Prayer as a Research Practice?: What Corporate Practices of Prayer Disclose about Theological Action Research

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-257
Author(s):  
James Butler
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Spiritual Practices ◽  
Lectio Divina ◽  
Research Practice

Abstract Within theological action research the language of discernment has become increasingly important and resonances with spiritual practices such as Lectio Divina have been recognised. This led to practices of corporate prayer being introduced in to the research process. This paper reflects on this experience and identifies key resonances between prayer and theological action research. Through engagement with theological accounts of prayer these resonances are explored turning the question of the place of prayer within theological research on its head. It is not simply that prayer practices add an important dimension to theological action research, but that they actually disclose the ways it is already a practice of prayer. After engaging with potential challenges to such a position through notions of true prayer, control and rigour the paper ends by suggesting that this proposal is not as radical as it first appears, and may instead be an orthodox account of theology.

Design of the Tool (web) EMAeHealth supporting decision-making during pregnancy and postpartum: Collaborative Action Research Study. (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Artieta-Pinedo ◽  
Carmen Paz-Pascual ◽  
Paola Bully ◽  
Maite Espinosa ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Maternal Education ◽  
Monitoring And Evaluation ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Collaborative Action Research ◽  
Public Healthcare ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Collaborative Action ◽  
Patient Decision ◽  
Pregnancy And Postpartum

BACKGROUND Background: Despite the benefit it can give women, Maternal Education needs new tools that increase its effectiveness and scope OBJECTIVE To develop a multifunctional, personalized eHealth platform aimed at the self-management of health in relation to maternity METHODS The International Patient Decision Aid Standards (IPDAS) were applied. A website prototype was developed for implementation in the public health system using a collaborative action research process in which experts and patients participate, with qualitative research techniques as well as prioritization and consensus techniques. RESULTS A website is proposed which includes (1) systematically updated information related to clinical practice guidelines, (2) interaction between peers and users/professionals, (3) instruments for self-assessment of health needs as a basis for working on counseling, agreement on actions, help in the search for resources, monitoring and evaluation of results and (4) access for women to their clinical data and the option of sharing them with other health agents. These components, with different access requirements, would be permanently reviewed through iterative cycles depending on the frequency and effectiveness resulting from their use and would be accessible from any digital device CONCLUSIONS This public healthcare website would facilitate use, maintenance and effectiveness to increase quality of care without increasing costs. The participation of professionals and users in the creation of new tools will result in greater satisfaction with their use, with the decisions made, and with the decision process itself.

scholarly journals Is Banning Significance Testing the Best Way to Improve Applied Social Science Research? – Questions on

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 95-105
Author(s):  
Thees F Spreckelsen ◽  
Mariska Van Der Horst
Keyword(s):  
Social Science ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Social Science Research ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Significance Testing ◽  
Sociological Research ◽  
Research Practice ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Applied Social Science

Significance testing is widely used in social science research. It has long been criticised on statistical grounds and problems in the research practice. This paper is an applied researchers’ response to Gorard's (2016) ‘Damaging real lives through obstinacy: re-emphasising why significance testing is wrong’ in Sociological Research Online 21(1). He participates in this debate concluding from the issues raised that the use and teaching of significance testing should cease immediately. In that, he goes beyond a mere ban of significance testing, but claims that researchers still doing this are being unethical. We argue that his attack on applied scientists is unlikely to improve social science research and we believe he does not sufficiently prove his claims. In particular we are concerned that with a narrow focus on statistical significance, Gorard misses alternative, if not more important, explanations for the often-lamented problems in social science research. Instead, we argue that it is important to take into account the full research process, not just the step of data analysis, to get a better idea of the best evidence regarding a hypothesis.

Toward a Science of Qualities in Organizations

1999 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 281-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Reason ◽  
Brian Goodwin
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Complexity Theory ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Natural Sciences ◽  
Research Practice ◽  
Organizational Life ◽  
Theoretical Support

The development of complexity theory in the natural sciences is described, and summarized in six principles of complex emergent wholes. It is suggested that complexity theory is leading biology toward a science of qualities based on participation and intuition. It is argued on metaphorical and epistemological grounds that these principles which describe the emergence of complex wholes can be applied to social and organizational life. The six principles are then applied to qualitative and action research practice, with a particular reference to co-operative inquiry, in order to provide principles for good practice and theoretical support for the nature of valid inquiry processes.

Taking the road less taken: reorienting the state for periurban water security

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 528-545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vishal Narain ◽  
Pranay Ranjan ◽  
Sumit Vij ◽  
Aman Dewan
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Intervention Strategy ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Research Process ◽  
The State ◽  
The Road ◽  
Water Users ◽  
Building Community

This paper describes the intervention strategy to improve water security in Sultanpur, a village in periurban Gurgaon, India. Most approaches to improving natural resource management in periurban contexts focus on mobilising the community; little attention is paid to reorienting the state or strengthening the user-bureaucracy interface. This paper describes the action research process that was followed to reorient civic agencies engaged in the provisioning of water and to break from a situation of distrust and prisoners' dilemma between water users and service providers. The paper argues that the creation and provision of a platform for direct engagement between water users and service providers can be a key tool for improving periurban water security. These platforms can provide support in building community resilience to face challenges such as climate variability and urbanisation, both of which threaten periurban water security. The action research emphasises on building the community's capacity to ask for improved water supply and to negotiate with state service providers, rather than augmenting water supply physically.

scholarly journals SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF UNIVERSITY MANAGEMENT

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 47-57
Author(s):  
Jorge Daher Nader ◽  
Amelia Patricia Panunzio ◽  
Marlene Hernández Navarro
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Research ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Research Management ◽  
Common Denominator ◽  
Research Practice ◽  
University Management ◽  
Practice Of Teaching ◽  
Low Motivation

Research management is conceptualized as the institutional activity oriented to the search, study, knowledge of reality, systematization of this knowledge and its transfer to satisfy needs and contribute to solving the problems of society. The results obtained in this article about scientific research, seem to be common to the scope of this research; What is clear is that the low motivation of teachers for research constitutes a common denominator in the universities of Ecuador, which, in the opinion of the author, can be increased if the management of the research process favors the institutional, administrative, curricular conditions that articulate the practice of teaching with research practice.

scholarly journals Career Education and Integrated Curriculum

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 18-35
Author(s):  
Ana Isabel Gonzalez-Herrera ◽  
Yolanda Márquez-Domínguez
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Integrated Curriculum ◽  
Career Education ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Research Perspective ◽  
Critical Action ◽  
Curriculum Project ◽  
Critical Action Research ◽  
Teaching Learning ◽  
The Impact

The article presents an action research process for the improvement of Vocational Guidance and Career Education in a school center in Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands). The research perspective, from a collaborative and critical work, responds to the need to improve the teaching-learning practice. Priority is given to the ulterior need to improve learning for all students and increase the impact of their journey through school by means of an educational attention and guidance based on a curriculum project with an integrated and global Career Education and Guidance. Finally, results, process and conclusions are displayed of the two years of critical action research carried out by the different educational agents participating.

scholarly journals Using Art as a Medium to Enhance Social Responsibility and Citizenship

2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 74-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elmarie Costandius
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Effective Medium ◽  
Self Reflection ◽  
Learning Module ◽  
Whole Class ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Sensitive Issues

Abstract The aim of this research is to consider the impact of a Service-Learning module aiming at enhancing social responsibility and citizenship by using art as a medium for learning and reflection. It involves an explicit and designed programme that includes Socratic discussions and self-reflection projects through art. Action research was used as a methodology, ensuring that the whole class and the researcher were involved in the research process. The results of the project demonstrated that art is an effective medium to address sensitive issues because it functions on a symbolic and metaphorical level. Art that uses metaphors involves participants both consciously and sub-consciously and encourages possibilities for a diversity of interpretations.

Instructional Change Through Collaboration and Peer Coaching

2020 ◽  
pp. 118-145
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Adult Learning ◽  
Professional Learning ◽  
Learning Theory ◽  
Lesson Study ◽  
Peer Coaching ◽  
Adult Learning Theory ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Instructional Change ◽  
Learning In Context

This chapter explains the connection made between Japanese Lesson Study (JLS) and adult learning theory. For the purpose of further understanding the action research process and how it connects to teacher learning, Phase 3, learning in context with a peer coaching emphasis, will be discussed. This chapter will inform leaders as they develop their own system of professional learning for teachers.

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