Section archive - Research Methods

This paper introduces the concept of ‘co-impact’ to characterise the complex and dynamic process of social and economic change generated by participatory action research (PAR). The authors developed a conceptual framework, based on a threefold distinction between ‘participatory’, ‘collaborative’ and ‘collective’ impact. They apply this framework to a case study action research project, Debt on Teesside, working with low-income households in North East England. They aimed to show what kinds of individual, organizational and social changes were generated in this particular case, and what conceptual framework might be useful for organising and understanding co-impact.

This paper describes the experiences of three pre-service teachers as they engaged in teacher research as part of their teacher education program. Specifically, this paper investigates the role of the teacher’s personal and academic history in the design of their teacher research projects; how their research worked to disrupt classroom cultures and practices. It also examines the ways in which the pre-service teachers interpreted their research in light of new contexts during their first year of teaching. The authors argue that the action research process fostered a deep engagement with certain ideas. This process allowed the pre-service teachers a space to develop these ideas fully and test nascent theories about teaching and learning. In conclusion, the authors contend that action research would be a powerful programmatic framework allowing multifaceted engagement with significant questions and problems of practice from initial methods courses through student-teaching.

The purpose of this study is to integrate the potential advantages of an intensive format with student-centred learning and active engagement in research methods education. Specifically, this study examined the implementation of a new, intensive course format at UK business school. This format aimed to increase student participation, and promote independent learning in a less formal and more collegiate environment. The results reveal that the new format produced scores that were at least as good as the traditional format and which were more closely aligned with the students’ average overall course scores. Consequently, students had a clearer idea of the research process and were often enthusiastic and more prepared to take ownership of their project.

This article discusses the research regarding the formation and role of networks, and factors to consider when assessing the impact and outcomes of a network. It also looks at the connections between networks and action research (AR), and moves to a focus on the Evaluative Study of Action Research (ESAR), currently in its first stages, and outlines four levels of networks associated with the study. Finally, this article provides an early formative analysis with regard to the impact and outcomes of the ESAR team as a network to date. The authors conclude that the ESAR network provides evidence of each factor of well-functioning networks. Formative evaluations will continue for how the team network functions, as well as how each of the networks that develop functions as the research is undertaken.