This book provides a new synthesis of the theories and principles guiding action research, drawn from various disciplines and from the variety of historical traditions of action research work.

List of contributors

xi

Acknowledgments

xiii

Preface

xv

Part I The nature of action research

1

(62)

Introduction

3

(6)

Prologue

3

(1)

Outline structure of the book

4

(1)

What is `action research'?

5

(3)

A definition

8

(1)

Action research as an approach to inquiry and development

9

(18)

The cycle of action and reflection as a model of `work'

9

(5)

Action research and other models of social research

14

(9)

Creating a `culture of inquiry' in practice settings

23

(4)

Action research: contexts and dimensions

27

(36)

Introduction

27

(1)

Service-user research

28

(5)

Action research and community development

33

(4)

Action research as management: consultancy or organisational learning?

37

(5)

`Facilitation': issues of power and learning

42

(3)

Action research as `responsive' evaluation

45

(5)

Action research and `critical reflection'

50

(5)

Action research and feminist research

55

(3)

Action research and anti-racist research

58

(5)

Conclusion

62

(1)

PART II Examples: the variety of action research

63

(142)

Developing nursing practice: introducing knee-length anti-embolic stockings

65

(9)

Noreen Kennedy

Introducing bedside handovers: changing practice on a coronary care unit

74

(14)

Fergal Searson

Emprowering the supporters: enhancing the role of unqualified support workers in a housing scheme for people with mental health problems

88

(14)

Philip Kemp

What does an elephant look like? Problems encountered on a journey to innovation in child protection

102

(14)

Valerie Childs

Developing client-focused work with people with profound learning disabilities

116

(15)

Brenda Dennett

Researching the experiences of black professionals in white organisations: an example from social work

131

(14)

Cathy Aymer

Community involvement in a bid for urban regeneration funds

145

(15)

Richard Lawrence

The Citizens' Commissions: a UK case study of service-user-controlled research

160

(15)

Peter Beresford

Michael Turner

The Camden `Alternative Choices in Mental Health' Project

175

(12)

Yan Weaver

Vicky Nicholls

A foot in the door: a collaborative action research project with cancer service-users

187

(12)

Jane Bradburn

Cherry Mackie

Pauline and Alzheimer's: `reflections' on caring

199

(6)

Philip Ingram

PART III Undertaking an action research project: a practical guide

205

(48)

Introduction

207

(1)

Choosing a topic

207

(1)

Introduction to action research

208

(2)

Critical reflection

210

(5)

Preparing an action research proposal

215

(5)

Ethical issues and principles of procedure

220

(4)

Gathering `data'

224

(10)

Analysing and reflecting on data

234

(7)

Writing an action research report

241

(12)

Appendix: Practical Guide supporting documents

245

(8)

PART IV Action research as a form of social inquiry: a `theoretical' justification

253

(13)

Introduction

255

(1)

Action research and relativism

256

(3)

Critical realism

259

(4)

Action research and critical realism

263

(2)

Conclusion

265

(1)

Bibliography

266

(9)

Index

275

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