Communicating the processes and outcomes of practitioner research: an opportunity for self-indulgence or a serious professional responsibility?
Titel:
Communicating the processes and outcomes of practitioner research: an opportunity for self-indulgence or a serious professional responsibility?
Auteur:
Brooker, Ross Macpherson, Ian
Verschenen in:
Educational action research
Paginering:
Jaargang 7 (1999) nr. 2 pagina's 207-221
Jaar:
1999-06
Inhoud:
While there is a growing body of research literature focused on practitioner research, the reporting of the processes and outcomes of some of that research appears to be little more than picturesque journeys of self-indulgence. Located within action research, practitioner research has been associated with notions of promoting empowerment, transformation, advocacy and action within practitioners professional work contexts. If, however, such outcomes are to result from practitioner research, then practitioner researchers must be clear in terms of purpose, modes of research investigation, ways of documenting research strategies and outcomes, ways of interpreting these outcomes, and drawing implications for further action and investigation. Drawing on our experience in practitioner research projects and using one such project as an example, this article seeks to theorise about what it might mean to communicate the processes and outcomes of practitioner research, especially if the research is positioned within an action research approach, which aims to be critical and emancipatory. The article begins by describing our reflections on reactions to a paper in which we sought to communicate the processes and outcomes of a piece of practitioner research. We then move into a brief consideration of reporting qualitative inquiry generally and practitioner research in particular. As a basis for ongoing discussion and debate, the article identifies four propositions for communicating the processes and outcomes of practitioner research so that such research will be regarded highly and be seen to be professionally responsible: make clear the origins of the inquiry and its purpose, and give the interests of the participants (researchers and actors); identify sources of data; make explicit the process of transforming the original data through description, analysis and interpretation into published account; and make justified suggestions about the use or application of the published account.
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