I am catching up with putting my hand-written notes on my blog, on the reading I have done so far.
Prior to our first SiP Workshop I read Jean McNiff’s “What is Action Research”. This was interesting. I am working on the MA Applied Imagination in the Creative Industries, and the research methodology of this MA is Action Research. However reading McNiff I realised that the definition we employ on our course is not the only one, and McNiff’s actually has some other aspects to it, I have not heard about in this way previously.
So, her overall definition is how I have understood and used action research before. She says: “This is the basic action principle underpinning action research. It involves identifying a problematic issue, imagining a possible solution, trying it out, evaluating it (did it work?), and changing practice in the light of the evaluation.” However a few paragraphs before that, she states: “In traditional forms of research – empirical research – researchers do research on other people. In action research, researchers do research on themselves. Empirical researchers enquire into other people’s lives. Action researchers enquire into their own. Action research is an enquiry conducted by the self into the self.” I was surprised to read this, and find it a bit limiting that the research should be “by the self into the self.” I aim to work with students on my course as my action research participants and therefore they are my target audience. I will look at other action research scholars as well and see if this is helpful. Otherwise I will stick with the definition we are using on our MA.
Reference:
- McNiff, J. (1995) What is Action Research? Available at:
https://www.jeanmcniff.com/ar-booklet.asp (Accessed: 12 January 2021)