Action Research LO7331

Dr. Scott J. Simmerman (74170.1061@CompuServe.COM)
09 May 96 12:00:55 EDT

Replying to LO7286 --

Replying to LO7269 (Dr. Joe Hays), LO7286 (JP Fullerton) and some private
messages to me about Action Research,

Joe had said:

> Most times I see something on AR or Action Science it really is just a
> mention. I haven't really come across a concise and compelling source
> describing and explaining the process.

And then John did the research on Action Research and came up with the
following 2 definitions:

"Action Research is an essentially self-managed process of collaborative
and rigorous enquiry, action and reflection which, through a series of
cycles of these activities, is intended to improve the situation being
addressed and, at the same time, develop the skills and insights of the
individuals doing it."

"a form of collective self-reflective inquiry undertaken by participants
in social situations in order to improve the rationality and justice of
their own social or educational practices, as well as their understanding
of these practices and the situations in which these practices are carried
out" (Kemmis and McTaggert 1990:5).

So, to answer the questions posed to me about similarities, "Yes," Square
Wheels must be a form of Action Research.

We all pull and push the wagons. And they do roll forward on the Square
Wheels (Thump, Thump). And only by stopping the process of moving forward
can we have the opportunity to discover that the cargo is round wheels,
that the ideas for improvement already exist within the wagon. Thus,
"Don't just do something, stand there!" is the self-reflection and
introspection of the Action Research methodology.


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/ /\. [_]    [_]      /\.

And only by collectively discussing issues and opportunities, by
reflecting on the reality of the journey, and by understanding how things
are really working will we recognize improvement opportunities. The round
wheels of today become the Square Wheels of tomorrow. By going through a
series of these "cycles" we can make the long-term improvements to the
organizations.

Recognize also that the people at the front are believed to be deaf and
the people at the back are found to be blind (at least to the journey),

(Those of you wanting a copy of the illustration, free, send me a snail
mail address.)

For the Fun of It!

-- 

Scott Simmerman 74170.1061@compuserve.com

Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>