ACTION RESEARCH An alternative way of conceiving and executing research

1. ACTION RESEARCHAn alternative way of conceiving and executing research N.L. NARASIMHA REDDY POVERTY LEARNING FOUNDATION

2. ACTION RESEARCH • Once huge lorry entered a road tunnel. The tunnel’s roof was a centimeter lower than the lorry’s. The lorry became struck in the tunnel entrance. • Traffic was blocked. ARRIVED PONDERED Police Dismantle lorry Tunnel expert Dismantle tunnel Traffic expert Dismantle both • Then a small boy stepped out the crowd that had gathered. • Why do not let the air out of tyres he asked.

3. ACTION RESEARCH • IS A QUEST FOR ANSWERS • The Steady Movement, historically, to move from a systematic set of observations and comparisons to increasingly technical interpretations of reality

4. Approach 1Needs based Development

5. Approach 2 Change Management

6. Approach 3 Learning and Influencing Policy • Action research for Learning • Stakeholder analysis in three states In India • Learning - Networks • Other experiences - Working groups • Locating gaps, spaces and opportunities in policy • National workshop

7. OBJECTIVES • Learning to design and implement. • Ongoing search for a change process and management into socio economic development. • To be part of action and find possible ways forward

8. Research vis-à-vis Action Research

9. Believes in Ownership Increasing knowledge which enables events and phenomena. • Focus on increasing awareness, so that researchers and participants engage more fully with the realities of their situations. • Freedom to pursue multiple objectives and to adopt objectives to the situation at hand. • Solutions are fully owned by key participants.

10. COMPONENTS OF ACTION RESEARCH 1. Action Research project – Both process and results – can be immediate and direct benefit to a community. • Better able to articulate problems and initiate the search for solutions.

11. COMPONENTS OF ACTION RESEARCH 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 of community

12. COMPONENTS OF ACTION RESEARCH 3. Action Research sees data collection, analysis and reflection as part of a cycle, of which action is key element. • Research questions arise originally from the experience of people working in the field and reflecting on their work. • Action Research usually involves introducing new practice, and then testing how well it goes. • Action Research is seen as a kind of experiment, in a real – life setting. • Implementation is real test in Action Research

13. COMPONENTS OF ACTION RESEARCH • 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 the community.

14. COMPONENTS OF ACTION RESEARCH 4. Combine community participation in decision making with method of social investigation 5.Liberation of human creative potential and mobilization of human resources for the solution of social problems

15. COMPONENTS OF ACTION RESEARCH 6. 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 • As a dialogue over time and not as a statistic picture of reality at one point in time.

16. ACTION RESEARCH – IDEOLOGICAL IMPLICATION • What is reality of landlords and perhaps even some government officials is not necessity reality for tenants. • [a] Re- affirmation of the political nature of all we do • [b] To make the choice to work only for people at an early stage.

17. WHAT DOES IT OFFER? An alternative way of conceiving and executing research. • Suit needs of our work. • Suit to our own values more closely. • Serving interests of those with and for whom we work. • People concerned with the issue will be involved in research process

18. Advantages Generalist and project staff The choice of methods and techniques The out comes of Action Research. Study as you are implementing Concurrent – be part of action Produces new behaviour which helps in project growth. Disadvantages Rarely gives policy understanding externalities etc. The relations between participants and researchers-role definition affect the outcomes. New behaviour may block possibilities-if researcher does not facilitate alternatives. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

19. QUESTIONS How research of this nature initiated? • What are the links of this work with political organizations? • What is participation? • How can control of research be effectively maintained by the poor? • Given economic realities, where does people find the time to become involved in work of this nature?

20. EXPECTED RESULT TRANSFERING POWER TO LANDLESS LABOUR OR THE POOR Linking research and action with the poorest classes. To produce search for alternative approaches with participation of the poor in an analysis of their own reality whose ideas will never be read in the journals or discussed in conferences. Or Economic Planning Ministries where Government Policies are being set. • Generation of knowledge, awareness and social change