Contemporary Approaches to Action Research: Empowering Change through Participatory Research

1. Chapter 8New Wave Research: Contemporary Applied Approaches

2. Action Research • The systematic collection & analysis of data for the purpose of taking action & making change

3. Participatory Action Research • A subset of action research • Three elements:research, adult education, sociopolitical action

4. Steps in Action Research • Entry into the community • Assessment of the situation • Planning for research and action • Implementation of plan and reflection • Evaluation of the implementation • Report and reassessment • Planning future action

5. Evaluation Research • A systematic appraisal using the methods of social research for the purpose of generating knowledge that can be used for decision making • Also referred to as outcomes research

6. Purpose of Evaluation Research • Needs assessment • Formative evaluation • Summative evaluation

7. Steps in Evaluation Research • Identification of program objectives • Measurement of program objectives • Collection of data • Analysis & interpretation of data

8. Pluralistic Approaches to Evaluation Research • Approach selected depends upon the purpose of the evaluation • Classic experiment (RCT) • Evaluation case study

9. Health Promotion Research • Systematic investigation into the processes and substance of health promotion action • A broad range of studies including health policy, lifestyle, socioepidemiology • Some include anthropology of health & community participation studies

10. Scope of Health Promotion Research • Individual • Family • Community

11. Methods for Health Promotion Research • Debate re traditional public health measures vs nontraditional methods • Use a multiplicity of methods • Question and objectives should guide design

12. Feminist Research • valuing of women & their experiences • seeing phenomenon from the perspective of women • recognizing conditions that oppress women • a desire to change conditions through criticism & political action

13. Feminist Methods • Use a variety of quantitative & qualitative methods • Most emphasis is on qualitative with in-depth interviews

14. Feminist Research (Harding) • Core purpose is to create social change to benefit women • a variety of methods are used to collect data but data are always analyzed within the context of women’s lives • relationship b/w the researcher & participant is horizontal • participant is a legitimate knower of the experience-an expert

15. F.R. - Philosophical Tenets • Similar to critical social theory • Acknowledges oppresive nature of social structures • Universal role of systematic patriarchy in society • Places gender centrally within research • Promotes equality within the research team

16. Method/methodology • Multiplicity of methods • Select a method appropriate to the question • Method ( technique for collecting evidence) • Methodology (how the methods should be used) • Methodology should be consistent with feminist epistemology

17. Feminist Methodology • Values women’s subjective experiences • Values importance of context in women’s lives. Method should provide a rich description of the context • Values relationship of researcher & participant • Values inclusion of diverse women

18. F.R.- Question • Issues that are of primary concern to women • requires women to report their experiences in their own voices • allows for a structural analysis of the conditions of women’s lives & should lead to an improvement of it • e.g. accessing health care, women’s work, women’s health, poverty, motherhood

19. F.R. - Role of the Researcher • Nonhierarchical, reciprocal relationship • Views self as a partner with participants • Vulnerable one, shares experiences & emotions with participants as team member • Reflexivity is expected of the researcher

20. F.R. - Sample • Purposive • Embrace diversity of women’s lives • Include women of diverse social class, ethnic groups, cultures, etc • Critical of ethnocentric bias in nursing studies

21. F.R. - Data Collection • Oral history interviewing • Multiple in-depth interviews • Participant observation • Focus group interviews • Structured/ semi-structured interview guides • Documents such a diaries, letters, photos • Questionnaires and indexes

22. F.R. - Data Analysis • Content is analyzed in terms of artifacts produced by women, about women, for women • Patriarchy & ethnocentric bias are major themes examined in the analysis • Participants are active partners in the data analysis process

23. F.R. - Findings • Use descriptive, non-sexist language • Portray women’s voices • Structural analysis of everyday lives of women • User friendly, accessible to all not just intellectuals • Includes an analysis of the role of the researcher