Research
The Stronger Families Learning Exchange will provide action research expertise and advice on project design, implementation, evaluation and reporting to Stronger Families Fund Projects. These links are provided as an initial resource for those interested in research issues and evaluation (last updated 23 June 2005). There is a geographic bias to Australia, although some resources from other countries are included.
Online resources and publications
Useful sites
Online resources and publications
Action Research
Action Research:
Comparison with the Concepts of 'The Reflective Practitioner' and 'Quality Assurance'
by Regina Hatten, Donna Knapp and Ruth Salonga, 1997.
Action research e-reports - Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney
Action Research, Relativism and Critical Realism: A 'theoretical' Justification
for Action Research' by Richard Winter
Collaborative Action Research Network, University of East Anglia, UK.
Action Research
Resources
Southern Cross University
Online resource papers are presented which support Areol (action research and
evaluation on line), a 14-week public course offered each semester as a public
service by Southern Cross University and the Institute of Workplace Research
Learning and Development. The resource papers include case studies,
'how to' guides, evaluation, theories, bibliographies, public consultation,
participative processes, etc.
Business as Usual
or Action Research in Practice? by Sally Wortley, 1996.
Action research e-reports - Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney
This paper seeks to: distinguish between everyday practice and action research;
describe the differing models/types of action research; and apply these models
to a recent community project.
Can Action Research
be Made More Rigorous in a Positivist Sense? The Contribution of an Iterative
Approach by Nereu F. Kock Jr. , Robert J. McQueen and John L. Scott,
1997.
Action research e-reports - Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney
Reconnect action research kit by P. Crane and L. Richardson
Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services, 2000
This kit is designed to explain 'action research' and how it 'fits' into the
Federal Government's Reconnect Program, an early intervention program which
addresses the needs of young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness,
and their families.
Sources
of rigour in action research: addressing the issues of trustworthiness and credibility
by B. Dick
Association for Qualitative Research, AQR Conferences - paper presented at 'Issues
of Rigour in Qualitative Research', Melbourne, 1999
The
success factors: managing change in regional and rural Australia
Regional Women's Advisory Council (Australia), 2001
Links to online reports detailing the Council's action research project in seven
diverse communities across rural and regional Australia during 2000 and 2001.
Why use action research?
by Lienert, T. In: Stronger Families Learning Exchange Bulletin no.1 Autumn 2002
An overview of what action research is, and the
use of an action research approach to evaluate programs.
What is Participatory Action Research?
by Wadsworth, Y. , 1998. Action
Research International, Online Paper 2.
The author presents her perspective on some of the main
characteristics of participatory action research, contrasting it
with formulations of conventional research science.
Evaluation
Australasian Evaluation Society 2002 International Conference papers
Australasian Evaluation Society web site
Papers in PDF format from 'Evaluation in Practice - Making a Difference' conference, October 2002, Wollongong, gathered under
three themes: Sustainable communities; Strong and open communities; and Prosperous communities.
Australasian Evaluation Society 2003 International Conference papers
Australasian Evaluation Society web site
Papers from 'Evaluation: Who Benefits?' conference, September 2003, Auckland. The conference addressed the real purposes of evaluation,
the ways in which evaluation is undertaken, the end uses of evaluation, and evaluation and indigenous peoples.
Australasian Evaluation Society 2004 International Conference papers
Australasian Evaluation Society web site
Papers from 'Diverse Voices in Evaluation' conference, October 2004, Adelaide. The themes of this conference were cultural diversity, stakeholder diversity,
evaluation diversity and contemporary issues.
Doing an action research evaluation
by Lienert, T. In: Stronger Families Learning Exchange Bulletin no.1 Autumn 2002
This article outlines how action research evaluations will be used
by projects in the Stronger Families Fund.
Investigating appropriate evaluation methods and indicators for
Indigenous housing programs
Walker, R., Ballard, J. and Taylor, C. Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, 2002
This positioning paper discusses the adequacy and appropriateness of existing
evaluation methods and indicators for assessing Indigenous housing
programs and interventions, and suggests appropriate principles and methodologies.
Start: do-it-yourself evaluation approach:
an integrated approach to project management and evaluation
Sharp, C. Australian Youth Foundation, 1996.
A summarised online version (49p) of a do it yourself manual written to address the requirements of community organisations.
Research with Indigenous peoples
Developing principles and indicators for evaluating housing in
Indigenous contexts
by Walker, R; Taylor, C; Ballard,
J. Paper to National Housing Conference 2001
Issues examined
include: goals of Indigenous research; context, action and social
indicators; policy discourses, principles, goals and indicators in
practice; Indigenous rights; policy relevance; and project
outcomes.
Development of guidelines for non-Indigenous people undertaking
research among the Indigenous population of north-east Victoria
(Designed for viewing in InternetExplorer 5+ or NetscapeNavigator
6+)
by Henderson, R. et al. Medical Journal of Australia
v.176 no.10 May 2002
Provides an overview of a framework for
conducting research in partnership with Indigenous communities
developed by The Department of Rural Health at the University of
Melbourne which addresses past inappropriate research practices,
incorporates cultural understandings, and outlines culturally
appropriate protocols.
Ganma: Indigenous
Knowledge for Reconciliation and Community Action
by Ian Hughes.
Action research e-reports - Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney
Paper presented to the Participatory Action Research World Congress, Ballarat,
September 2000. The author reflects on a new model for doing action
research in cross cultural situations.
Guidelines for ethical research in Indigenous studies
Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Studies, 2000
Principles of ethical research in Indigenous
studies are set out, with an explanation of each principle, and
some practical applications.
Koori Action Research in Community Health
by Ian Hughes et al.
Action research e-reports - Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney
This paper was presented to the Second Healing Our Spirit Worldwide Conference, 1994. It tells the story of the Central Coast Aboriginal Health Action Group, how it was set up, what was
achieved and how research was combined with action to improve community health.
Useful sites
Action Research
Action Learning, Action Research and Process Management
Association Incorporated
ALARPM was formed in 1991
following the First World Congress on Action Learning, Action Research and Process Management in Brisbane.
World Congresses are now held every two years. One key intention is to encourage development that
crosses the boundaries of traditional disciplines and recognises the common elements of action learning and
action research. The Web site provides information about ALARPM, how to join, conferences,
links to conference papers and other organisations.
Action Research at The University
of Sydney Faculty of Health Sciences
Action Research On Web (AROW) offers courses for graduate students and for continuing
professional education and consultancy to support action research in a range
of health related areas. The site provides information about the courses and
consultancy services; Web links; an international forum for networking and dialogue around issues including indigenous and traditional health, improving health systems, action research in health and improving professional
practice;
and Action Research
e-reports (a collection of full text papers about action research methodology,
models, history and projects, with a focus on health issues).
Action Research Resources
This site offers: a 14-week introductory course on action research and evaluation
offered by email each semester as a public service by the graduate college of
management at Southern Cross University; papers on action research and related
topics; Action research international, an international journal with free subscription
which invites contributions, and aims to offer honest and supportive dialogue;
a number of mailing lists for discussion of issues.
Collaborative Action Research Network
(UK)
CARN aims to encourage and support:- action research projects of varying scope
(personal, local, national and international), accessible accounts of action
research projects, and contributions to the theory and methodology of action
research. The CARN Web is hosted by the Centre for Applied Research in Education
at the University of East Anglia. The site offers newsletters in fulltext, publications
for sale, abstracts from CARN conference proceedings with fulltext of some papers,
a discussion list.
Melbourne Action Research Issues
Centre
This site gives the history of the Centre and its philosophy, purpose, program
etc. and notes that the Centre will, in 2002, be reborn as a 'virtual' Centre
operating as a website directing visitors to the best action research resources,
in Australia and eventually internationally. The Centre is run by several members
of the Action Research Issues Association.
Evaluation
Australasian Evaluation Society
The site provides information about the Society, latest news from the regions, information about Evaluation
Conferences, ethics guidelines, and links to evaluation societies in other countries.
Research with Indigenous peoples
Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
AIATSIS, an independent Commonwealth Government statutory
authority, is Australia's premier institution for information about the
cultures and lifestyles of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peoples. The site describes the history of AIATSIS, the activities, publishing and
research programs, library resources, and news and links.
Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal Health
Information is provided about the Centre, its aims, research activities,
education and training, and publications.
