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Action Research and

Organisation Development

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Overview of Action Research

Action research is deliberate, solution-orientedinvestigation that is, group or personally ownedand conducted.

It is characterized by spiraling cycles ofproblem identification, systematic datacollection, reflection, analysis, data-drivenaction taken, and, finally, problem redefinition.

Johnson, B. (1993)

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Cont..

As a research method, action research is

cyclical. It assumes that understandings and

actions emerge in a constant cycle. (Noffke &

Stevenson, 1995) Action research involves the improvement of

practice, of the understandings of practice,

and of the situations in which practiceoccurs. (Kemmis & McTaggart)

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4

Action Research ModelPlanned change is a cyclical process where

action is guided by preliminary research about

the organisation.

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Action Research

Action research is central to EACH

STAGE of the OD process.

It is a collaborative effort between theleaders and facilitators of any change and

those who have to enact it. It involves data gathering, feedbackof

data to the client group, data discussion,action planning, and action.

Therefore, action research is, as its namesuggests, a combination of research andaction.

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Action Research Action research involves collecting data

relevant to the situation of interest, feeding

back the results to those who must take

action, collaboratively discussing the data

to formulate an action plan, and finally,

taking the necessary action.

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7

Feedback to client Data gathering afteraction

Problem identification

Joint action planningConsultation with a

behavioural scientist

Data gathering and

preliminary diagnosis

Joint diagnosis

Action

Action research model

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Five dimensions of action research:

Worthwhilepurposes

Participation&

Democracy

Knowledgein Practice

EmergentDevelopmental

Form

Many ways ofknowing

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1. Action Research projectBoth process and

resultscan be immediate and direct benefit

to a community.

Better able to articulate problems and initiatethe search for solutions.

COMPONENTS OF ACTION RESEARCH

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2. Involve the community in the entire project,

from the formulation of problem and the

interpretation of the finding to planning

corrective action based upon them reality ofcommunity

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3. Action Research sees data collection, analysis

and reflection as part of a cycle, of which action iskey element.

Research questions arise originally from theexperience of people working in the field andreflecting on their work.

Action Research usually involves introducing newpractice, and then testing how well it goes.

Action Research is seen as a kind of experiment,in a reallife setting.

Implementation is real test in Action Research

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4. Action is seen as a part of a total

educational experience; which serves

To determine community needs and

to increase awareness of problems and

commitment to solutions within thecommunity.

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5. Combine community participation in decision

making with method of social investigation

6. Liberation of human creative - potential and

mobilization of human resources for the

solution of social problems

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7. Research for more accurate and consistent

explanation for social and political realities.

Go beyond success stories/ Much larger than

success.

searcher becomes an integral part of

educational / Development planning

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Contemporary Action ResearchTrends in Action Research

Moving from smaller sub-units to total systemsand communities

Promoting social change

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Develop a vision with

broad participationEvaluate

Choose positive

subjects

Collect positive stories

with broad

participation

Examine data and

develop possibility

propositionsDevelop Action

Plans

Contemporary action

research

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Action research

Action research is a participatory, democraticprocess concerned with developing practical

knowing in the pursuit of worthwhile human

purposes.. It seeks to bring together action

and reflection, theory and practice, in

participation with others, in the pursuit of

practical solutions to issues of pressing

concern to people, and more generally theflourishing of individual persons and their

communities. (Reason and Bradbury 2002)