Offers an accessible introduction to conducting participatory inquiries for social change. This introductory volume can spark ideas, discussions, and (self-) reflection on how to better link theory and practice.

Thoroughly revised and updated, the scope of the Third Edition has been broadened to include the literature and theoretical movements that have taken place since the previous edition. Updated web links and expanded appendices provide cutting edge information on action research along with new case studies and examples as well as an expanded section on doing a literature review.

RESEARCH IN PROFESSIONAL AND PUBLIC LIFE

The Purposes and Applications of Action Research: Who does action research and why do they do it?

Research: Methodical Processes of Inquiry

A Basic Routine

Community-Based Action Research: Participatory Approaches to Inquiry

Inquiry in Use

The Literature On Action Research THEORY AND PRINCIPLES OF ACTION RESEARCH

Introducing the Theoretical Foundations of Action Research

The Cultural Style of Action Research: Capacity Building Processes

The Role of the Researcher

Working Principles

Relationships

Communication

Participation

Inclusion SETTING THE STAGE: PLANNING A RESEARCH PROCESS

Constructing Effective Research Plans

Seeking Consensus: Constructing Meaningful Research

Looking at the Lay of the Land: Preliminary Activity

Establishing Contact

Sampling: Identifying Stakeholding Groups

Sampling: Identifying Key People

Establishing a Role

Agenda

Stance

Position

Constructing a Preliminary Picture

The Ethics of Action Research

Rigor (Not Mortis): The Research Is Alive and Well

Credibility

Transferability

Dependability

Confirmability

Sociable Research Processes

Conclusion LOOK: BUILDING THE PICTURE

Gaining Insight: Gathering Data

Sources of Information

Interviews: Guided Reflection

Questions

Field Notes

Tape Recorders

Focus Groups

Participant Observation

Documents, Records and Reports

Surveys

Reviewing the Literature: Evidence From Research Studies

Measuring: Quantitative Information--How Many!!.?

Extended Understanding: Descriptive Analysis

Alternative 1: Working Ethnographically: --Collaborative Descriptive Accounts

Alternative 2: Six Questions--Why, What, How, Who, Where, When

Alternative 3: Community Profile

Meetings: Group Processes for Collaborative Inquiry

Preliminary Meetings

Organizing Meetings THINK: INTERPRETING AND ANALYZING

Interpretation: Clarifying Meaning

Analysis and Interpretation I : Distilling the Data

Categorizing and Coding (1)

Analyzing Key Experiences (2)

Case Example: Facilitating Workshops

Identify learning tasks

Analysis and Interpretation II: Enriching the Analysis

Extending Understanding: Frameworks for Interpretation

Alternative 1: Interpretive Questions: Why, What, How, Who, Where, When

Alternative 2: Organizational Review

Alternative 3: Concept Mapping

Alternative 4: Problem Analysis--Antecedents and Consequences

Writing Reports Collaboratively

Organizing Meetings

Procedures for Analysis

Presentations and Performances

Conclusion ACT: RESOLVING PROBLEMS--PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS

From Problems To Solutions

Planning

Identifying Priorities For Action

Action Plans

Quality Check

Implementing

Supporting

Modeling

Linking

Reviewing

Evaluating

Conclusion STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR SUSTAINABLE CHANGE AND DEVELOPMENT

Managing Processes of Change and Development

Strategic Planning

A Unifying Vision

Operational Statements: Enacting the Vision

Action Plans

Reviewing the Plans

Political Dimensions

Financial Planning

Guiding the Research Process

Principles in Operation

Appropriate Language

Making Decisions

Support and Monitoring

Evaluating

Steps to Evaluation

Celebrating FORMAL REPORTS

Formal Reports, Theses, and Dissertations

The Research Orientation: Assumptions of Interpretive Research

Reports, Theses, and Dissertations

Structure of a Report

Section 1: Introduction--Focus and Framing

Section 2: Review of the Literature

Section 3: Methodology

Introduction

Methodological Assumptions: Philosophical Rationale

Research Methods

Rigor

Limitations

Ethical Issues

Section 4: Research Outcomes/Findings

Setting the Scene: Describing the Context

Constructing Accounts: Telling People's Stories

Constructing a General Account

Section 5: Conclusion-Discussion of Findings

Giving Voice: Alternative Report Structures UNDERSTANDING ACTION RESEARCH

The Place of Theory In Action Research

The Theory Behind the Practice

"But It's Not Scientific": The Question of Legitimacy

Power, Control, and Subordination

Understanding Power and Control: Postmodern Perspectives

The Next Generation: Community-Based Action Research

Giving Voice: Representing People's Experience

Changing Our Work and Social Practices: "Scripts" For Policies, Plans, Procedures and Behavior

In the Company of Friends

Reflection and Practice Appendix