Post, post, post

Structuralism to Post-structuralism Context is relevant Parts are as important as the whole and can change meaning of the whole How we look at structure change over time, among people and cultures Rules are dependent on context, not structure Universal truths Relationship of parts to a whole are more important that the parts Society, culture and the individual hare underlying structures that can be understood by principles Structures are governed by laws or rules inherent to them (language, kinship, cognition, development, disciplines)

Rigor Trustworthiness –Acceptable and competent –Ethical Credibility –Does research represent and come from participants words, beliefs, actions? –Does researcher reflect on their role and actions and the impact of these? –Can others see and accept reasoning of actions?

Rigor Systematic –Researcher documents decision- making –Method is grounded in theory –Reasoning about methods and design is clear Ethics –IRB

Strategies for Rigor & credibility Triangulation- multiple sources of data, points in times, or methods Prolonged engagement – multiple interactions over a period of time Member checking – participant reads, responds to what you are writing reporting or taking action on. Peer debriefing – talking or letting someone else read what you are deciding and concluding.

Action Research Explained

Action Research … Is Interpretive Is Qualitative Is Democratic Is Generative Is Contextual Validates and authenticates theory Is reflexive Has limited generalizability

Bridging the Gap Basic research TheoriesApplicationsApplied research Applications Action research Best practice

Model 1: Technical AR The practitioner, though a collaborator in the research, is not the main researcher. The main researcher identifies the action research problem and proposes an intervention. The practitioner is involved in the implementation of any interventions.

Model 2: Practical Here the researcher and the practitioner identify the research problem together and discuss underlying causes and possible interventions. Example

Model 3: Emancipatory Practitioners work together as a group and collectively identify problems and possible solutions. Solutions are as much political and consciousness raising as practical. There is a strong social element here as well, in that it is expected that participants will emerge with a new view or theory of society. Example

Process Question => Plan => Act => Observe => Reflect => Researcher as instrument of data collection Creative Problem Solving –Identify the problem or challenge –Define problem or challenge –Identify factors contributing to problem or challenge Means-end analysis –Identify the outcome –Identify goals needed to achieve outcome –Devise a plan of action