The SAGE Encyclopedia of Action Research
... Quantitative methodology is an approach used in scientific research that focuses on the collection and analysis of numerical data to answer research questions. It involves employing several strategies, techniques, and assumptions to examine various phenomena through the analysis of numerical patterns, enabling researchers to gather and analyze numeric data to conduct statistical analyses ranging from simple to complex, including aggregating data, revealing relationships, and making comparisons across aggregated datasets (Coghlan & Brydon-Miller, 2014). Creswell (2009) proposed that choosing the appropriate research design depends on the nature of the research questions of the study. ...
This study explores the effectiveness of using ChatGPT, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) language model, as an Automated Essay Scoring (AES) tool for grading English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners’ essays. The corpus consists of 50 essays representing various types including analysis, compare and contrast, descriptive, narrative, and opinion essays written by 10 EFL learners at the B2 level. Human raters and ChatGPT (4o mini version) scored the essays using the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) TASK 2 Writing band descriptors. Adopting a quantitative approach, the Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and Spearman correlation tests were employed to compare the scores generated, revealing a significant difference between the two methods of scoring, with human raters assigning higher scores than ChatGPT. Similarly, significant differences with varying degrees were also evident for each of the various types of essays, suggesting that the genre of the essays was not a parameter affecting the agreement between human raters and ChatGPT. After all, it was discussed that while ChatGPT shows promise as an AES tool, the observed disparities suggest that it has not reached sufficient proficiency for practical use. The study emphasizes the need for improvements in AI language models to meet the nuanced nature of essay evaluation in EFL contexts.
... In scientific-affine disciplines, research 7 Such as arts as research (Frayling, 1994), research in the arts (Borgdorff, 2012), arts-based research (Barone & Eisner, 2012;McNiff, 2012), arts research (Barrett & Bolt, 2014;Grierson & Brearley, 2009), artistic research (Greenfield et al., 2017;Hannula et al., 2005), performance as research (Kershaw, 2009;Spatz, 2020) -all cited in Bulley and Sahin (2021b). 8 Such as action research (Coghlan & Brydon-Miller, 2014), close-to-practice research (Wyse et al., 2018), embodied research (Spatz, 2017;Tantia, 2020), practice as research (Nelson, 2013), practice-based research (Candy, 2006;Codd, 2018) or practice-led research (Gray, 1998)) -all cited in Bulley and Sahin (2021b). ...
... Critical friendships are generous yet rigorous relationships that can create a more emergent, formative quality of coaching and mentoring (MacKenzie, 2015). As Coghlan and Brydon-Miller (2014) point out, a critical friend is an advocate for the success of the work and takes time to fully understand the context of the work presented and the outcomes that the person or group is working toward. This highlights the need for nuances in their role based on the identified contextual factors. ...
Background/purpose. This study explores the different ways in which critical friend roles are conceptualized. The critical friend role is adaptive by nature, with significant ambiguity surrounding it, which has resulted in disjointed and fragmented literature. This study sought to provide insights into the varied and potentially boundary-spanning roles that critical friends may need to draw upon when supporting school-based improvement work.
Materials/methods. A focus group methodology was adopted to examine the type of role that experienced critical friends anticipated that they would be required to undertake as part of a longitudinal school improvement program. A semi-structured interview protocol guide was used to uncover the participants' prior experiences when undertaking the role of a critical friend.
Results. This study analyzed the work of five critical friends whose primary role was to support principals to lead improvement in improving teaching and learning in mathematics. The results show that critical friends defined four key archetypes they anticipated to utilize during the professional learning program.
Conclusion. The study highlighted that the role of the critical friend in supporting improvement is quite varied. The critical friend role can differ depending on the context, level of trust in the relationship, and the core work that is to be undertaken.
... For a considerable amount of time, there has been an ongoing academic debate on the quality of qualitative research in general and AR specifically (Coghlan & Brydon-Miller, 2014). Before the debate intensified, the prevailing opinion was that the quality criteria of quantitative research (i.e., generalizability, validity, reliability, and objectivity) were also applicable to qualitative research designs, such as AR, which were sometimes adjusted to specific characteristics of the research. ...
Organizations are increasingly involving stakeholder interests in their decision-making processes based on the belief that this contributes to long-term value creation. They use different approaches, with only a few giving their stakeholders a say in decision-making. Organizations lack guidance from the literature in developing their stakeholder approaches. Both the disciplines of strategic management and business ethics lack a practically applicable approach in which ethical and economic interests are brought together equally and simultaneously in decision-making.
This research focuses on developing an integrated stakeholder approach in which these interests converge, yet in which stakeholders also make joint considerations about which interests can be realized in the organizational context, and to what extent. A connection was sought with discourse ethics to add steering power and control by stakeholders to bring stakeholders together for decision-making in the stakeholder approach. The approach has a stakeholder-centric orientation, with a network of stakeholder relationships, a communicative space, in which they jointly decide on purpose, vision, objectives, and values. The main research question of the research is “At the enterprise level, how can an integrated stakeholder approach be designed that creates a space in which stakeholders are involved in decision-making with respect for each other's equality and aimed at achieving consensus?” Sub-research questions are to what extent elements of contemporary stakeholder approaches can come together in the integrated stakeholder approach, and what role discourse ethics plays in developing these elements into a consistent approach.
The practical applicability of the stakeholder approach is an important prerequisite to be valuable to organizations. The research methodology action research has been applied, especially the collaborative management research modality. This modality was further developed in this research to align with the foundation of the integrated stakeholder approach: together with stakeholders, based on equality, and focused on consensus.
Together with the management and stakeholders of a large cooperative funeral insurance and services organization, their integrated stakeholder approach was developed. This was done through a stakeholder dialogue that consisted of three action-reflection cycles. At the end of each cycle, evaluation and reflection took place which led to interventions in the stakeholder approach. The final result of the empirical research is a stakeholder approach that can be applied in the organizational context. The entire research process was conducted with stakeholders some of whom participated in the steering research team.
Overall, the study shows that stakeholders granted legitimacy to each other based on their motivation for participating in the dialogue, recognizing both ethical and economic interests. During the dialogue, stakeholders were equally involved in deliberation and decision-making. A neutral moderator was necessary for everyone to participate equally in line with the requirements for deliberation and the participatory process as derived from discourse ethics. A stakeholder-centric orientation with a communicative space supports the premise that stakeholders are the ultimate beneficiaries of the organization. Securing communicative space as a formal tool for stakeholder engagement and its outcomes must be regulated, either by legislation or by the organization.
One challenge is getting all legitimate stakeholders involved. In this study, some stakeholder groups remained unrepresented. The study deviated from the initial model for an integrated stakeholder approach where anyone with a legitimate interest could participate. The group size for an effective dialogue and a balanced distribution among the different stakeholder interests proved to be decisive factors for composing the dialogue group. The research result is a practically applicable integrated stakeholder approach.
The initial model for collaborative stakeholder research was modified at several points to fit the practical development of a stakeholder approach. In addition to shifting components between distinct stages, two adjustments led to the final model. These are the development of a collaborative setting throughout the research period and the integration of action-reflection cycles in the implementation phase. With these, an approach is developed that can be applied to research on stakeholder issues.
... According to Coghlan and Miller (2014), action research is a term used to describe relevant research approaches that combine action and theory to examine important organizational, societal and social issues with the people who experience them. The aim of action research is to support social change. ...
... 601) Despite its unique nature, AR is rooted in several philosophical approaches (Coghlan, 2022). These approaches include American pragmatic philosophy, Aristotelian praxis, constructivism, critical realism, critical theory, Habermasian communicative action, Lewinian social psychology of change, phenomenology, and Wittgenstein philosophy (for a richer description of AR's philosophical roots, see Coghlan & Brydon-Miller, 2014). In this context, it should be noted that the choice of approach to creating scientific knowledge depends on the researcher's scientific position. ...
In recent decades, governments have encouraged universities to conduct research that positively affects economic growth and social development. This has led to business and engineering researchers increasingly engaging with practitioners, for example, through industrial PhD projects. To achieve the ambition of creating useful knowledge for practitioners, action research (AR) represents a possible path. There are, however, challenges associated with this research approach. Specifically, AR combines elements of traditional research approaches with participation in real-world projects aimed at producing change. Consequently, researchers become highly involved in the study context instead of being detached observers. This poses challenges to research rigor, which may partly explain the relatively low number of AR studies in business and engineering journals as compared to, for example, case studies. To support future AR studies, this chapter defines five research strategies for increasing the rigor of AR. We argue that by using these strategies, researchers can achieve a level of rigor that may even exceed that of case studies. The AR approach may thereby become a more attractive alternative to more popular research approaches.
... Several scholars have discussed the role of AR as a meta-methodology to deal with complex real-world problems across a diverse range of situations and contexts. This adaptability leads to the use of various approaches and methods within the framework of AR (Coghlan and Brydon-Miller 2014;Dick et al. 2015; Erro-Garc� es and Alfaro-Tanco 2020; Mediavilla, Errasti, and Mendibil 2015;Mediavilla, Mendibil, and Bernardos 2021). As a result, AR often requires the cooperation of researchers across academic and methodological disciplines. ...
... CBAR builds on this aspect of Montessori teaching and requires teachers to actively collect evidence from their classrooms to focus their reflections. The power of CBAR is not only in classroom investigations but also in sharing the findings with a larger audience (Coghlan & Brydon-Miller, 2014). As such, this review supports the sharing of Montessori CBAR projects and describes two such studies below. ...
Maria Montessori’s early emphasis on systematic observation and experimentation to understand children’s learning predates the formal recognition of the “teacher as researcher” role, which emerged in the 1950s. This article explores the use of action research today in Montessori education, focusing on classroom-based action research (CBAR) and practitioner inquiry as key methodologies for enhancing teaching practices. We begin by defining classroom-based action research and its application in Montessori teacher education, highlighting its role in fostering reflective, evidence-based investigations that improve classroom practices. Two CBAR studies from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls are presented: (1) Kaul’s exploration of student choice in math practice and (2) Thompson’s investigation of structured literacy in a Montessori Children’s House. The article also discusses practitioner inquiry projects from Loyola University Maryland, which examine the inclusion of students with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the effectiveness of Montessori Math materials in promoting math fluency.
... time and cost-efficient and suits the research methodology which requires data collection and analysis using standardized tools (Aggarwal & Ranganathan, 2019;Coghlan & Brydon-Miller, 2014;Setia, 2016). ...
... This study used a quantitative research design to examine social and economic processes by analyzing numerical patterns (43), which encompasses methodologies such as questionnaires, structured observations, or experiments. This quantitative study investigated the influence of networking-related challenges on the contributions of SEs toward sustainable development in two major Pakistani cities in Rawalpindi, the third-largest city in Punjab province, and Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan. ...
Social entrepreneurship plays a pivotal role in addressing societal challenges and promoting sustainable development, particularly in Pakistan, where it holds significant potential for economic empowerment, social protection, poverty alleviation, and economic growth. Despite this potential, the full impact of social entrepreneurship is often limited by a lack of understanding and inadequate networking. This study examines the challenges that social entrepreneurs in Rawalpindi, the third largest city in Punjab province, and Islamabad, Pakistan's capital, face in establishing effective networks and how these challenges affect their contribution to sustainable development. A quantitative research approach was employed, with data gathered from 100 social entrepreneurs selected via snowball sampling. The data, collected through a self-administered questionnaire, was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) to evaluate reliability and explore statistically significant relationships through chi-square tests. The findings indicate that various networking challenges, such as insufficient partnerships with fellow social entrepreneurs, weak connections with corporate organizations, limited engagement with government bodies, inadequate international collaboration and mentorship, and underutilization of social networking platforms, significantly hinder social entrepreneurial activities. This research offers valuable insights into the specific networking barriers that impede the effectiveness of social entrepreneurs in Pakistan, providing a foundation for stakeholders to develop targeted interventions that enhance the role of social entrepreneurship in advancing sustainable development.
... In order to comprehensively study the impact of KFC's marketing strategies on consumer purchasing behavior, this study uses a variety of research methods to obtain detailed and accurate data and information. The quantitative method enables researchers to perform simple statistical studies of statistics that require integrating data, demonstrating correlations between data, or comparing all aggregate data (Coghlan & Brydon-Miller, 2014). In this study, it is required to prove the impact of independent factors on the dependent variable. ...
Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) has long been a dominant player in the global fast-food industry, known for its distinct fried chicken offerings. This study explores the effect of KFC’s marketing strategies on consumer buying behavior, using the marketing mix framework (4P: Product, Price, Place, Promotion). Primary data were gathered from a survey of 150 consumers in Malaysia via Google Forms, while secondary data included company reports and industry publications. Regression analysis was employed to determine the relationship between the independent variables (product, price, promotion, and place) and consumer buying behavior. Results indicated that product, price, and promotion significantly impact consumer decisions, with the product being the most influential factor (beta = 0.525). Price and promotion also had positive, albeit smaller, effects, while place was statistically insignificant. The R² value of 0.755 suggests that 75.5% of consumer behavior variation can be explained by these factors. These findings underscore the importance of product differentiation and effective promotional strategies in shaping consumer preferences, while the role of physical locations may be diminishing in the fast-food sector due to the rise of delivery services
... In the aforementioned study by Marshall (2020b), the author writes of the tendency of instructors in the Canadian university context to reproduce dominant discourses around language in the classroom, rather than challenge them -even while some instructors in the study also acknowledged the benefit of strategies such as mediation in languages other than English. Coghlan and Brydon-Miller (2014) argue that it is "often through infiltrating dominant values culturally through institutions like school" (p. 213) that hegemony is empowered. ...
This research was designed to provide insight into the learning strategies of plurilingual students in an undergraduate business program in Western Canada, with a specific focus on how the students draw on their plurilingual and pluricultural competences. To investigate relevant phenomena, a qualitative methodology was used; data was collected primarily through interviews, with supplementary sources being follow-up communications and the collection of relevant documents (such as course notes) which participants shared. In addition to lines of inquiry related to students' plurilingual practices while navigating learning, the role of discourse was also explored and analyzed. Participants shared a wide variety of learning strategies in which not only their L1, but also their greater plurilingual and pluricultural repertoires played an important role. Additionally, participants shared the ways in which discourse shaped their practices; this included discourses around such topics as linguistic purity, English-only policies, and deficit perspectives toward English as an Additional Language students. Notably, participants also shared instances in which they resisted their positioning into harmful discourses or were open to revisiting beliefs held about language.
... CPAR is an emergent and collaborative process that can make explicit theories of change that may otherwise have gone unseen or unexamined (Tuck, 2008). As such, CPAR is generally understood as a framework for conducting research and generating knowledge centred on the belief that those who are most impacted by research should take the lead in identifying the problem, framing the questions, designing the study, and analysing the data (Coghlan & Brydon-Miller, 2014). The CPAR framework is rooted in a belief that there is value in both traditionally recognized knowledge, such as scholarship generated by university-based researchers, and historically de-legitimized knowledge, such as knowledge generated within communities (Chikkatur & Oliver, 2020). ...
In this study, we enacted critical participatory action research (CPAR) within an online community of practice (CoP). The CoP was designed to build a community of outdoor play and learning (OPAL) practitioners. This paper describes how a cohort (n=18) of experienced Kindergarten to grade eight (K-8) teachers from across British Columbia shared their OPAL experiences and practice and the collective action taken. Regularly scheduled meetings over a six-month period resulted in dialogue that identified the need for quality resources that were accessible for all teachers. The concept of a website, developed for teachers by teachers experienced with OPAL, was initiated within the CPAR process. This article describes findings related to participation in a CPAR CoP, and the process of deciding upon and enacting shared action to support OPAL elementary school teachers.
... The transferability of our results was also considered, defined as the extent to which it can be applied in other contexts or settings. 55 The essential app functionalities identified in this study correspond to the three steps of the self-care process described by Grosjean et al. in the development of the e-CARE-PD study: monitoring, interpretation, and action. 51 Some of the identified needs are specific to PWLC, such as obtaining help in symptom identification, but other concerns are common to people affected by other chronic diseases. ...
Background
People living with Long COVID (PWLC), which is still a poorly understood disease, often face major issues accessing proper care and frequently feel abandoned by the healthcare system. PWLC frequently report impaired quality of life because of the medical burden, the variability and intensity of symptoms, and insecurity toward the future. These particular needs justify the development of innovative, minimally disruptive solutions to facilitate the monitoring of this complex and fluctuating disease. Voice-based interactions and vocal biomarkers are promising digital approaches for such health monitoring.
Methods
Based on a mixed-method approach, this study describes the entire co-design process of Long COVID Companion, a voice-based digital health app to monitor Long COVID symptoms. Potential end-users of the app, both PWLC and healthcare professionals (HCP) were involved to (1) understand the unmet needs and expectations related to Long COVID care and management, (2) to assess the barriers and facilitators regarding a health monitoring app, (3) to define the app characteristics, including future potential use of vocal biomarkers and (4) to develop a first version of the app.
Results
This study revealed high needs and expectations regarding a digital health app to monitor Long COVID symptoms and the readiness to use vocal biomarkers from end-users. The main expectations included improved care and daily life, and major concerns were linked to accessibility and data privacy. Long COVID Companion was developed as a web application and is composed of a health monitoring component that allows auto-evaluation of symptoms, global health, and scoring relevant symptoms and quality of life using standardized questionnaires.
Conclusions
The Long COVID Companion app will address a major gap and provide day-to-day support for PWLC. However, further studies will be needed following its release, to evaluate its acceptability, usability and effectiveness.
... Data analysis prerequisites included tests for normality, homogeneity, and t-tests. Specifically: Normality tests aimed to assess whether regression models of dependent and independent variables exhibited normal data distribution [35], ; Homogeneity tests were conducted to ascertain variance equality between two data groups, and T-tests were utilized to compare mean learning outcomes between experimental and control groups [36]. ...
Individuals with disabilities have equal rights to access education. For Disabilities Foreign Student (DFS), it is important to assist them in learning javanese scripts in Javanese Language and Literature Education Program (PBSJ). The development of a Braille audio media application (BAM) for script-based learning using technology was explored. This study aimed to analyze the validity of developing Braille audio media. The development method employed a 4-stage model: Define, Design, Develop, and Disseminate, adapted into a 4-D model. The Javanese script Braille audio media application was developed using the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) Waterfall model, encompassing planning, modeling, implementation, and testing phases. Validation results from practitioners and academics indicated that the media aspect validation was 82.5%, and validation from subject matter experts was 78.75%, both categorized as suitable. Developing the BAM based on information technology aids foreign students with disabilities in learning and exploring Javanese cultural values through Javanese scripts.
... In an excerpt from Vygotsky's translated Thought and Language, Kozulin (1986) asserts that even though Vygotsky was primarily interested in the development of language in its relation to thought, a study of concept formation in educational settings led him to another insight, namely, the dialogical character of learning. According to Coghlan and Brydon-Miller (2014), life is dialogic, a shared event and living generally is participating in dialogue. A dialogue, in its simplest definition, is a verbal interaction or exchange between people (Teo 2019). ...
Background: Language discussions have historically focused on the power dynamics between dominant and indigenous languages. This has generated discontent and contention on which language should rule the educational sector. The national language policy of South Africa mandates the use of all languages in the educational system. Even though there are 12 recognised languages, English is preferred in education circles. This ignores the research that demonstrates the advantages of speaking one’s native language, especially in the early years of schooling.Aim: This study was conducted to determine how preschool practitioners assist the language development of learners in multilingual classrooms.Setting: Six early childhood education (ECE) practitioners from three preschools in Mamelodi township, South Africa were selected, based on choosing English as the language of communication, in multilingual classrooms in peri-urban areas.Methods: A qualitative approach and a case study research design were employed. It focused on purposive sampling of practitioners from three preschools in Mamelodi where the medium of communication was English. Interviews, observations, casual conversations and document and visual data analysis were data collection tools. A questionnaire was used to gather the geographical information of the participants. A fusion of the Bakhtinian philosophy of dialogism and social justice theory underpinned the study.Results: The results showed that despite English in their schools as a medium of instruction, practitioners used predominating home languages to assure understanding. This translanguaging approach was commonly used in every school. Learning in a single language was challenging because of diverse languages, hence the use of English First Additional Language.Conclusion: To promote language acquisition in multilingual preschools, translanguaging ought to be promoted.Contribution: This study proposes that early childhood teacher preparation programs ought to promote multilingualism by employing translanguaging strategies as a study unit.
... Quantitative research collects numerical data and relies on the use of systematic and standardised approaches to do so, such as questionnaires, experiments, and observations [39]. To ensure study findings reflect what researchers set out to measure, it is essential to incorporate clear definitions of all relevant concepts and operationalise concepts by stating how they are measured [40]. ...
Purpose of review
The main research approaches in the field of addiction include qualitative studies, quantitative studies, and literature reviews. Researchers tend to have specific expertise in one, or perhaps two of these approaches, but are frequently asked to peer review studies using approaches and methods in which they are less well versed. This review aims to provide guidance to peer reviewers by summarizing key issues to attend to when reviewing studies of each approach.
Recent findings
A diverse range of research approaches are utilised in the study of addiction including quantitative, qualitative, and literature reviews. In this paper, we outline reporting standards for each research approach, and summarize how data are collected, analyzed, reported, and interpreted, as a guide for peer-reviewers to assess the robustness of studies.
Summary
Providing a good peer review requires that careful attention is paid to the specific requirements of the methods used. General principles of clarity around an evidence-based rationale, data collection and analysis, and careful interpretation remain fundamental, regardless of the method used. Reviews should be balanced and fair and based on the research and associated reporting requirements for the method used.
... 577). Notably, action research was first promulgated in 1944, envisioned as a research method with an experimental approach in social sciences, prioritizing action on social issues [28]. ...
In response to the digital transformation in education, this study explores the efficacy of virtual reality (VR) video games in teaching direct current electrical circuits at a public university in Colombia. Using a mixed-method action research approach, this study aimed to design, implement, and evaluate a VR-based educational strategy to enhance undergraduate learning experiences. The methodology integrated VR into the curriculum, facilitating a comparison of this innovative approach with traditional teaching methods. The results indicate that the VR strategy significantly improved students' comprehension of electrical circuits and increased engagement, demonstrating the utility of immersive technologies in educational settings. Challenges such as the need for technological integration and curriculum adaptation were also identified. This study concludes that VR video games can effectively augment electrical engineering education, offering a model for incorporating advanced digital tools into higher education curricula. This approach aligns with ongoing trends in digital transformation, suggesting significant potential for broad applications across various educational contexts.
... This study employed a quantitative approach to identify and gauge the students' attitudes toward effective technological competencies in subject areas. Thus, it compiles a variety of numeric data (Coghlan & Brydon-Miller, 2014). It makes it easy for the researchers to carry out simple, right through to highly complex statistical analyses on the aggregated data, relationships between the data, and comparisons on aggregated data. ...
Technology integration literacy has significant implications for the students’ learning and career as they need to know how to select, use, assess, and implement technology within different learning areas. This study aims to determine the first-year education students’ perception of the integration of technological literacy in a community college in the province of Misamis Oriental. Results show that the level of incorporation of technological literacy is important for these prospective teachers since it corresponds to the ever-evolving trends that include the use of technology by students as well as the incorporation of technology in teaching processes. This issue was questioned as part of the survey, and the outcomes that referred to the technological literacy workshops, technological literacy courses, and technological literacy activities scored the highest mean of 3.28, regarded as very significant. This finding highlights the need for applied work concerning technology integration into academic learning with considerations towards improving students’ learning and readiness in taking the path and role of a teacher. Furthermore, the study also discusses the psychological aspect of integrating technological literacy with traditional subject matters, stressing the positive aspect of the effort, indicating that the integration helps the students face the challenges of the modern education systems. It empowers learners with confidence and sharpens their critical thinking skills, hence producing competent learners in preparation for a constantly changing educational setting. This recommends that educators must have definite professional development in order to stay current with technological competence in supporting their students. Therefore, the incorporation of technological literacy in content areas is essential for producing effective and competent prospective teachers who are ready to use technology as a means and an end to augment student learning.
... Princípio Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu, ou seja, uma pessoa é uma pessoa por causa das outras pessoas, como preferem proferir os MaChangana, ou uma pessoa é uma pes5soa através das outras pessoas (Bolden, 2014;Ngobeni, 2020;Metz, 2017;Obuaku-Igwe, 2020;Kombo, 2002): o Umuntuo ser humano específico, como um ente moral, mas, igualmente, entre outros, político e religioso -, não pode sobreviver só, sem estar integrado em sua comunidade Ubuntu (outras categorias com quem vive e convive e dos quais interdepende num ideal de relacionamento em comunidade), isto é, sem interagir e viver, idealmente, com a sua comunidade, sem se tornar Ubuntu, que inclui uma interação permanente e eterna entre as categorias Muntu, Kintu, Hantu e Kintu permeadas pela categoria Ubuntu (Kagamé, 1976;Ramose, 1999). ...
Em primeiro momento, o artigo busca apresentar diferentes conceitos da filosofia Ubuntu e a sua conformação com lógica dos direitos humanos. E, por outro lado, o artigo caracteriza e analisa Ubuntu enquanto conjunto organizado de princípios e normas ético-morais, no que concerne à sua construção histórica e teórico-concetual, concedendo enfoque à sua recuperação no período após as chamadas transições político-económicas em África, nos anos 1990, com especial atenção para a República de Moçambique, dado que será, nessa altura, que se assistirá a uma maior afirmação político-social de Ubuntu e da sua recuperação ou renascimento. Por outro ângulo, o artigo define Ubuntu/Umuntu como um princípio que posiciona a vida de todos os entes que habitam o planeta Terra, incluindo toda a família humana, e não propriamente somente a dos seres humanos. Portanto, Ubuntu defende e salvagurda valores como humanismo, dignidade, alteridade, comunitariedade, solidariedade e interculturalidade, à luz da cosmovisão africana da vida, no seu sentido mais geral e abrangente possível. Inobstante, o trabalho discute categorias da filosofia Ubuntu-africana em variadas perspectivas, nomeadamente Muntu, Kintu, Hantu e Kuntu (permeadas por Ubuntu), ou seja, entes (seres vivos, não vivos e ainda-não-nascidos) e não seres vivos somente no sentido puramente biológico. Palavras-chave: Ubuntu como princípio ético-moral. Direitos humanos. Humanismo. Abstract: Firstly, the article seeks to present different concepts of the Ubuntu philosophy and its conformation with the logic of human rights. On the other hand, the article characterizes and analyzes 1 Artigo submetido à avaliação em maio de 2024 e aprovado para publicação em junho de 2024.
... This research adopts a quantitative approach, as asserted by Coghlan and Brydon-Miller (2014), wherein quantitative methodology stands as the predominant research framework in the social sciences. It encompasses a set of strategies, techniques, and assumptions employed to investigate social and economic processes by examining numerical patterns. ...
In 2021, the Indonesian government merged three major state-owned Islamic banks to support the halal industry in the country. Numerous studies have analyzed balance sheet ratios to assess the conditions of Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI) before and after the merger. However, the reliability of balance sheet ratios is highly contingent on the accounting method employed by companies. Consequently, this study utilizes Economic Value Added (EVA) to measure BSI's financial performance before and after the merger. The primary objective of this research is to test and provide empirical evidence regarding the effectiveness of the EVA approach in demonstrating the economic added value to BSI throughout the merger. Employing a quantitative approach and secondary data from the financial statements of BSI before and after the merger serves as the data source. The findings reveal that the financial performance of BSI before and after the merger provides economic added value to the company and aligns with stakeholder expectations. Notably, research on financial performance using EVA at BSI before and after the merger is scarce, as most studies resort to ratio analysis for this purpose. It is important to acknowledge the limitations of this research, which solely introduces EVA to assess the economic added value in financial statements. Other approaches beyond ratio analysis can be explored to measure the quality of financial statements.
... In the context and practice of action research and interactive research, there are multiple ways of understanding and enacting ethics, which go beyond following a set of predetermined protocols. It involves thinking 'expansively and personally about the ethical challenges of our work' (Coghlan & Brydon-Miller, 2014). In this case, some key elements in this research may be mentioned. ...
Why don't we usually work outdoors? While some professions require it, most white-collar workers remain indoors, sedentary, and screen-bound. Yet, the potential benefits of outdoor work on health, well-being, learning, and creativity are significant and underexplored, especially given the demands of today's knowledge-intensive work life. The aim of this thesis is to explore the potential of integrating the outdoors into everyday work life by bringing office work outdoors. To accomplish this, the thesis identifies ways by which the potential of outdoor office work may be enabled, in this case through an interactive research approach. This exploration was conducted through the ‘StickUt Malmö’ interactive research project, the Danish ‘Pop Out!’ project, and an interview study within the project ‘Concepts for the Sustainable Office of the Future’, culminating in four papers and a final discussion.
In ‘Outdoor Office Work – An Interactive Research Project Showing the Way Out’ (Paper I) it was shown that a range of work activities could be brought outdoors, both individually and collaboratively, and that outdoor office work (OOW) was associated with experiences of well-being, recovery, autonomy, enhanced cognition, better communication, and social relations, but also with feelings of guilt and illegitimacy. Conditions of importance were found in the physical environment, and in the organizational culture, and not the least concerned managers’ attitudes towards OOW, and to autonomy and trust in general.
In ‘Greenspace as Workplace – Benefits, Challenges and Essentialities in the Physical Environment’ (Paper II) insights into key aspects of the physical environment relevant for the experienced benefits and challenges of workers exploring OOW were captured through the themes of Simplicity, Safeness, Comfort and Contact with Nature, whereas Sociality, Well-being, and Functioning stood out as the main experienced benefits, and Digital dependency and Illegitimacy as challenges to overcome.
Based on an interview study with white-collar workers practicing OOW on a regular basis, a conceptual framework was developed and presented in ‘Unlocking the Transformative Potential of Outdoor Office Work – A Constructivist Grounded Theory Study’ (Paper III). The categories practicing outdoor office work, challenging the taken-for-granted, enjoying freedom and disconnection, feeling connected and interdependent, promoting health and well-being, enhancing performance, and finally, adding a dimension, make up ‘The Lotus of Outdoor Office Work’; a model visualizing the experienced benefits and challenges of OOW, highlighting the dynamic relationship between the practice of working outdoors on one hand, and how this challenges the system in which white-collar work traditionally takes place, on the other.
Through a combined theoretical and case discussion in ‘Critical Interaction – Challenging Dualisms by Bringing Office Work Outdoors’ (Paper IV), the possibilities and circumstances under which an interactive research approach may be critical and contribute to learning and knowledge development in the context of exploring OOW was elaborated upon. It was concluded that an interactive research approach can do so by challenging taken-for-granted dualisms, being critical with support from closeness as well as distance, engaging in both action and reflection, and by encompassing both practical and academic interests and outcomes.
In conclusion, exploring OOW is a relevant and sustainable way to enhance work life. However, challenges exist, such as the need for a supportive outdoor environment and an organizational culture that values trust and autonomy. The primary challenge lies in societal norms that separate mind and body, perpetuating the belief that white-collar work is incompatible with physical activity. The exploration of OOW turns ideas about work inside out, revealing that only certain activities are traditionally recognized as ‘work’.
... Cunningham (2008) suggests that action research assists in answering the questions "how do we accomplish student success?" and "How do we know when we have succeeded?". Action research is ''a family of approaches that integrate theory and action to address important organizational, community and social issues together with those who experience them" (Coghlan and Brydon-Miller 2014). Curtis (2017) indicates that action research occurs within real-world contexts, relates to the practice of the action researcher (e.g., educational, research, or professional), involves attempts to improve practice and solve real-world problems, involves reflection, and is an iterative/cyclical process. ...
Effective instruction produces growth in knowledge or movement of perceptions in a desirable direction. Ethics education is emphasized in accounting curricula, but measuring growth or movement is a challenge. The ARBC instrument measures student perceptions of ethical conduct using real-world vignettes. ARBC compared students in Auditing and MAcc classes to students in introductory Finance and Accounting Principles classes, benchmarked against experienced businesspeople and a reference group representing society. Perceptions of Auditing and MAcc students were far more similar to the business panel than the perceptions of the Finance and Principles students, with overall movement in desirable directions.
... This calls for a research strategy that is characterised by a willingness to reflect continuously in a critical manner on the opportunities and challenges involved in the approach. In the spirit of democratic experimentation, reflexivity, and participatory criticism, we position ourselves as "critical friends" who do "not seek to bring quick agreement but rather to complicate by probing for deeper meaning and evidence and seeking possible alternative explanations" (Coghlan and Brydon Miller 2014). The illustrations we use in this paper are one channel of storytelling and engaging while another is the development of a toolbox of questions for anyone interested in the study of surveillance AI-cologies. ...
Technological surveillance for the sake of safeguarding public safety (e.g., cameras, sensors, mobile phones, OSINT) pervades the lives of individuals on many levels. In this article, we advance the idea that the addition of AI changes the way surveillance ecologies function and thus deserves to spawn its own concept: the surveillance AI-cology. Surveillance AI-cologies are made up of interconnected collections of disparate actors (technological, human, more-than-human, organisational, etc.), all implicated in AI-aided surveillance tasks. They contain not only the usual complexities of any technological ecosystem but also the added complexity of AI, with emergent characteristics, both technically and socially. We argue for the utility of multi-faceted perspectives in doing work within AI-cologies, and we describe (anthropologically inspired) methodology for understanding and unpacking AI surveillance ecosystems. The development of democratically controlled AI surveillance requires the systematic consideration of ethical, legal, and social aspects (ELSA) within the quintuple helix (public, private, civil society, academia, nature). We stress the relevance of clearly defining which perspectives of the quintuple helix are considered in AI surveillance, and which not, to achieve a transparent set of (ELSA) values that guide AI surveillance development and implementation. We provide an example of the way we have developed and applied (some of) these methodologies in the context of a test-site for the development and application of smart city technology, a so-called “Living Lab.” Here we take the stance of active involvement of academics as “critical friends” into complex innovation and assessment processes. Together with our conversation partners in the field, we tease out and reflect upon the (public safety) values embedded in the setup of the Living Lab we explore. We end with a call to understand surveillance AI-cologies not as a problem to be solved, but as a continuing process to be discussed among highly diverse stakeholders.
In Samuel Kwok's research on luxury branding management, he utilized autoethnography, role theory, and the Narrative Policy Framework (NPF) to examine how luxury branding management functions in the China business environment. he discovered that brand authenticity plays a critical role in shaping brand policy, and brand managers collaborate with business partners to set their brands apart. Brand managers still wield significant influence despite the collaborative nature of brand policy because of globalisation and Internet technology. Through his research, he introduced the Role-based Narrative Policy framework with new propositions, offering fresh perspectives on luxury brand storytelling for academia and luxury branding management practitioners.
The purpose of the present study was to design, implement, and evaluate the delivery and utility of a multicomponent online intervention that aimed to protect and promote the well-being of competitive and high-performance swimmers. Utilizing an action research methodology, the current study evaluated the delivery and utility of an intervention comprising six online workshops that were tailored to the needs of high-performance swimmers ( n attending = 46). In addition, an accompanying workshop for parents ( n attending = 22) and coaches ( n attending = 17) was developed and delivered. Data were analyzed using a reflexive thematic analysis approach. Overall, feedback on the intervention was positive, with participants indicating that they enjoyed the sessions, particularly opportunities for discussion and reflection, as well as learning from the experiences of a professional swimmer. Participants also indicated that their understanding and knowledge regarding well-being increased, as well as gaining reassurance and confidence regarding the support and strategies they had available. Nevertheless, there were some challenges and limitations identified with the workshops, which should be considered for future research and interventions.
Plastic pollution is a problem and the world is currently dealing with its impacts on the aquatic environments. This study investigates the perceptions and knowledge of process controllers and managers from twelve water and wastewater treatment plants within two local municipalities (Thulamela and Makhado) in the Vhembe District Municipality, South Africa. The perceptions and knowledge of plastic pollution, limited resources and economic difficulties, the effects of plastic pollutants on water systems, a lack of information and training, and a lack of institutional support documents were the five main themes that were identified from semi-structured interviews with workers from the treatment plants. The findings show serious issues regarding plastic waste affecting treatment operations, ineffective methods of removing plastics and inadequate waste collection services in rural areas. Financial and material limits make managing plastic pollution even more difficult, and inconsistent training and a lack of institutional support make it difficult for workers to manage it consistently. The responses highlight the need for improved waste management plans, financial support for advanced filtration systems, and continuous training to provide workers with the skills and knowledge needed to reduce plastic pollution. These measures are crucial for maintaining the water quality and increasing treatment plants' operational effectiveness.
The objective of this study is to analyze the effect of AI on the success of digital entrepreneurship through a hybrid approach, studying how AI technologies influence innovation, improvement in efficiency and productivity, and making strategic decisions in digital start-ups. This study investigates this by integrating quantitative data analysis and qualitative case studies. The quantitative analysis focuses on the extent of AI adoption, organizational performance improvement, customer satisfaction, and revenue growth. In contrast, the qualitative analysis, through in-depth interviews and case studies, has identified strategies and challenges for the implementation of AI. This study, while identifying key success factors and effective strategies for leveraging AI, highlights its role in optimizing business operations, personalizing customer experience, and accelerating product development. It also shows the need for organizations to adopt AI responsibly, considering ethical issues such as data privacy and algorithmic bias. Comprehensive analysis implies deep insight with actionable solutions that can be used by entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers to create sustainable growth, drive innovation, and maintain competitive advantage in the area of digital entrepreneurship. This study deepens the general discussion of the place of AI in shaping the future of entrepreneurial activity while developing the notion of its business performance impact.
The continuous evolution of digital technology has dramatically changed the business models, the perspective of entrepreneurship and redefined the goals and requirements of entrepreneurship education to adapt to the new digital reality in the field of entrepreneurship. This research aims to clarify the neglected position at the intersection of digital entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship education, seeking to introduce digital entrepreneurship education as a separate research area. Given that the interdisciplinary expansion of digital entrepreneurship research has taken precedence over educational designs in terms of the knowledge and skills required, documenting how to adapt entrepreneurship education with the ongoing integration of emerging digital technologies into the entrepreneurial process seems vital. In addition, the development of a conceptual framework for digital entrepreneurship education can pave the way for richer discussions about theoretical and practical implications, fostering new conceptualizations in future research, innovative educational approaches, and creative curriculum designs, especially in the Iranian context. These challenges require investigation of the ways of effectively incorporating digital entrepreneurship into the Iranian curriculum system and finding new ways in which students can be optimally oriented into the digital entrepreneurship environment. This study investigates the status of digital entrepreneurship education in Iran, determines existing gaps, and offers practical suggestions to activists in education and policy analysts. Thus, the ultimate aim of this research is to contribute to developing a comprehensive and functional framework for digital entrepreneurship education that can adapt to the evolution of the digital arena, enabling future entrepreneurs to be fully equipped with the ability to be successful in the digital era.
This chapter investigates the intercultural and cross-cultural dynamics present in the digital interactions of Greek migrant youths. By employing a/r/tography—a methodology that blends artmaking, research, and teaching—the chapter emphasizes how these youths express their identities through social media. The research highlights the role of digital technologies in allowing Greek migrant youths to reflect on their migration experiences and cultural heritage during the global COVID-19 lockdown of 2020. Visual artifacts, including storyboards, are incorporated to illustrate the insights gained through a/r/tographical renderings, which reveal how new media use supports intercultural interaction and translanguaging, thereby enhancing identity construction and a sense of belonging within contemporary migration experiences.
The current study investigated the challenges faced by the teaching faculty in teaching Braille to students with visual impairment. Students with visual impairment visual impairment face reading issues due to lack of their visual skills. Thereby, teachers of special education had to face various challenges while teaching Braille skills to their pupils with vision loss. The study ascertained these challenges to improvise the situation and resolve the reading issues of the students with visual problems. It was a descriptive study. A sample of forty teachers of special education currently teaching the pupils with visual problems in district Faisalabad, was selected for the study. The study sample was chosen on the basis of convenient sampling technique. A self-developed questionnaire with close ended nature of options was used to collect the data from respondents. Investigator himself approached the teaching faculty and collected the required data. The study findings showed that there was a very high level of inclination of the teachers (M=4.70) towards the factor that there was a lack of awareness and understanding about the Braille among other staff members, likewise teachers were struggling with time management issue while teaching Braille to the students with visual impairment. No any significant difference (p>0.05) between the male and female teachers challenges during Braille teaching was noted. The study will incorporate effective outcomes / information in teaching of Braille to the blind people, and help the special educators in handling the challenges while teaching Braille to students. It is recommended that teaching staff should be given special training regarding the use of Braille machine, including related services such as use of sixer, slate and stylus, Braille embosser, Braille software and other technological tools.
The performance of participants in the Miss Gay Muchakang Pangkalawan [Miss Ugly Gay Universe] in Quiapo, Manila, reflects characteristics of the flamboyant and effeminate bakla. However, these stereotypical depictions may not always be consistent with how participants view themselves. This study argues that an introspective understanding of how participants make sense of their identity work engendered by ever-turning tropes reveals slippages that can liberate them from existing oppressive stereotypes. By utilizing personal narrative and ethnographic reflexivity, this study deconstructs the participants’ performances, revealing identity-making that may reinforce or resist dominant discourses on the bakla under which these narratives are produced. Taking into consideration the deep affectional connections and intersubjectivity among bakla, the study contends that the obscure pageants of the “ugly” are not merely sites of gender self-discovery and contesting of local stereotypes but are also queer tropical arenas that resist hegemonic views.
This paper contributes to the development of a problem-structuring method for exploring sustainability opportunities in systems. It presents a case of designing the plane while flying it, using an action research methodology to develop the Sustainability Opportunity Study over a period of 2 years. The problem-structuring method was applied and developed in the context of a research and development network for improving sustainability of housing in East Africa through alternative binders in block-based building. The resulting method consists of the three main stages Diagnosing, Analysing, Solving, where activities are informed by critical systems thinking and insights derived from experience and reflections from the case. The method uses different types of workshops to derive specific project proposals for further implementation and realisation of the identified sustainability opportunities. Results also suggest four types of evaluation of the Sustainability Opportunity Study based on the main focus of the intervention: Focus on effectiveness (number of relevant project proposals), focus on creating shared understanding (perceived learning among participants), focus on ensuring fairness (level of engagement among marginalized stakeholders), or focus on commitment to Critical Systems Thinking (breadth and depth in Diagnosing, Analysing and Solving).
This paper explores the complexities of involving partner organisations in co-generative learning processes within Action Research (AR) initiatives. Despite formal agreements, action researchers often face challenges in collaboratively addressing specific organisational issues through AR cycles. When action researchers adopt the “friendly outsider’ role, their initial task is to secure commitment to an AR initiative from senior leaders as sponsors. However, the existing literature lacks comprehensive guidance on facilitating this commitment. Therefore, drawing from both literature and empirical cases, this paper examines the pivotal role of the AR sponsor in securing funding and political backing, offering constructive critique, and facilitating learning. It provides insights into how action researchers can facilitate sponsors to enact these roles effectively so as to ensure the success and sustainability of organisational changes resulting from AR initiatives.
Literature suggests that despite the ambitious Vision 2030 roadmap for socio-economic development in Saudi Arabia, the existing professional development (PD) opportunities made available to women English as Foreign Language (EFL) teachers are limited in their utility. They tend to be cascaded down to practitioners under the directives of educational authorities and to take the form of mandatory workshops with little connection to the classroom realities of the women EFL practitioners. Given the importance of the Vision 2030 roadmap which views the successful integration of Saudi women into the workforce and the development of English language proficiency amongst its citizenry as key imperatives, this study inquired into an alternative form of local PD, lesson study, as a mechanism for empowering Saudi EFL teachers to take charge of their own practice and professional learning. An allied objective was to help the teachers to improve their EFL pedagogy. Lesson Study is a Japanese type of PD in which teachers work together to develop, implement and modify a lesson plan through observations of the participants’ classrooms (Fernandez, 2002; 2005). The present study inquired into lesson study as a PD tool within EFL studies at a Saudi public sector university. Adopting an illuminative evaluation approach that does not separate the actors from the setting (teachers from their work context), the study implemented lesson cycles with participating EFL teachers and collected data on their experiences and perceptions through several instruments. Applying the lens of CHAT to the data, the study found that the tools of the existing and new PD activity systems diverged considerably, in that while the existing system in the research setting comprised top-down PD characterised by workshop based training and evaluative observations, the lesson study (LS)-led PD implemented as part of the study featured collaborative and local teacher-led professional learning and experimentation. While the intended outcomes were identical in the two activity systems (achieving PD), the study revealed that the realised outcomes differed considerably in both, with the participating teachers finding motivation and relevance in engaging in local self-led PD through LS, in sharp contrast to the realised outcome under the top-down workshop based earlier PD (silo-based PD). Across the division of labour, community and rules within the systems, there were also significant shifts after the implementation of LS, with the teacher participants breaking through their earlier professional isolation and engaging actively in their professional learning and thus experiencing empowerment. These findings suggest that LS as a model of local self-led PD may prove efficacious in helping Saudi universities to dissipate the conflict at the interface of the existing PD system and the desired PD outcome. These findings have implications not only for how Saudi EFL teachers undertake PD and how the university authorities support them but also for the policy makers who make decisions as to how PD is provisioned in line with Vision 2030.
The growing interest in impact-driven research invites organization and strategy scholars to not merely study, but actively help address grand challenges. This essay explores how action research might offer a robust methodology to impact and study grand challenges by developing theory through action. Action research is introduced, and its contributions, strengths and limitations are discussed in view of the current conversation about impact-driven scholarly work. Some practical guidance is given to bring action research within reach as a viable approach. The essay concludes with an exploration of how a fuller embrace of action research might help transform academic practice in the interest of urgent planetary change.
Objective. The time during which adolescents and young adults (AYAs) living with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) transition from pediatric to adult care is associated with blood sugar levels outside of target ranges, care gaps, and an increased risk of acute diabetes complications. The aim of this study was to understand (1) the perspectives of AYAs and providers about the strengths, challenges, and opportunities of transition care and (2) the role of digital technologies in supporting the transition to adult care. Research Design and Methods. We conducted a qualitative descriptive study that involved 43 semistructured interviews in French or English with AYA living with T1D (aged 16–25; n = 22) and pediatric or adult diabetes health care providers (HCPs) (n = 21). Results. We identified three themes. First, transition care is not standardized and varies widely, and there is a lack of awareness of transition guidelines. Second, virtual care can simultaneously hinder and help relationship-building between providers and AYA. Third, AYAs value a holistic approach to care; both HCPs and AYA highlighted the opportunity to better support overall mental wellbeing. Conclusions. The design of digital technologies to support T1D transition care should consider methods for standardizing holistic care delivery and integrating hybrid diabetes care visits to support access to transition care. These findings can inform future transition intervention development that leverages existing transition guidelines, targets holistic care model integration, and considers quantitative diabetes metrics in conjunction with broader life experiences of AYA when providing transition care.
This paper explores the merits and pitfalls of involving people with lived and living experiences of a phenomenon of interest (e.g., poverty, hunger, housing deprivation) in Participatory Action Research (PAR). As researchers who have conducted PAR and community-based research for several years, the authors have gained deep insight into the value of having lived/living experience members in PAR projects, as well as the challenges attendant to such work. Using a collaborative autoethnographic methodology, this paper provides an overview of PAR, including its purposes and objectives. Aiming to move past tokenistic inclusion, issues associated with meaningful participation, including relational (e.g., issues of power), ethical (e.g., risks of participation), emotional (e.g., research triggers), economic (e.g., remunerating contributions and financially supporting participation), representational (e.g., whose perspectives are advanced), and structural barriers (e.g., time, technological connectivity, etc.) are discussed using concrete examples. Bringing together people who may hold disparate perspectives, community ties, worldviews, and visions associated with a research undertaking can create challenges, but not including those who experience the phenomenon of study can create even more challenges.
The adequacy and efficacy of doctor–patient communication has remained contentious. It is a fact that some patients are seen seeking reprieve from social media. Therefore, this study aimed at finding out the function, semantic and communication manifestations of Facebook Hypertension Support Groups. This study is perhaps the first linguistic oriented one to be carried out in sub-Saharan Africa and reveals an alternative health crisis communication method in sub-Saharan Africa. The research was guided by four main objectives which are: (1) To analyse the language models used in doctor–patient discourse. (2) To explain the dialogic nature of messages shared in Facebook Hypertension Support Groups. (3) To examine the function and impact of Facebook Hypertension Support Groups messages (4) To evaluate the High Blood Pressure patients’ benefits and challenges of Hypertension Support Groups’ communication. The theories underpinning this narrative qualitative research were the Multimodal Discourse Analysis and Dialogism. Data was collected through content/linguistic analysis of sampled and selected texts from Facebook Hypertension Support Groups. Interviews were also used. Purposive sampling was done in the selection of patients. The study revealed that the reciprocal emotional support characteristic of the Facebook Hypertension Support group is beneficial to the patients. More importantly, it was ascertained that the power balance between doctors and patients becomes more equalised, resulting in increased quality of clinical decisions.
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