University Report: Critical Review of Action Research Method

This report presents a critical review of action research as a method, emphasizing its value-based nature and reflexivity. It explores the method's relevance in addressing complex issues and its focus on improving practice. The report delves into the different segments of action research, including positivist, interpretive, and critical approaches, and highlights the advantages such as practical significance and the ability to generate in-depth knowledge. It also acknowledges the weaknesses, such as subjectivity and potential biases, and discusses the time-consuming nature of the process. The conclusion underscores the feasibility of action research in influencing organizational change and suggests the steps involved in its implementation, such as identifying a crisis, gathering information, developing a plan, and communicating outcomes.

Running head: CRITICAL REVIEW
Critical Review
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author Note

1
CRITICAL REVIEW
Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Critical Review on action research as method.................................................................................2
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................4
Reference.........................................................................................................................................5

2
CRITICAL REVIEW
Introduction
The main aim to carry out action research is based on the fact that one of the most
significant professional contributions that can be made is associated with taking part in the
creation of something considered being new, a social innovation and not simply doing the
reformulation of theoretical suggestions. Therefore, along with having the concern of getting
evaluated, the researcher will be having the interest to study forces that are leading towards
change. The manner in which there occurs the development as well as implementation of action
is just as significant as the outcome of the action. To be specific, it can be stated that this
approach is having the relevancy when there occurs the aspect of solving the circumstances that
are considered being complex as well as problematic.
Critical Review on action research as method
Action research as a method is considered to be value-based. Another significant
characteristic of action research is associated with its reflexivity. Reflexivity is necessary
regarding action research due to the fact that it is aiming towards interrogating as well as
examining the proposals that are being received in respect of change or betterment (Robson,
2016).
The action research method is concentrating upon a particular research question with the
focus towards improving the practice. It also assists in the generation of practical information
and is regarded to be a valid method. Action research method also assists in the production of
knowledge as well as action in respect of the advantages of a group of individuals via study,
research, socio-political action as well as education (Smith, 2015). There also occurs the aspect

3
CRITICAL REVIEW
of individuals getting empowered by making them enable for constructing as well as using their
personal information through action research (Metler, 2016). The action research method can be
divided into three segments such as positivist, interpretive as well as critical. The positivist
approach to action research does the perceiving of action research as a social experiment, the
interpretive action research does the perceiving of the business reality to be socially constructed
and concentrates upon the specifications relating to the local as well as organizational factors
when the action research is being conducted, and critical action research is a particular kind of
action research that is adopting a critical approach in respect of business methods and are aiming
towards betterment (Mertens, 2014).
The advantages of action research method are associated with the aspect of having
increased level of practical significance regarding the business research. Moreover, action
research can be used with qualitative as well as qualitative data and there is a possibility for
gaining an in-depth knowledge relating to the problem (Marshall, 2014). Action research does
the offering of practical solutions in respect of positive changing scenarios in practice as well as
in society. Action research method is considered being a practical process to do the improvement
of instructional practice as well as doing the enhancement of the academic environment within
the educators (Kemmis, 2013) The educators are positioned in an unique manner fir evaluating
the situation of eh classroom, implementing the action plans as well as evaluating them later. On
the other hand, it is also having it weaknesses. One of the major weaknesses of action research is
that when proper checking is not done, then results are burdened with subjectivity. There is a
tendency in respect of the researcher to have over-involvement to the extent that individual
biases take place in the evaluation of the findings (Herr, 2014). One more disadvantage in
conducting action research is that the researchers are often subordinates within an organization

4
CRITICAL REVIEW
and therefore, when the researcher is an organizational insider, power relations as well as
disparities might be complicating the conducting of the research (Thorton, 2015). The
researchers might be pressurised or intimidated for altering the research findings for suiting the
objectives of the organization. This research method is also considered being time consuming
and in respect of producing knowledge, it is considered having unpredictability (Coghlan, 2014).
Conclusion
In conclusion, it can be stated that irrespective of having certain weaknesses, action
research is still considered being a feasible tool within the education leaders, to influence
organizational change. There is the requirement for establishing understanding in respect of
action research as a means for the improvement of leadership capabilities within the education
leaders. The research action method advances with the help of certain steps such as, identifying
the crisis situation, to gather information, to develop a research plan, implementation of plan as
well as to collect the data, analyze the data, action plan development as well as to communicate
the outcomes.

5
CRITICAL REVIEW
Reference
Coghlan, D., & Brannick, T. (2014). Doing action research in your own organization. Sage.
Herr, K., & Anderson, G. L. (2014). The action research dissertation: A guide for students and
faculty. Sage publications.
Kemmis, S., McTaggart, R., & Nixon, R. (2013). The action research planner: Doing critical
participatory action research. Springer Science & Business Media.
Marshall, C., & Rossman, G. B. (2014). Designing qualitative research. Sage publications.
McNiff, J. (2013). Action research: Principles and practice. Routledge.
Mertens, D. M. (2014). Research and evaluation in education and psychology: Integrating
diversity with quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods. Sage publications.
Mertler, C. A. (2016). Action research: Improving schools and empowering educators. Sage
Publications.
Robson, C., & McCartan, K. (2016). Real world research. John Wiley & Sons.
Smith, J. A. (Ed.). (2015). Qualitative psychology: A practical guide to research methods. Sage.
Thornton, P. H., Ocasio, W., & Lounsbury, M. (2015). The institutional logics perspective. John
Wiley & Sons, Inc..