Action Researchers Research Articles

Activist Scholarship and Borderland Feminism: Resisting Coloniality in Liminal Internationalization

Abstract: Using an international research center initiative, the purpose of this article is to illustrate how activist research can be fertile ground for academic theorization and provide a framework for those interested in activist scholarship, especially for women faculty of Latin American origins in U.S. institutions. I elaborate on how activist scholarship can resist coloniality through an example of critical internationalization work in higher education using borderland feminism as a lens. In doing so, I show the interconnections between borderland feminism, coloniality, and liminal internationalization. Finally, based on this theoretical development, I applied Davis et al.´s interpretive criteria (2019) to my activist scholarship in liminal internationalization.

Extending Our Understanding of the Social Determinants of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors in Families: A Systems Mapping Approach.

The social environment is important to consider for effective promotion of movement behaviors like increased physical activity (PA) and reduced sedentary behavior (SB); yet, it is less often considered than individual and built environments. One way to advance social environment research is to develop system maps, an innovative, participatory, action-oriented research process that actively engages stakeholders to visualize system structures and explore how systems "work." The purpose of this research was to develop PA and SB system maps of the social environment embedded within the core/nuclear family system. The development process began with a 2-day multicountry, 16-researcher, in-person participatory workshop in August 2023, followed by multiple online follow-up consultations. Attendees contributed to the creation of the maps through shared development of critical determinants and their causal pathways. The structure of the final maps was analyzed using network analysis methods to identify indicators of centrality, and key feedback loops and areas for potential intervention were explored. Key central determinants that were likely critical targets for systems intervention to produce changes in PA and SB and featured prominently in most of the reinforcing and balancing feedback loops included shared family interests, values and priorities, family logistical support, family cohesion/organization, and shared experiences. The maps also highlighted key determinants of the broader social environment external to the family. These system maps support current evidence on movement behaviors in family systems and socioecological theories and have the utility to galvanize future research and policy to promote PA and reduce SB.

Effect of cooking conditions on iron release from pots and development of kinetic models for iron supplementation in NIPs

The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified the use of iron cookware as a potential strategy for alleviating iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) and emphasises the need for action-oriented research in this area. In response to this need, our study systematically investigated the patterns of iron release from various types of cookware under different cooking conditions. Among these, nitrided iron pots (NIPs), the most widely used cookware, were selected for the development of kinetic models to predict iron release efficiently across a range of cooking temperatures and pH levels in food materials. Our results demonstrated that iron release from the pots was significantly influenced by cooking conditions such as the type of cookware, cooking temperatures, cooking times, types of acidic substances, and the pH of the cooking environment. Specifically, higher temperatures, longer cooking times, lower pH levels, and the presence of acetic acid were found to maximise iron release into food. We developed a series of kinetic models—Iron Release-Temperature Models (I, II, and III) and Iron Release-pH Models (IV, V, and VI)—to predict iron release from NIPs. The temperature models are applicable for cooking food with a pH of 5.00–6.00 within a temperature range of 50–100 °C, while the pH models are designed for food with a pH of 3.00–6.00 at boiling temperatures. Validation experiments confirmed the relative accuracy of these models. Additionally, when comparing the predicted iron release with the Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) guidelines, the findings support the efficacy of iron pots as a viable method for iron supplementation.

The harm of normalized violence: re-identifying intimate partner violence as torture in acknowledging the stakes of abusive relationships

ABSTRACT In this article, I draw on the work of radical feminist legal scholars, who have argued for using the terminology of torture in international law as a means to take intimate partner violence (IPV) seriously and to recognize the harm of normalized violence. I explore lived experiences of IPV based on my feminist activist research, which has included co-moderating online support groups and conducting follow-up interviews with women who have been subjected to coercive control. I examine in detail the similarities between torture and IPV in terms of the purposiveness, severity, and effects of violence, and show how these were concretized in the lives of research participants. This research took place in Finland, which has been referred to as the “Nordic paradox,” as IPV is both common and normalized within Finnish culture and society and the harm of private violence is generally dismissed. I conclude that drawing these parallels could serve as a means to raise awareness of the stakes of abusive relationships and validate targets’ experiences of abuse. Moreover, focusing research on experiences of violence in a Nordic country can expand our understanding of gender-based violence in the context of feminist international relations.

Activist Research as a Methodological Toolbox to Advance Public Sociology

Sociologists – and social scientists more broadly – have often resorted to ‘public sociology’ and ‘activist research’ (AvR) with the aim of producing useful knowledge for the common good and also supporting emancipatory social movements and progressive policies. I define AvR here as collective processes of cooperation between academic researchers and non-academics in order to benefit the latter. This approach bridges theory and practice in ways that enhance the consistency and legitimacy of sociology as an engaged science. Recent debates on public sociology, however, have overlooked the central role of AvR. To reverse this relative omission, I suggest a clear typology of AvR processes and practices that have been used and hold the potential to advance public sociology. I also contend that in contrast to views of AvR as a clearly demarcated method, it encompasses multiple research, collaborative and action techniques so that it may be better conceived of as a ‘methodological toolbox’.

How do Researchers Address the Criteria for Quality of Action Research Studies in Healthcare: A Scoping Review

Background: The challenges being experienced by health and care systems across the globe are not being adequately addressed by current research paradigms and approaches. The scientific literature has recommended that in order to understand complex interventions, such as the implementation of integrated care, in complex systems, longitudinal and qualitative research approaches are required. Action research approaches have the potential to be a transformative force in healthcare through its dynamic dual intention of action and research that facilitates organisational change, teamwork and the empowerment of heath care professionals in hospitals and communities thus contributing to improvements in the quality of care. Despite its potential value, there is no clear consensus on what constitutes ‘good’ action research with many empirical investigations appearing to insufficiently engage with quality criteria that has been described in some detail in the literature including four factors from Shani and Pasmore’s complete theory of action research.
 Objectives: The aim of this scoping review was to explore the extant literature on action research studies in healthcare and assess and synthesise how researchers addressed criteria for quality of action research studies in healthcare.
 Eligibility criteria: This scoping review considered qualitative and quantitative primary research utilising action research approaches, published in the English language between the years 2016 and 2021.
 Sources of evidence: The following databases were searched: PubMed, CINAHL and ProQuest. In addition, a manual search of key action research journals was performed.
 Data extraction was conducted using Rayyan software and a bespoke data extraction table was developed to produce a descriptive summary of the results, addressing the objectives and research question. The review used the Arksey, and O’Malley (2005) revised six-step framework and adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). As recommended, the findings are presented in narrative and tabular form with figures to support the data where appropriate.
 Results: 3263 articles were originally identified. 641 articles were identified as duplicates entries and were removed before screening. A further 2565 articles were excluded as they did not meet the inclusion criteria. A total of 57 articles were included in the review. Most publications were in 2016. Several different action research approaches were used. Most studies had nursing participants and were set in hospitals with most publications in Europe. Only 13 of the 57 articles considered all 4 of the Shani and Pasmore quality factors and none considered the integration of these factors.
 Conclusion: This Scoping review builds upon knowledge generated by previous systematic reviews and contributes to knowledge and practice by providing coherence on how best to approach an action research project and attend to quality. If action research is to fulfil its potential as a transformative power for change within health care, action researchers need to demonstrate the rigor in their work. The authors offer some guidance in this area. Just as AR has dual intention, researchers have a dual obligation, to do good and to do good action research.

The Negative Effect and Consequences of Employee Turnover on the Saudi Oil and Gas Companies

The oil and gas sector in Middle East is facing many challenges regarding employee turnover especially in (DLPS) company. Employee turnover leads to reduce the employee's performance and productivity. Moreover, employee turnover also affects the organizational performance in general. High rates of employees' turnover cause many challenges to the organizations. Employee turnover has escalated to 14.2% in 2018 (DPLS, 2018). Likewise, many companies keep long service and loyal) employees intact while there are also other types of employees who leave their organization. The main idea behind choosing this topic is to address the reasons that cause the high rate of employees’ turnover and how to solve the issue. Moreover, the researcher aimed to investigate in depth the concept of how reward system and training could improve employee retention. To make this action researcher done, the researcher gathered data in questionnaire form (30 questionnaires) from previous and existed employees at DLPS Company and made five (5) interviews with departments managers to get valid data to build the study on. The results showed that, most of the targeted sample were not satisfied about their wages and the working time. In addition, due to the analysis of the quantitative and qualitative data, there is positive relationship between the hypotheses and the high rate of employees’ turnover.

The iceberg of dementia risk: empirical and conceptual arguments in favor of structural interventions for brain health

While pharmacological interventions for dementia struggle to demonstrate improved outcomes for patients and at-risk populations, non-pharmacological lifestyle interventions have been proposed as a tool to achieve dementia risk reduction. In this review, it is argued that lifestyle modification alone is a surface-level intervention from the point of view of fair and far-reaching dementia prevention. Below the tip of this “iceberg of dementia risk,” there are living conditions and social structures that represent deeper contributions to risk in the population. It is argued that alongside lifestyle modification, activist research and structural interventions are needed to make our society fairer and more dementia-resilient.

Militant Research in the Housing Movement: The Community Action Tenants Union Rent Strike History Project

AbstractKnowledge generated by and with radical housing movements is necessary to achieve a more just housing system. This article analyses a militant research project involving collective investigation of the history of rent strikes in Ireland undertaken within the Community Action Tenants Union Ireland. Drawing on the tradition of workers’ inquiry, it explores the relationships between militant research, class composition, and radical history, and how collective investigation of housing movement history might contribute to contemporary organising. The article is based on both oral history and archival research as well as reflections on the research process. The analysis focuses on how the project has or might contribute to current organising efforts through lessons drawn from historical analysis and connections developed through the research process, while also identifying tensions between research and organising. Overall, it highlights the value of radical history research as a form of organising and strategy for political recomposition.

Intersectionality factors and equitable end-of-life experiences: rapid review

BackgroundEfforts to minimise inequity in palliative and end-of-life care (PEoLC) are well-researched. This is frequently explained by differences related to singular factors. The concept of intersectionality recognises that the combination of variables exacerbates disparities.ObjectiveTo identify and review what is known about intersectionality’s impact on experiences of PEoLC, including advance care planning (ACP).MethodsA rapid review with a narrative summary of peer-reviewed articles. Six electronic databases were searched for studies explicitly exploring the role of intersectionality in the experience of PEoLC and ACP for people with life-limiting or terminal illnesses, published in the last 10 years.ResultsIdentifying eligible papers was challenging. Of the 3738 papers found, only seven were eligible. Of the seven included papers, four explored the impact of intersectionality on access to and attitudes towards ACP. Two studies involved access to PEoLC and one considered quality of care received in the last year of life.ConclusionsUnderstanding intersectionality is crucial for delivering personalised approaches to care and support. The relationship between intersecting factors and end-of-life experiences is complex and there is currently a paucity of studies considering this. The majority of existing literature addresses a narrow range of variables. Additionally, the lack of guidance on the application of intersectionality in research, makes it difficult to compare and synthesise findings. Further diverse action-orientated research is necessary to produce impactful evidence to inform future policy with the aim of reducing inequity in PEoLC.

“In Soccer, We Have the Opportunity to Call Attention to Certain Things”: An Examination of Media Framing of Activism for Human Rights in German Sport

The goal of this study was to extend the contemporary athlete activism literature by (a) exploring athlete activism beyond a strictly North American context and (b) examining how athlete activism at an organizational/institutional level (i.e., sport organization) may be framed differently than activist efforts at an individual level (i.e., athlete). By examining two examples of activism in German soccer, we show that the framing of both athlete-enacted and organization-enacted examples of activism highlighted the importance of speaking up when human rights are violated, called for the display of solidarity, and discussed the broader political implications for such protests. Additionally, framing of both examples of activism included voices of criticism regarding the sport organizations governing global sport. As calls for accountability of sport organizations suppressing athlete expression are becoming increasingly common in global sport, this study adds to a shifting focus of activism research targeting the sport institutions that often perpetuate the various injustices individual athletes call attention to.

Qualitative inquiry suggesting needed pathways: economic, social, religious, political and industrial an activist research on poverty

Qualitative inquiry suggesting needed pathways: economic, social, religious, political and industrial an activist research on poverty

Teacher study groups as a collaborative platform for action research: an ecological perspective

ABSTRACT The interplay between teachers engaged in action research (AR) and the educational ecosystem involving the other teachers who did not conduct AR and administrators has been an issue unexplored in the English Language Teaching (ELT) field. In the current study, we explore how teachers’ engagement in AR within a Teacher Study Group (TSG) at a state university in Türkiye interacted with each layer of the ecosystem from an Ecological Systems Theory (EST) perspective. Inductive analysis of data from semi-structured interviews with the teachers who actively participated in the project (n = 6), the other teachers who peripherally observed the action researchers (n = 10), and the administrators (n = 3), revealed that AR processes including collaborative professional learning and disseminating research findings significantly impacted the four layers of the educational ecological system (micro-, meso-, exo- and macrosystems). We discuss how AR as a collaborative professional development practice impacted each layer of the ecosystem, together with implications for its sustainability.

Empowering Rural Science Teachers as Reflective and Action-Oriented Practitioners

Teachers are aware of the presence, nature, and extent of classroom problem that they experience in daily teaching but they are not empowered enough to solve them as they aim to address learning losses. Thus, this paper described the profile of rural secondary science teachers; identified their problems encountered in daily teaching; and formulated policy recommendations that could empower them to be a reflective and action-oriented practitioner. Using qualitative case research design, eleven science teachers were purposively chosen as informants and data gathered were analyzed thematically. Three of them specializes in Biology, General Science, and Physics while the other two specializes in Chemistry; four of them were teaching Science in two or more grade levels; majority of science teachers were females; are Teachers I; and teaching experience of 0-5 years. Their problems meet was students’ poor performance, unfavorable behavior in class and teachers’ perceived difficulty. With these findings, the researcher recommends empowering teachers by developing their skills as reflective teachers and as classroom action researchers which could be strengthen by involving them in planning and designing professional development program, extending its implementation and evaluation in classrooms and by being part of a collaborative learning community.

Rigour, timeliness, and trade-offs in research: experience from India’s Swachh Bharat Mission

ABSTRACT This article presents lessons learnt from the evolution and usage of rapid action learning methods developed to support the Swachh Bharat Mission – Gramin (the Clean India Mission – Rural) in India. The Mission, started in 2014, aimed to change the sanitation behaviours of over 530 million people across 706 districts in five years. Participatory, action-orientated research and learning methods were trialled with government implementers, development partners, and communities. It was found that these methods enabled both a greater understanding of impacts at the community level, horizontal learning across districts, and the capacity development of Mission implementers.

‘Breaking the chains’: reflections on the making of an ethnographic documentary on human rights violations against people with mental illness in Indonesia

Breaking the Chains is an ethnographic documentary about the use of physical restraint and confinement of people with mental illness in Indonesia, a practice known as pasung. The film contributes to an understanding of the socio-cultural meanings of pasung, the sets of beliefs and customs that support such practices (including beliefs about mental illness and healing), and the challenges that must be overcome to eradicate this human rights abuse while highlighting the efforts to eradicate this practice at several levels. This article provides a reflection on the author's experiences and motivations for making Breaking the Chains. It also presents an opportunity to reflect upon the use of film as an applied, public and activist research methodology and the limits and possibilities presented by relying on film-documentary as a ‘generator’ of ethnographic knowledge.

Radical Methodological Openness and Method as Politics: Reflections on Militant Research with Squatters in Catalonia

AbstractIn 2017, it was estimated that over 87,000 families—around 270,000 people—lived in squatted properties in Spain. Such figures, often used by the media to stigmatise residential occupations and generate moral panic, give an ill‐defined yet powerful indication of the prevalence of squatting within and outside organised housing movements. From these came the question: How to elevate the “minor knowledges” of precariously housed people in an ethical, engaged, and situated way, in dialogue with a coordinated activist push to reframe squatting as a political strategy? Based on the experience of the first “strategic positivist” survey about squatting in Catalonia, we offer a situated reflection on the tensions and contradictions of militant research in a shifting political terrain. The urgency and ethics that guided our process made it necessary to operate through methodological openness and to consider method as politics, advancing a broader agenda of movement‐relevant research supporting non‐speculative forms of inhabitation.

Auditing, Revealing and Promoting Industry in the London Borough of Southwark

Renewed enthusiasm surrounds the potential for urban industry and its contribution to the socioeconomic diversity of cities, despite concerns about the loss of industrial uses, land, and buildings in high-value, post-industrial cities. Yet, industry is often hidden and undervalued, and methodologies to change the culture around nurturing industry in cities have not been well explored. As a first step in moving this agenda forward, this article proposes effective ways to reveal industrial uses and to advocate for policy protections of the land they occupy. It examines how London Metropolitan University’s School of Art, Architecture and Design (AAD) Cities action researchers applied their <em>Audit, Reveal and Promote </em>methodology to Southwark, a London borough with a high concentration of urban industry. There are key aspects to revealing industrial economies: collecting accurate data on the ground, showcasing local businesses, building stakeholder networks through mutual trust, and creating a space of possibilities between vertical hierarchical and grassroots power networks to enable stakeholders to participate in urban change. This article presents a methodology for cultural change towards valuing a mix of uses, including industry, to transform land development towards retention and densification of industry.

Stop, Drop, and Pivot: An Action Researcher's Lived Experience through the COVID-19 Interruption

This article chronicles the experience of an action researcher who was conducting a study in a post-secondary setting when COVID-19 swept across the globe and interrupted the research. The researcher set out to understand the aspects that promote and increase student investment in the classroom, and what she could do to positively impact student investment. This was accomplished through a three-phase action research study that was interrupted by COVID-19. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a pivot in the setting of the study and the last phase of the action research plan. The purpose of this article is to focus on the researcher’s perspective as a co-participant in the study while examining the changes brought about by the pandemic, and to address the implications of the findings and directions for future research. Of the three data sources in the study, the personal reflection journal of the researcher and co-participant feature heavily in expressing the lived experience of the researcher.

Margaret Archer (1943-2023) on Critical Realism and Morphogenesis: Linking Critical Realist Research Models from East and West

Critical Realism (CR) is a philosophical approach to social science research, social action, and social change activism. It provides a framework for social scientists whose value commitments leads them to view the construction of social phenomenon in critical ways, which identify the often hidden oppressive elements in social structures. This understanding of a ‘new’ reality underlies the advocacy of change strategies, and the initiation of dialogue between members of disadvantaged and oppressed groups through the process of ‘morphogenesis’ This model of dialogues enabling change and the ‘unmasking of alienation’ stem from the work of Roy Bhaskar, and has been developed by Margaret Archer and other European scholars. An important feature of CR has been the application by the emergence of shared understanding, by social scientists from different value traditions (e.g. Christianity, Secular Humanism, and Islam). The JOCRISE in taking CR understandings of oppressive social forces into new fields, and with fresh CR models, is welcomed. In appraising the new model from JOCRISE, we offer both Cartesian dualism, and Popper’s World 3 model as elements of a new, dynamic focus on social change advocacy.