Difference between Action Research and Other Research Methods - Coursework Example

LITERATURE REVIEW 0 Action Research Action research is where researchers examine their own education and profession, practically and systematically using techniques of research (Myers, 2008). Sagor defines action research as any investigation conducted by empowered people to take action against their own actions in order to improve their future actions (2010). According to Wong (2009), action research is a well organized self reflective inquiry conducted with the purpose of understanding and improving teaching in the classroom. The aim of action research is to solve current problems and in the process, expands scientific knowledge. Action research is different from other research methods. It is concerned with studying organizational phenomena to create change and study the process while other research methods study organizational phenomena, but do not change them. Myers notes that, “It is an iterative process that capitalizes on learning by both researchers and subjects within the context of the subject’s social system” (2008, p. 55). 2.0 Difference between Action Research and Other Research Methods In order to determine if an inquiry qualifies as an action research, the inquiry must answer three basic questions. These form the characteristics of action research. a) The Focus Should be on a Researcher’s Professional Action The study should focus on the researcher’s own work or future work. There are three types of action that can be focused on, in action research; research for action, research in action and research of action. In research for action, the action to be studied has not happened yet and is expected in the future. An example is evaluating strategies for adoption. In research in action, the action being studied is underway. An example of such a study is monitoring. In research of action, the action being studied is past. An example is like an evaluation study (Sagor, 2010). b) The Researcher Should be Empowered to Adjust Future Action Based on the Results This depends on the researcher’s sphere of influence. If the researcher is empowered to adjust future action by the results of the study, the research qualifies as an action research. An example is in teaching and management. Managers are always prompted to change their management strategies depending on information obtained from various departments. If previous change management strategies did not work because of certain faults, the manager will be prompted to find a new strategy to make improvements. The same applies to teachers. They are always free to change their instructional strategies. If a study produces results that prompt change, the teachers can make such changes. Studies that empower researchers to adjust future actions based on the results, therefore, qualify as action research (Sagor, 2010). c) Improvement Should be Possible An investigation qualifies as an action research if it focuses on a particular area where improvement is expected to occur. For example, a teacher would avoid action research if there are serious doubts that there will be no improvement in a particular area (Sagor, 2010). 3.0 Where Action Research is Used in Academic Literature and in Business Management Context 3.1 In Change Management Action research has also been applied in other disciplines. It is applied in strategies used by various organizations to encourage understanding of transformation and change. In Sangiorgi (2011), it is noted that there are two kinds of transformation strategies used by organizations with public services. There is the change from inside out. This is all about working with internal organizational resources to establish a human centered culture to improve provision of services. There is also the change from outside-in. This requires working with various stakeholders and communities to envision service models and new systems. In order to achieve success, organizations have to unify these transformational interventions within the communities and organizations. Sangiorgi (2011) indicates that participatory action research has been used as a methodological approach to unify the interventions. In this case, action research is considered a process that is democratic and participatory, dealing with creation of knowledge in pursuit of meaningful human purposes. It focuses on bringing practical solutions to matters that are of pressing concern to people (Sangiorgi, 2011). Action research has also been developed and applied at different levels in a variety of fields. This is especially in areas of development studies and management. An example is the application of participatory action research in the community to transform question inequities and dependency (Sangiorgi, 2011). Action research can also be used as a research strategy within qualitative research. In English speaking countries, participatory research is considered very important in this area. As described earlier, participatory action research can be used to unify transformational strategies within an organization and in the community (Bergold & Thomas, 2012). 3.2 As a Research Method Action research has been used in business studies as a methodology such as in Puhakainen and Siponen (2010), Näslund, Kale and Paulraj (2010), Perego (2009), Heikkilä and Kuivaniemi (2012), and Sankaran and Hou (2009). Action research is indicated to have helped in solving business problems. Managers prefer it because: It is not focused on methodological considerations, but on researcher’s professional values. It helps in workplace practice improvement Action forms an integral part of research. In this type of research, action and thought are integrated. It allows research on professional activities by the researchers It encourages professional development among managers since they are able to examine their practices and beliefs It assists managers in effective change implementation A holistic understanding id developed from action research It builds the ability to be multidisciplinary among managers and makes them work across, technical, cultural and functional boundaries. A variety of data collection methods that fit an organization’s environment can be used by this research method It is context-specific, problem focused, and future oriented (Sankaran & Hou, 2009). There are different action research approaches used in various studies under different disciplines. As indicated above, action research is used as a method in business research. A clear example that shows action as a research method with different approaches that have been developed is Booth and Segon (2009)’s research. The main approach used in this research is the co-operative inquiry model of collaborative research. This has techniques such as Apollonian and Dionysian inquiry that were used to investigate leadership and management practice issues (Booth & Segon, 2009). 3.3 Action Research in Organizational Learning and Development There are also different action research approaches as described by (Popplewell & Hayman, 2012). These include; classical action research, appreciative inquiry and living theory, action science, community-based participatory research, action learning, participatory rural appraisal, and participatory action research. Among these, classical action research, participatory action research, and action learning are the most widely used. These approaches are used by international non-governmental organizations in various areas, for different purposes and differently. They are applied in international development through evaluation and organizational learning. In these applications they can be used in conjunction with other research approaches or on their own (Popplewell & Hayman, 2012). In organizational learning, the approaches are well suited for promoting and facilitating learning. Most commonly used approach with appropriate features is the action learning approach. In evaluation, it is the participatory nature of the approaches that is used. Their participatory nature enables generation of ownership of the evaluation, facilitation of downward accountability, support of learning retention and promotion of in-depth understanding of contexts and local communities. This is unlike other conventional evaluation approaches (Popplewell & Hayman, 2012). 3.4 Action Research and Knowledge Management Knowledge management and business intelligence are very important in a business’s sustainable development and competitiveness. They provide a way of controlling information and knowledge assets of an organization to ensure effective and efficient decision making. In order to provide long lasting value, managers have to get high quality and consolidated information. This is obtained through research and knowledge management programs (Huang, 2010). Action research has been used to gather business intelligence and information of knowledge management. It has been used to develop programs where employees are able to share information, learn, and improve in their performances. It is used for capturing the right knowledge, giving it to the right user and ensuring improvement in performance of both the organization and the individual (Huang, 2010). Actions research is also used to provide more knowledge on the importance of knowledge assets to the organization. It provides managerial suggestions, tools and approaches concerning: the design and choice of initiatives on knowledge assets management; the mapping and identification of knowledge assets; and the evaluation of knowledge management initiatives to gauge performance improvement (Schiuma & Carlucci, 2010). 3.5 Action Research and Human Resource Management There are so many aspects of human resource management where action research can be applied. Action research used as a research method provides information of human resource management strategies, competitiveness of the department, its performance and new approaches to management. Different features of action research can be used differently to contribute to effective management of employees (Maurer & Githens, 2010). In Maurer & Githens (2010), there are three categories of action research that can be used differently in employee management; critical action research, conventional action research and dialogic action research. These categories are based on different philosophical approaches which justify their use in action research projects to improve human resource management. Dialogic action research for example, is mainly concerned with creation of understanding and mutual learning through dialogue. It leads to practical solutions (Maurer & Githens, 2010). Hartmann, Fischer and Haymaker also indicate that the action research cycle, can be used to develop and improve human resource information systems. In any department where there is information, it may be out of date, insufficient, or not being used appropriately. Information systems in human resource management need to provide appropriate information for decision making. For such systems to be reliable, they need to be up to date and sufficient. Action research helps in making information systems effective for effective human resource planning and management (Hartmann, Fischer & Haymaker, 2008). This is through application of action research cycle. Within this cycle, there is diagnosing, action planning, action taking, evaluation, and specification of learning, then the cycle begins again. This process assists in identification of problems within any system, planning, implementation of strategies and evaluation (Hartmann, Fischer & Haymaker, 2008). 4.0 List of References Journals: Booth, C. and Segon, M. (2009). Leadership and Management Development: An Action Research Project. International Review of Business Research Papers, 5(4):102-113. Heikkilä, M. and Kuivaniemi, L. (2012). Ecosystem Under Construction: An Action Research Study on Entrepreneurship in a Business Ecosystem. Technology Innovation Management Review. 18-24. Huang, H. B. (2010). What Is Good Action Research?: Why The Resurgent Interest? Action Research, 8; 93: 93-109. Maurer, M. and Githens, R. P. (2010). Toward A Reframing Of Action Research For Human Resource And Organization Development Moving Beyond Problem Solving And Toward Dialogue. Action Research, 8(3): 267-292. Näslund, D., Kale, R. and Paulraj, A. (2010). Action Research In Supply Chain Management: A Framework For Relevant And Rigorous Research. Journal of Business Logistics, 31(2):331–355. Perego, A. (2009). IS Performance Management Systems: An Action Research Perspective. Sprouts Working Papers on Information Systems, 9(63). Puhakainen, P. and Siponen, M. (2010). Improving Employees Compliance Through Information Systems Security Training: An Action Research Study. MIS Quarterly Journal, 34(4): 757-778. Sangiorgi, D. (2011). Transformative Services and Transformation Design. International Journal of Design. 5(2). Retrieved on 3rd November 2012 from: http://www.ijdesign.org/ojs/index.php/IJDesign/article/view/940/344. Schiuma, G. and Carlucci, D. (2010). The Knowledge-Based Foundations of Organisational Performance Improvements: An Action Research Approach. Electronic Journal of Knowledge Management, 8 (3):267 - 344 . Wong, G. (2009). Action Research in Teaching. Centre for Development of Teaching and Learning, 12(4): 1-12. Books: McNiff, J. (2011). Action Research for Professional Development: Concise Advice for New (and Experienced) Action Researchers. September Books. Myers, M. D. (2008). Qualitative Research in Business & Management. London: SAGE. Sagor, R. (2010). The Action Research Guidebook: A Four-Stage Process for Educators and School Teams. (2nd Ed.). California: Corwin Press. Other Articles: Bergold, J. and Thomas, S. (2012). Participatory Research Methods: A Methodological. Approach in Motion. Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 13 (1). Art. 30. Hartmann, T., Fischer, M. and Haymaker, J. (2008). Implementing Information Systems With Project Teams Using Ethnographic: Action Research. Advanced Engineering Informatics Popplewell, R. and Hayman, R. (2012). Where, How, And Why Are Action Research Approaches Used By International Development Non-Governmental Organizations? International NGO Training Research Center Briefing Paper Number 32. Sankaran, S. and Hou, T. B. (2009). Action Research Models in Business Research. Retrieved on 3rd November 2012 from: http://anzsys.org/anzsys03/ran3000072_3.pdf. Read More