valueThis case rethinks AR practice for innovation project management contexts to include legitimacy and organizational learning. This focus on legitimacy building from organizational learning and knowledge conversion contributes to our understanding of the soft side of innovation project management. Legitimacy is demonstrated to be a key concern for innovation project management practices.

Youth-Led REP: Building Critical Consciousness for Social Change

2004 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 45-50
Author(s):  
Jonathan London ◽  
Melissa Chabrán
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Research Evaluation ◽  
Popular Education ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Social Critique ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Empowerment Evaluation ◽  
Community Based Research ◽  
The Social

If knowledge is a form of power, then to lack knowledge is to lack power, and to build knowledge is to build power. This seemingly basic notion is at the source of diverse streams of theory and practice entitled participatory action research, community-based research, counter mapping, popular education and empowerment evaluation. It is from these historical, political and methodological headwaters that a relatively new stream of work, called youth-led action research, evaluation and planning, arises. These practices, while distinct, all represent attempts to build the power and capacity of those at the margins of society to examine, define, and ultimately shape their worlds according to their needs, visions and values. Youth-led action research, evaluation and planning expands the social critique and progressive stance towards breaking the monopolies of power/knowledge to include age-based inequities, along with (and in relationship to) inequities based on race, ethnicity, class gender, sexuality and other markers of difference.

scholarly journals How being appreciative creates change – theory in practice from health and social care in Scotland

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cathy Sharp ◽  
Belinda Dewar ◽  
Karen Barrie ◽  
Julienne Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Risk Taking ◽  
Positive Attitude ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
Change Theory ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Home Life ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Design And Testing

This paper develops understanding of appreciative action research that generates curiosity and motivation as a better platform for collaborative change. Blending theory and practice it draws on the example of the My Home Life leadership programme in Scotland that explores the concepts and approaches of ‘Caring Conversations’ and ‘playful provocation’ in care homes for older people. The paper shows how they expand notions of appreciation and help people to deepen inquiry, explore values, acknowledge and express emotion without dispute or judgement, articulate tacit knowledge and give voice to things previously thought to be ‘unsayable’. We explore how these generative approaches act as a powerful positive ‘disruption’ that brings existing relationships to life, supports a positive attitude to risk-taking and helps to devise new approaches to the local design and testing of approaches to problems. Ultimately these approaches play an important part in developing understanding of how to do appreciative action research to enhance relationships and more strengths or assets-based and collaborative ways of working and so, to develop new possibilities for changing social systems and a more future-making orientation to action research.

scholarly journals A Participatory Action Research Method in a Rural Community of Mexico

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 1197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rubi Arellano ◽  
Fabricio Balcazar ◽  
Sergio Suarez ◽  
Francisco Alvarado
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Participatory Action Research ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Community Interventions ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Need To Evaluate ◽  
Community Issues ◽  
To Come

For several decades, community interventions have promoted community development with strategies involving capacity building, advocacy, social change, and empowerment. Although community interventions intend to ameliorate social and economic inequalities, there is still a need to evaluate the outcomes of Participatory Action Research (PAR). PAR approaches have demonstrated to be a helpful tool for addressing and identifying community issues and strengths, while leading community members into action. The PAR approach described in this case study of “Ciudad Renace” (Town Reborn)—the Concerns Report Method (CRM)—provided a process for the community to come together and identify main issues, organize, and take actions. The findings suggest multiple activities and outcomes in areas like environmental contamination, social services, and education. Participatory methodologies like the Concerns report Method provided opportunities for community members to become engaged in pursing issues and addressing their own needs. The implications for community psychology research and practice are discussed.

scholarly journals The Costs and Labour of Whistleblowing: Bodily Vulnerability and Post-disclosure Survival

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Kenny ◽  
Marianna Fotaki
Keyword(s):  
Feminist Theory ◽  
Health Expenditure ◽  
Responsibility To Protect ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Ethical Duty ◽  
Speaking Out ◽  
Financial Costs ◽  
To Come ◽  
Speak Up ◽  
Practical Implications

AbstractWhistleblowers are a vital means of protecting society because they provide information about serious wrongdoing. And yet, people who speak up can suffer. Even so, debates on whistleblowing focus on compelling employees to come forward, often overlooking the risk involved. Theoretical understanding of whistleblowers’ post-disclosure experience is weak because tangible and material impacts are poorly understood due partly to a lack of empirical detail on the financial costs of speaking out. To address this, we present findings from a novel empirical study surveying whistleblowers. We demonstrate how whistleblowers who leave their role as a result of speaking out can lose both the financial and temporal resources necessary to redevelop their livelihoods post-disclosure. We also show how associated costs involving significant legal and health expenditure can rise. Based on these insights, our first contribution is to present a new conceptual framing of post-disclosure experiences, drawing on feminist theory, that emphasizes the bodily vulnerability of whistleblowers and their families. Our second contribution repositions whistleblowing as a form of labour defending against precarity, which involves new expenses, takes significant time, and often must be carried out with depleted income. Bringing forth the intersubjective aspect of the whistleblowing experience, our study shows how both the post-disclosure survival of whistleblowers, and their capacity to speak, depend on institutional supports or, in their absence, on personal networks. By reconceptualizing post-disclosure experiences in this way—as material, embodied and intersubjective—practical implications for whistleblower advocacy and policy emerge, alongside contributions to theoretical debates. Reversing typical formulations in business ethics, we turn extant debates on the ethical duty of employees to speak up against wrongdoing on their heads. We argue instead for a responsibility to protect whistleblowers exposed to vulnerability, a duty owed by those upon whose behalf they speak.

scholarly journals Reasoned Action Frameworks

Communication ◽  
2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Yzer ◽  
Brian Southwell
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Reasoned Action ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Situational Factors ◽  
Integrative Model ◽  
Behavioral Performance ◽  
Reasoned Action Approach ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Individual

Reasoned action frameworks, which include the Theory of Reasoned Action and its extensions, the widely used Theory of Planned Behavior and the more recent Integrative Model of Behavioral Prediction, describe that intention to perform a behavior follows reasonably (but not necessarily rationally) from specific beliefs that people hold about the behavior and that people act on their intentions when they have the required skills and when situational factors do not impede behavioral performance. Reasoned action research has two broad foci. A first seeks to advance theoretical understanding of human social behavior as based on expectancy beliefs about consequences of behavioral performance. A second applies reasoned action research to development or evaluation of interventions that seek to modify a specific behavior in a particular population. The relevance of the reasoned action approach for communication scholars lies in its direct applicability to a wide range of important communication questions, including the explanation of communication as a socially relevant behavior and intra-individual processes to explain how exposure to information leads to behavior change. Although reasoned action propositions embed belief-based processes in a multilevel system of influence, the individual is nonetheless the primary level of analysis. The range of citations included in this bibliography addresses the decades-long time frame during which scholars have explicitly employed core reasoned action concepts. Beyond the introductory works, the examples presented here are illustrative rather than exhaustive, by necessity, as few other behavioral theories have generated more citations in communication research.

scholarly journals REFLECTION OF METHODOLOGIES OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH: DOES ACTION RESEARCH EXPERIENCED BY THE STUDENTS AFFECT LEARNING DEVELOPMENT AND SHIFTED MINDSET ON RESEARCH OF EDUCATION?

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 44-53
Author(s):  
Abdul Halim ◽  
Wei-Shan Chang
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Educational Research ◽  
Learning Process ◽  
Mobile Application ◽  
Personal Experience ◽  
Analysis Data ◽  
Reflective Process ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Learning Development ◽  
Phd Programs

Abstract: This paper reports reflections of one of the courses I took in this semester namely Methodologies of Educational Research. To construct this paper, I used qualitative biographical-reflective method which is aligned with interpretive paradigm of narrative inquiry research methodology to describe my own experience in the learning process. The data I used were the postings from Zuvio mobile application designed for advising learning process with online platform and personal experience from reflective process of the course. I analyzed the data with three-stage qualitative data analysis: data reduction, data display, and conclusion. The findings report that the classroom undergone with classroom action research has successfully overcome the difficulty faced by professors and students at international PhD programs. The students were found to perceive positive attitudes towards the carefully selected instructions design of action research with Flipped-Jigsaw approach. The implications were also proposed. Abstrak: Artikel ini melaporkan refleksi dari salah satu mata kuliah yang saya ambil pada semester ini yaitu Metodologi Penelitian Pendidikan. Untuk menyusun makalah ini, saya menggunakan metode kualitatif biografis-reflektif yang selaras dengan paradigma interpretatif metodologi penelitian inkuiri naratif untuk menggambarkan pengalaman saya sendiri dalam proses pembelajaran. Data yang saya gunakan adalah postingan dari aplikasi mobile Zuvio yang dirancang untuk proses pembelajaran dengan platform online dan pengalaman pribadi dari proses reflektif kursus. Saya menganalisis data dengan tiga tahap analisis data kualitatif: reduksi data, penyajian data, dan penarikan kesimpulan. Temuan penelitian ini menunjukan bahwa kelas yang dilakukan dengan penelitian tindakan kelas telah berhasil mengatasi kesulitan yang dihadapi oleh profesor dan mahasiswa di program PhD internasional. Para siswa merasakan sikap positif terhadap desain instruksi penelitian tindakan yang dipilih dengan cermat dengan pendekatan Flipped-Jigsaw. Implikasinya juga diusulkan pada artikel ini.  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document