View Item 

Show simple item record

Conducting Action Research: Relationships between Organization Members and Researchers

dc.contributor.authorIsrael, Barbara A.en_US
dc.contributor.authorSchurman, Susanen_US
dc.contributor.authorHugentobler, Margriten_US
dc.date.accessioned2010-04-13T20:11:09Z
dc.date.available2010-04-13T20:11:09Z
dc.date.issued1992en_US
dc.identifier.citationIsrael, Barbara; Schurman, Susan; Hugentobler, Margrit (1992). "Conducting Action Research: Relationships between Organization Members and Researchers." The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science 28(1): 74-101. <http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/68172>en_US
dc.identifier.issn0021-8863en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/68172
dc.description.abstractAction research in an organizational setting draws researchers and the employees involved into a joint process aimed at meeting both research and intervention objectives. The active collaboration of participants has major implications for researcher roles, and the manner in which these role shifts are carried out has a significant effect on study outcomes. Few have concretely analyzed the issues faced by researchers and organization members as they assume shared roles in the action research process. This article treats the relational aspect of researcher-participant co-investigation as a methodological issue. The authors share aspects of their experience in implementing an action research project aimed at understanding and reducing the deleterious effects of occupational stress. Relationships between researchers and organization members are dynamic. As they develop over time, role-related tensions and differences may arise around the issues of values and interests, resources and skills, control, political realities, and rewards and costs. Each of these is addressed, using examples from the authors' recently completed 6-year study. Further, the action research study participants helped revise this article and that process taught the authors much about these methodological issues.en_US
dc.format.extent3108 bytes
dc.format.extent3374921 bytes
dc.format.mimetypetext/plain
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.publisherSage Publicationsen_US
dc.titleConducting Action Research: Relationships between Organization Members and Researchersen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
dc.subject.hlbsecondlevelManagementen_US
dc.subject.hlbsecondlevelPsychologyen_US
dc.subject.hlbsecondlevelEconomicsen_US
dc.subject.hlbtoplevelBusinessen_US
dc.subject.hlbtoplevelSocial Sciencesen_US
dc.description.peerreviewedPeer Revieweden_US
dc.contributor.affiliationumUniversity of Michiganen_US
dc.contributor.affiliationumUniversity of Michiganen_US
dc.contributor.affiliationotherRutgers, the State University of New Jerseyen_US
dc.description.bitstreamurlhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68172/2/10.1177_0021886392281008.pdf
dc.identifier.doi10.1177/0021886392281008en_US
dc.identifier.sourceThe Journal of Applied Behavioral Scienceen_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceBartunek, J., & Keys, C. (1982). Power equalization in schools through organizational development. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 18, 17 1-183.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceBlumberg, M., & Pringle, C. D. (1983). How control groups can cause loss of control in action research: The case of Rushton Coal Mine. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 19, 409-425.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceBradshaw-Campbell, P. (1989). The implications of multiple perspectives on power for organization development. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 25(1), 31-44.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceBronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human development. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceBrown, L. D., & Kaplan, R. E. (1981). Participative research in a factory. In P. Reason & J. Rowan (Eds.), Human inquiry. Chichester: Wiley.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceBrown, L. D., & Tandon, R. (1983). Ideology and political economy in inquiry: Action research and participatory research. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 19, 277-294.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceBullock, R. J., & Svyantek, D. J. (1987). The impossibility of using random strategies to study the organization development process. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 23, 255-262.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceBushe, G. R. (1988). Developing cooperative labor-management relations in unionized factories: A multiple case study of quality circles and parallel organizations within joint quality of work life projects. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 24, 129-150.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceCaplan, R. D., Cobb, S., French, J.R.P., Jr., Harrison, R. V., & Pinneau, S. R., Jr. (1975). Job demands and worker health (DHEW NIOSH Publication No. 75-160). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceCassel, J. (1980). Ethical principles for conducting field work. American Anthropologist, 82(1), 28-41.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceChavis, D. M., Stucky, P. E., & Wandersman, A. (1983). Returning basic research to the community: A relationship between scientist and citizen. American Psychologist, 38, 424-434.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceChesler, M. (1987). Professionals' views of the dangers of self-help groups (Working Paper No. 345). Ann Arbor: University of Michigan, Center for Research on Social Organization.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceCottington, E. M., & House, J. S. (1986). Occupational stress and health: A multivariate relationship. In A. R. Baum, & J. E. Singer (Eds.), Handbook of psychology and health (Vol. 5). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceCummings, T. G., & Mohrman, S. A. (1987). Self-designing organizations: Towards implementing quality-of-work-life innovations. In R. W. Woodman & W. A. Pasmore (Eds.), Research in organizational change and development (Vol. 1). Greenwich, CT: JAI.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceCummings, T. G., Mohrman, S. A., Mohrman, A., & Ledford, G. (1985). Organization design for the future: A collaborative research approach. In E. Lawler III, A. Mohrman, S. Mohrman, & G. Ledford, Jr., Doing research that is useful for theory and practice. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceCunningham, J. B., & White, T. H. (1984). Quality of working life: Contemporary cases. Ottawa: Canadian Government Publishing Centre.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceElden, M. (198la). Political efficacy at work: The connection between more autonomous forms of workplace organization and more participatory politics. American Political Science Review, 75, 43-58.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceElden, M. (1981b). Sharing the research work: Participative research and its role demands. In P. Reason & J. Rowan (Eds.), Human inquiry. Chichester: Wiley.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceElden, M. (1983, Spring). Client as consultant: Work reform through participative research. National Product Review, pp. 136-147.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceElden, M. (1986). Sociotechnical systems ideas as public policy in Norway: Empowering participation through worker-managed change. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 22, 239-255.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceEmery, F. E. (1976). Professional responsibility of social scientists. In A. W. Clark (Ed.), Experimenting with organizational life: The action research approach. New York: Plenum.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceFals-Borda, O. (1984). Participatory action-research. Development: Seeds of Change, 2, 18-20.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceFielding, J. E. (1984). Health promotion and disease prevention in the worksite. Annual Review of Public Health, 5, 237-265.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceFreire, P. (1970). Pedagogy of the oppressed. New York: Seabury Press.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceFreire, P. (1976). Education: The practice of freedom. London: Writers and Readers Publishing Cooperative.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceGardell, B. (1977). Autonomy and participation at work. Human Relations, 30, 515-533.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceGaventa, J. (1980). Power and powerlessness: Quiescence and rebellion in an Appalachian Valley. Urbana: University of Illinois Press.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceGavin, J. F. (1985). Observations from a long-term survey-guided consultation with a mining company. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 21, 201-220.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceGerschick, T. J., Israel, B. A., & Checkoway, B. (1990). Means of empowerment in individuals, organizations, and communities: Report on a retrieval conference. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan, Program on Conflict Management Alternatives, Center for Research on Social Organization.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceGolembiewski, R. T., Hilles, R., & Daly, R. (1987). Some effects of multiple OD interventions on burnout and worksite features. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 23(3), 295-314.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceGottfredson, G. D. (1984). A theory-ridden approach to program evaluation: A method for stimulating researcher-implementer collaboration. American Psychologist, 39, 1101-1112.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceGutierrez, L. M. (1988). Coping with stressful life events: An empowerment perspective. Working paper, University of Michigan, School of Social Work, Ann Arbor.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceHolahan, C., & Wandersman, A. (1987). The community psychology perspective in environmental psychology. In D. Stokols & I. Altman (Eds.), Handbook of environmental psychology (Vol. 1). New York: Wiley.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceHolt, R. R. (1982). Occupational stress. In L. Goldberger & S. Breznitz (Eds.), Handbook of stress: Theoretical and clinical aspects. New York: Free Press.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceHugentobler, M. H., Israel, B. A., & Schurman, S. J. (1992). An action-research approach to workplace health: Integrating multiple methods. Health Education Quarterly, 19, 55-76.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceIsrael, B. A., Checkoway, B., Schulz, A., & Zimmerman, M. (1992). Stress and community empowerment: Linking health education theory and practice. Unpublished manuscript.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceIsrael, B. A., & Schurman, S. J. (1990). Social support, control, and the stress process. In K. Glanz, F. Lewis, & B. Rimer (Eds.), Health behavior and health education: Theory, research and practice. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceIsrael, B. A., & Schurman, S. J. (1991, August). A participatory action research approach to occupational stress and health: Issues of methodology. Paper presented at the International Work Conference: Action Research and the Future of Work, the Netherlands.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceIsrael, B. A., Schurman, S. J., & House, J. S. (1989). Action research on occupational stress: Involving workers as researchers. International Journal of Health Senrices, 19, 135-155.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceIsrael, B. A, Schurman, S. J., Hugentobler, M. H., & House, J. S. (in press). A participatory action research approach to reducing occupational stress: Phases of implementation and evaluation. In V. Di Martino (Ed.), Conditions of work digest: Anti-stress programs. Geneva, Switzerland: International Labour Office.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceJackson, S. E. (1983). Participation in decision making as a strategy for reducing job-related strain. Journal of Applied Psychology, 68, 3-19.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceKarasek, R. A., & Theorell, T.G.T. (1990). Healthy work: Stress, productivity, and the reconstruction of working life. New York: Basic Books.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceKemmis, S. (1983). Action research. In D. S. Anderson & C. Blakers (Eds.), Youth, transition and social research. Canberra: Australian National University Press.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceKindervatter, S. (1978). Nonformal education as an empowering process. Amherst, MA: Center for International Education.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceKlitzman, S., House, J. S., Israel, B. A., & Mero, R. P. (1990). Work stress, nonwork stress and health. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 13, 221-243.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceLawler, E., III, Mohrman, A., Mohrman, S., & Ledford, G., Jr. (1985). Doing research that is useful for theory and practice. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceLewin, K. (1946). Action-research and minority problems. Journal of Social Issues, 2, 34-46.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceLewis, F. M. (1987). The concept of control: A typology and health-related variables. Advances in Health Education and Prornotion, 2, 277-309.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceLikert, R. (1967). The human organization. New York: Mc Graw-Hill.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceMc Leroy, K. R., Green, L. W., Mullen, K. D., & Foshee, V. (1984). Assessing the effects of health promotion in worksites: A review of stress program evaluations. Health Education Quarterly, 11(4), 379-401.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceMergler, D. (1987). Worker participation in occupational health research: Theory and practice. International Journal of Health Services, 17, 151-167.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceMirvis, P., & Seashore, S. (1979). Being ethical in organizational research. American Psychologist, 34, 766-780.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceMyrdal, G. (1969). Objectivity in social research. New York: Pantheon.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferencePasmore, W., & Friedlander, F. (1982). An action-research program for increasing employee involvement in problem solving. Administrative Science Quarterly, 27, 343-362.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferencePaul, B. (1955). Health, culture, and community. New York: Russell Sage.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferencePeters, M., & Robinson, V. (1984). The origins and status of action research. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 20, 113-124.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferencePorras, J. I., & Robertson, P. J. (1987). Organization development theory: A typology and evaluation. In R. W. Woodman & W. A. Pasmore (Eds.), Research in organizational change and development (Vol. 1). Greenwich, CT: JAI.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceRappaport, J. (1977). Community psychology: Values, research and action. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceRappaport, J. (1987). Terms of empowerment/exemplars of prevention: Toward a theory for community psychology. American Journal of Community Psychology, 15, 121-144.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceSchein, E. H. (1987). The clinical perspective in fieldwork. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceSeiber, J. (1982). The ethics of social research (Vols. 1-2). New York: Springer.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceShea, G., & Berg, D. (1987). Analyzing the development of an OD practitioner. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 23, 315-336.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceSloan, R. P., Gruman, J. C., & Allegrante, J. P. (1987). Investing in employee health: A guide to effective health promotion in the workplace. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceSommer, R. (1987). An experimental investigation of the action research approach. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 23, 185-199.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceSteuart, G. W. (1975). The people: Motivation, education and action. Bulletin Academy of Medicine, 51, 174-185.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceSusman, G. I. (1983). Action research: A sociotechnical systems perspective. In G. Morgan (Ed.), Beyond method: Strategies for social research. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceSusman, G. E., & Evered, R. D. (1978). An assessment of the scientific merits of action research. Administrative Science Quarterly, 23, 582-603.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceSutton, R., & Kahn, R. L. (1988). Prediction, understanding, and control as antidotes to organizational stress. In J. Lorsch (Ed.), Handbook of organizational behavior. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceSwift, C., & Levin, G. (1987). Empowerment: An emerging mental health technology. Journal of Primary Prevention, 8, 71-94.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceTannenbaum, A. S. (1968). Control in organizations. New York: Mc Graw-Hill.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceTichy, N. M., & Friedman, S. D. (1983). Institutional dynamics of action research. In R. H. Kilmann (Ed.), Producing useful knowledge for organizations. New York: Praeger.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceWallerstein, N. B. (1988). Empowerment education: Freire's theories applied to health. A case study of alcohol prevention for Indian and Hispanic youth. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of California, Berkeley.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceWhyte, W. F. (1984). Learning from the field. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceWhyte, W. F. (1991). Participatory action research. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceYin, R. K. (1984). Case study research: Design and methods (Applied Social Research Methods Series, Vol. 5). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceZimmerman, M. A. (in press). Psychological, organizational, and community empowerment: Directions for future research. In J. Rappaport & E. Seidman (Eds.), Handbook of community psychology. New York: Plenum.en_US
dc.identifier.citedreferenceZimmerman, M. A., & Rappaport, J. (1988). Citizen participation, perceived control, and psychological empowerment. American Journal of Community Psychology, 16, 725-750.en_US
dc.owningcollnameInterdisciplinary and Peer-Reviewed


Files in this item

Name:
10.1177_0021886392281008.pdf
Size:
3.218MB
Format:
PDF
View/Open

Show simple item record

Remediation of Harmful Language

The University of Michigan Library aims to describe library materials in a way that respects the people and communities who create, use, and are represented in our collections. Report harmful or offensive language in catalog records, finding aids, or elsewhere in our collections anonymously through our metadata feedback form. More information at Remediation of Harmful Language.

Accessibility

If you are unable to use this file in its current format, please select the Contact Us link and we can modify it to make it more accessible to you.