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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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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)