Action research is a term used to describe studies that aim to assess, inquire and critically evaluate problems to develop workable solutions. Research that has theoretical underpinnings and adds value to the body of literature is called theoretical research. Action research, in contrast, tackles the issues and difficulties experienced by practitioners and policymakers and aids in their decision-making. This article will provide a comprehensive overview of action research and its importance in dissertation writing.
What is Action Research?
Action research entails methodologies intended to enhance policymaking and implementation across various industries. Action research is also known as practical research since it aims to devise practical solutions for problems. In policymaking, action research denotes participative research since it involves the involvement of various stakeholders to devise solutions to societal issues and governance problems.
Similarly, action research in psychology, business, natural sciences, and natural sciences seeks to analyse the practical issues and challenges that afflict human life and aim to devise appropriate and innovative solutions. Action research in development studies seeks to address the problems and issues at the local and community levels.
Extensive research based on quantitative and qualitative data collection enables policymakers and practitioners to devise workable and sustainable solutions to the problems. Action research is highly beneficial for healthcare practitioners. Intervention studies based on clinical trials and health issues are mitigated by action research. Similarly, psychiatrists conduct clinical trials and utilise action research to understand the complexity of mental health issues and seek to address them. The overall purpose of action research is to improve and implement solutions informed by ample evidence.
The advantages of action research entail its focus on creating solutions to practical problems. Additionally, action research can empower people by including people in the research process and any subsequent development or implementation initiatives. Organizations and corporations usually employ researchers to conduct action research to devise solutions for practical problems. An impartial researcher can assist practitioners in recognising problems and locating and implementing practical solutions. They can also assist practitioners in frequently monitoring and assessing the techniques and processes of change.
Importance of Action based research in Dissertation Writing
The interest of graduate students is diverse; some seek to deal with theoretical issues, whereas others aim to devise solution-oriented mechanisms. The latter are more interested in action research since they are occupied by practical issues and aspire to apply problem-solving skills and devise a solution to cater to the larger humanity.
Dissertation writing at the graduate level involves identifying a practical problem and its evaluation to understand the problem’s nature, extent, and impact. Furthermore, the researcher seeks to devise solutions to the problem by analysing the data and comparing the situation with other possible workable solutions. Alternatively, researchers rely on a combination of reason, judgment, and intuition to devise workable plans for implementing solutions to a problem.
Action research is crucial in dissertation writing since the world is evolving towards research-led development and growth. Industries and economies of scale conduct extensive research to devise solutions to many social, economic, and development issues that confront human society. It has far-reaching consequences and is largely credited with enabling humans to transition towards developed and highly complex societies.
Action research is highly complex and requires ample analytical and problem-solving skills. Students often find themselves in a conundrum on how to conduct research and what are the requirements for action research therefore if you need assistance in your research you can always take help from experts at Dissertation Writing Services.
Different types of action research
Positivist paradigm
The Positivist paradigm in the academic discourse is underpinned by empirical philosophy. Empirical philosophy developed in the aftermath of the European scientific revolution exalted the five senses and their role in ascertaining the truth. Knowledge was based on collecting data through the five senses, and empiricists or positivists sought to explain natural and human phenomena through the lens of the five senses. They sought to provide an objective account of reality untainted by subjective and pre-existing notions or ideas. However, in practical reality the criterion of “objective” does not translate perfectly since the data itself is inundated with subjective implications and pre-conceived predilections of the researcher.
Positivist paradigm in action research employs a scientific approach to analyse an issue and devise solutions based on hard data acquired directly through observation and empirical sources. Practical researchers identify a problem, devise a hypothesis situated in real-life contexts, and test the hypothesis by acquiring data and devising experiments.
Positivist paradigm relies on the inductive approach in research in the sense that data is collected or experiments are conducted, and generalisations are made after careful analysis, rigorous testing, and replication. This approach seeks to devise objective and tangible policies or paradigms for addressing problems occurring in real-life contexts. Positivist paradigm usually employs quantitative approaches in research for analysing and evaluating a practical problem. Variables are defined at the outset of the research, and researchers seek to determine correlations and causal linkages between the variables. The researchers’ primary goal is to devise tangible and concrete solutions to a problem.
However, the positivist paradigm is criticized because excessive reliance on numerical data makes the research devoid of human agency. Human agency is a complex web of emotional, psychological, and rational considerations. It does not always conform to predictions or procedures based on hard data. Therefore, there is another approach to action-based research, which we will examine in the next section.
Interpretative Action Research
Interpretative action research as the name implies, employs interpretative techniques to analyse a problem. It contextualises the problems within the paradigm of social construction and does not rely excessively on hard data. It seeks to comprehend the subjective elements of human experience and takes a nuanced approach toward problems. Interpretative action research utilises qualitative data instead of the positivist paradigm and seeks to interpret issues and problems by comprehending the social, economic, political, and cultural context. Development studies revolutionized action research by arguing that research based on continued focus on hard data seeks to undermine the complexity of human experience. They argue that human experience is diverse and varied; therefore, there is no panacea to problems afflicting different people across the globe.
Interpretative research seeks to bridge the gap between objective and subjective elements of human life and aims to address the issues by taking into consideration multiple viewpoints. Interpretative action-based research is highly complex and employs hermeneutic techniques for evaluating problems. If you are puzzled about how to conduct interpretative research, you can always take help from experts at Dissertation Help Online.
Conclusion
Action research has useful implications for practical issues and real-life challenges. Policymakers and practitioners are the major beneficiaries of practical research since it enables them to devise workable and sustainable solutions to a problem.
