Social Sciences Essay: Action Research

Action Research
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Action Research was first applied by Kurt Lewis in the changes of the Second World War. He defined it as a way of generating knowledge about a system while trying to change it. AR was further developed by late scholars like Argyris and his associates. The approach aims at building while solving the problems highlighted in the context. There are three types of AR. The first type is the technical approach. This aims to develop professional development through research. Secondly, the practical method aims to improve the understanding of practitioners through active participation. The third type is AR is emancipatory. It aims to transform organizational system by collaborating with researchers. The purpose of this essay is to highlight the various steps of AR and the advantages and limitations that may affect its productivity when applied.
AR has a five step cyclical process. The first stage is diagnosing. To diagnose means to identify the primary problem. The diagnose leads to the development of theoretical assumptions that are based on the analysis. Secondly, action planning entails focusing on the subject that should be changed and the approach required. The plan of action is guided by the theoretical framework highlighted in the first phase. The third stage is action taking. Action taking entails carrying out the plan of action. Researchers collaboratively intervene in the practitioner’s organization to effect certain changes. The next stage is evaluation (Azhar et al., 2010). After the plan of action is implemented, the researchers involved evaluate the outcome. Evaluation involves determining whether the goals of the plan of action were achieved. Additionally, the evaluation must question whether the actions undertaken were the sole cause of the change affected. Specifying learning is normally undertaken last. This phase normally contributes to the academic audience. Furthermore, the people involved in implementing the plan assess the knowledge gained during the research. This knowledge might help in troubleshooting if the plan of actio...