Insider Action research as an approach and a method – Exploring institutional encounters from within a birthing context

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to describe the first person perspective of being a peer midwife and a novice researcher initiating collaborative AR in her own organization to develop knowledge about the first encounters between the labouring woman and her care-givers in a hospital birthing context. It was motivated by the author’s longstanding professional clinical experience of observing and hearing parents’ stories of vulnerability and fear of childbirth, and how staff’s attitudes affected the childbirth experience negatively. Data were collected between 2010 and 2013 and included the researcher’s log with reflections from clinical work, as well as interviews, participant observation, and research group communications. A reflective interpretative lifeworld research approach was used to analyze the data. The experience of being a novice insider action researcher (IARr) consisted of three thematic meanings: “the struggle to initiate a clinical insider action research project,” “standing alone at the messy front line,” and “being a catalytic counterbalance to the prevailing medico technical focus.” The comprehensive understanding was “learning how to clinically reflect on and to voice the tacit components of care.” The strategy used in undertaking this study was influenced by the philosophies of both midwifery care and AR.