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Karim K (2001) Assessing the strengths and weaknesses of action research. Nursing Standard. 15, 26, 33-35. Date of acceptance: December 20 2000.
Abstract
Background Proponents of action research claim that it is not just for researchers, but helps to empower research participants to make changes in practice. This literature review examines some of the evidence for and against a research methodology that might still be unfamiliar to many nurses.
Conclusion Action research often lends itself to small-scale studies and is time-consuming. The value of such a methodology is that it provides a powerful means of improving and enhancing practice.
Key words
Research methods
These key words are based on subject headings from the British Nursing Index. This article has been subject to double-blind review.
THE TERM 'action research' was proposed first by Kurt Lewin in the mid-1940s. It requires researchers to investigate practical issues occurring in the everyday social world (Coolican 1993). The idea was that researchers would enter a social situation, attempt change and monitor the results.
Blaxter et al (1996) defined action research as: '... the study of a social situation with a view to improving the quality of action within it', and Bowling (1997) described it as a communitybased method that can be used in a variety of settings including hospitals, health clinics, clubs, factories and schools.
The method has become increasingly popular especially in professions that require a 'hands on' approach, such as education and health and social care, although, as Blaxter et al (1996) point out, the method can be used by others including commercial organisations.
Action research cannot be categorised as either qualitative or quantitative. Indeed, methods used by both quantitative and qualitative researchers can be employed. As Webb (1990) indicates, action research developed as a result of the limitations of quantitative and qualitative methods.
The action researcher has a different view of the world, which is based on critical theory. Critical theorists, who believe that where there is imbalance of power between two parties, one of them will end up being disempowered (Ellis and Crookes 1998), aim to change the world by empowering the subjects of inquiry to bring about social change. According to Webb (1990), traditional approaches to research involve 'smash and...