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What I’ve learned about Action Research.

By: Khatab Alqararah

Historical data analysis, observation and surveys among other research methods always helped

researchers to tackle their objective conclusions and results; however, these results would not be

achievable without a theory or theoretical framework which can support researcher to construct

their methodology. Nevertheless, what about the problems which are out of areas where the

existent theories cover? And what about the problems which we really don’t know about their

existence?

Action research is a field-nature applied research that close to qualitative type of researches.

Action research is a strategy of research that can help researcher to solve and explain a specific

problem or even discover the existence of a problem. Action researches suggest that the

researcher should be part of the research problem, and must be a member of actors in the

research field to live in the same environment with the same conditions.

Usually, action research aims to create change in a well specified phenomenon, either change as

method to generate desired results or intervention to generate the desired change. Furthermore, in

action research the researcher can use different tools to understand the phenomenon and interact

with the actors such as discussions, taking notes, recording the diaries, taking photos …etc.

Additionally, action researcher can also get benefit from traditional research methods such as

interviews and surveys during the research period.

To construct effective and meaningful action research there are three pillars must take place;

Research, Participation and Action. These three pillars

can build the triangle of action research, and researchers

must be aware to make a balance between these pillars

and not to go extremely to some of them and ignore the

others. Otherwise, researchers will stick inside the

triangle and will be feckless to come out with

meaningful results. Making good connections between

these three pillars is something very essential to keep

the wheel moving on the right direction.

Action research is real time research and result oriented.

In addition, action research aims to solve a well

specified problem or to interpret a local phenomenon.

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Moreover, action research does not aim to develop a theory or to generalize the results. Action

research is more flexible which can be used by practitioners to help them solve their problems in

workplace with fewer restrictions regarding to the methodology that can be in scientific research.

Since action research conducted to solve a specific

problem and aim not to generalize the results; case

studies are very common to be used in action

researches. After study and plan a set of periodic and

cyclic actions carried out; during these actions the

researcher will generate several reflections and then

problems will appear, new reflections will be

generated then new problems will come out….etc.

this process will continue until the researcher can

understand the phenomenon or solve the problems.

It’s necessary in action research to understand the

relationship between the elements of the research

context, and also taking everyone’s point of view as

contribution to understanding. Action researcher can participate as passive observer or can also

create a dialogue. Action research can be done by Insider (the one who owns the problem or

want a problem to be solved) or by Outsider (the one that can contribute with their knowledge to

the insiders), among different types of positionality:

1. Insider (researcher studies own self/practice)

2. Insider in collaboration with other insiders

3. Insider(s) in collaboration with outsider(s)

4. Reciprocal collaboration (insider-outsider teams)

5. Outsider(s) in collaboration with insider(s)

6. Outsider(s) study insider(s)

Action research is quite risky strategy to make a research, because normally the researchers aim

to create change; but, what happen actually that researchers themselves been changed. Therefore,

I see it would be valuable if the action research held up by more than one researcher. However,

action research is very dynamic strategy of research and also it is important to fill the gap

between the academics and practitioners.