Our Approach to Action Research

Effective AR/AL is founded on three core principles:

Action: Getting things done

Purposeful and well informed action that works toward desired outcomes is essential to the process of change. Action may come in many forms within an action research process including:

• Inquiry and dialogue, where the process of generating new understanding and new knowledge leads to new ways of being
• Process and systems change, where systematising new expectations and ways of operating reinforce new behaviours and ways of doing
•  Capability development, where new awareness and skills lead to different relational influences, resource distribution and concepts of power 
•  Structural change, where shifting the mechanisms for accountability and outcome responsibility leads to new values and outcomes.

Research: Inquiry that creates new awareness and shared knowledge

The intent of any AR/AL is to learn, to generate new knowledge and to value different ways of knowing about what is of value and importance in the system. New knowledge is always possible through the mechanisms of action, some of which are listed above. However this requires time to be given to building the discipline of reflection and collective sense making to generate new learning. New learning is in turn applied purposefully to drive further action.

Participation: Engaging poeple in self-directed change

People are the agents of change within their own systems and understanding of what change is needed and how such change can be achieved. This can only be done by engaging the people affected by the change in the change process. They bring their perspective, experience, vision and knowledge to the table, and engagement and participation is critical to the sustainability of project outcomes. Engagement is about good decision-making, attitudinal and relationship change, and in-depth communication and reflection, and trying out different ways of doing.