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System Dynamics and Action Research

This presentation explores the relevance and benefits of incorporating Action Research into the System Dynamics field. It discusses the historical roots, methodological principles, and various flavors of Action Research, highlighting its potential in solving complex problems and promoting collaboration between researchers and practitioners.

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System Dynamics and Action Research

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  1. System Dynamics and Action Research Presentation by Hans J. (Jochen) Scholl Center for Technology in Government University at Albany December 6, 2001

  2. Purpose • Why might Action Research be relevant to the SD field? • How can modelers benefit from this methodology? • Should we and, if yes, how can we incorporate Action Research into our research approach? • Can Action Researchers use SD to their benefits? Action Research - An Overview

  3. Action Research (Introduction) • Traditional Research • Emphases and Limitations of Traditional Research • Historical Roots of Action Research (AR) • Methodological Principles of AR • Promises and Limitations of AR • Summary Action Research - An Overview

  4. Traditional Research • Main Characteristics • Orientation on • Reduction • Problem Definition and Assumptions, • Piecemeal Analysis (Descartes), and • Minimum Explanation (Ockham’s Razor) • Objects and Treatments (Complete Control) • Quantification and Measurement • Cause-and-effect Hypotheses (Mostly Few Variables) • Researcher Independence and Impartiality • Repeatability • Generalization • Developed by and modeled after the Natural Sciences • The notion of a “hierarchy” of physics–chemistry-biology-psychology–social sciences) • Mostly Positivist Positions Action Research - An Overview

  5. Emphases (Limitations) of Traditional Research • Focus on few variables • Orientation towards clear-cut linear causal relationships–difficulty of dealing with ambiguous causal relationships (for example, as in complex systems) • Focus on hard (mostly numerical) data - difficulty of dealing with soft variables • Research situation designed to fit literature • Literature review antecedes study • Sequential research design Action Research - An Overview

  6. Emphases of Action Research • Focus on any number of variables • Fuzziness of causal (inter)relationships • Focus on soft data, verbal and non-verbal information • Research situation designed to increase scientific knowledge by solving a problem • Literature review accompanies study • Circular (iterative) research design • Theoretical framework emerges Action Research - An Overview

  7. Historical Roots of Action Research • Education • Science in Education movement (1890s) • Experimentalists (for example, J. Dewey) • Reconstructionist Curriculum Development • Teacher-researcher movement • Psychology • Group dynamics movement (K. Lewin) • MIT • Tavistock Institute • Medicine Action Research - An Overview

  8. Methodological Principles of AR (1) • True to label, that is, “action” and “research” • Developing scientific understanding and theory as a part of practice, particularly, when • theoretical foundations are weak, • causal relationships are fuzzy or controversial, and • the “problem” is irreducible and irrepeatable • Alternation between action and critical reflection • Action is aimed at informing and improving the understanding about action by iteratively (1) considering the results of action {reflection} and (2) understanding the meaning of the action {contemplation} • Collaboration of researcher and practitioner Action Research - An Overview

  9. Methodological Principles of AR (2) • Researcher as co-subject and intervener • Geared at solving practical problems (mostly within social settings) • Iterative research • Orientation on disconfirmation of findings in subsequent cycles • Tension between action and research • AR as a social process Action Research - An Overview

  10. Diagnosis Specifying Action Learning Planning Action Evaluating Taking The Action Research Cycle Client Structure Action Research - An Overview

  11. Action Research vs. Consulting Action Research - An Overview

  12. Flavors of Action Research • Technical Action Research • Practical-deliberative Action Research • Participatory-emancipatory Action Research Action Research - An Overview

  13. The Positivist View (1) • First formulated by French social scientist Auguste Comte in the 19th century • Distinction between • Positive Science • Grounded in empirically verifiable research • Repeatability • Principle of vailidity • Metaphysics • Beliefs, hunches, emotions, intuitions, superstitions, etc. • Religion • Rejection of metaphysics and religion as part of positive science Action Research - An Overview

  14. The World The World Observer Creating a representation of The World as “the World really is” as the body of scientific knowledge based on and verified by empirical inquiry The Positivist View (2) Action Research - An Overview

  15. A Post-Positivist View Bringing forth A world Observer World Action Research - An Overview

  16. Taxonomy of AR (1) Action Research - An Overview

  17. Taxonomy of AR (2) Action Research - An Overview

  18. Taxonomy of AR (3) Action Research - An Overview

  19. Limitations of Action Research • Usually no causal explanations are provided • Predominantly qualitative data • Less precise problem definitions than in traditional research • Limited or even no impartiality on behalf of the researcher • Reduced control over the research process • Client/practitioner-need driven research process • Non-standardized research process • No reduction, no or little generalization • Situational • Few standards or generally agreed criteria Action Research - An Overview

  20. Does AR Incorporate Scientific Rigor? • Depends on the definition of both science and rigor • Science as iterative pursuit of understanding • Rigor as systematic research on the basis of skepticism and empiricism Action Research - An Overview

  21. Names to Know in AR • Kurt Lewin • Chris Argyris, Donald Schön • Peter Checkland • Jürgen Habermas • Stephen Kemmis, Wilfried Carr, Bob Dick, Robin Mc Taggert, Shirley Grundy • Edgar Schein, G. & R. Lippit • G. Susman & R. Evered, R. Rapoport • William Whyte • Richard Baskerville, D.E. Avison, Trevor Wood-Harper, Robert Zmud, Michael Myers Action Research - An Overview

  22. AR– Substitute for or Complement to Other Scientific Methods? (Summary) • Method of choice when • other methods do not produce “relevance” • the problem is “fuzzy” • no theory or only highly controversial theories exist • AR readily complements other research designs • AR can also be accompanied by a meta-project (studying the process by non-participant observers) Action Research - An Overview

  23. Any Questions so far? Action Research - An Overview

  24. The SD Cycle Action Research - An Overview

  25. An Initiative at CTG • A full day AR workshop (schedule: Tuesday, January 29, 2002) open to all CTG staff and guests • Assigned readings to teams of two to three • Each team prepares a 25 to 35-minute presentation of the reading itself as well as a practical method "tool" derived from it • Holding the workshop on Jan 29, 2002, giving the presentations, and discussing how the tools fit together • Converging all presentations and tools into a CTG AR toolkit • Making the CTG AR toolkit available on the web Action Research - An Overview

  26. Questions • How does AR relate to SD? • How might we use AR? • Where can AR benefit from us, vice versa? • What are practical examples of integration? • Any other comment or idea? Action Research - An Overview

  27. List of Suggested Readings(grouped by topical orientation) - to be jointly prepared by teams of (at least) two... (a) The Classics: Blum (1955), Sussman (1983), Sussman & Evered (1978), Rapoport (1970), Hult & Lenning (1980). (b) The Consultants: E.H. Schein (1969 & 1987), Lippit & Lippit (1978), Kubr (1986) (c) The Action Learning/OL & ODC People: Argyris, Putnam, & Smith (1985), Argyris & Schön (1991), Schön (1983) (d) The Australian Educators: Kemmis (1991), Kemmis & Mc Taggart (1988), Grundy (1987), Carr & Kemmis (1986), McKernan (1991) (e) The Psychologists: Lewin (1947 & 1951) (f) The System Thinkers: Checkland (1985, 1991), Checkland & Scholes (1990) (g) The IS Researchers: Baskerville, Myers, Zmud, Jarvenpaa et al, Jønsson) (h) The Methodologists: Grundy (1982), Morgan (1983), Whyte (1991a & b) (i) The Philosophers: Positivism, Post-Positivism, Phenomenology, & Constructivism (underpinnings in terms of the Philosophy of Science) Action Research - An Overview

  28. Presentation Template • Papers reviewed • Key ideas • Methodological framework & idiosyncrasies • Areas of application • Cases (if appropriate) • Elements of a tool • Summary Action Research - An Overview

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