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| Mike Saks and Judith Allsop |
Chapter 8 - Action Research
and Health
Heather Waterman |
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| Contributor
biography |
| Heather Waterman, PhD, BSc (Hons),
RN, OND, is Professor of Nursing and Ophthalmology and
Acute Care and Rehabilitation Research Group Leader at
the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University
of Manchester, UK. She leads an ophthalmology nursing
research team with special interest in adherence and glaucoma.
She is Editor of Journal of the European Society of
Ophthalmic Nurses and Technicians. She also has a
long standing interest in participatory research methodologies
including action research. Her research portfolio consists
of numerous academic and professional publications and
she has been both lead and collaborator on externally
funded grants. She is a fellow of the European Academy
of Nursing Science (EANS). |
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| Chapter overview |
| This chapter examines the main characteristics
and rationale for action research in health care settings.
It considers resources required, the strengths and weaknesses
of action research and the challenges of data analysis. |
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| Chapter links |
Chapter
16 - Mixed Methods and Multidisciplinary Research in Health
Care
Chapter 19 - Involving
the Consumer in Health Research |
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| Suggested
Online Readings |
| Baker,
T.A. and Wang, C.A. (2006) ‘Photovoice: Use of a
Participatory Action Research Method to Explore the Chronic
Pain Experience in Older Adults’, Qualitative
Health Research, 16 (10): 1405-13. |
| Photovoice is a participatory action
research method where individuals photograph their everyday
health and work activities to capture the reality of lived
experience. The study assesses the efficacy of Photovoice
as a method for examining pain experiences. Selected clinic
and non clinic-based adults aged over 50 took photographs;
composed written narratives based on their experiences
with pain and answered open-ended questions on their daily
experience. Researchers found that Photovoice can be used
to enhance understanding for both sufferers and providers
alongside other methods. |
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| Saulnier,
C.F. and Wheeler, E. (2000) ‘Social Action Research:
Influencing Providers and Recipients of Health and Mental
Health Care for Lesbians’, Affilia, 15 (3):
409-33. |
| The Lesbian Health Care Project of
Western New York (LCHP): a feminist social action research
project, gathered region-specific information between
1994-7 on lesbians' physical and mental health care. The
project conducted a community survey, community focus
groups, and a provider survey. It then developed and distributed
a community resource book directory of providers. The
article describes the project and its findings and discusses
social action strategies and implications for practice.
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| Skinner,
H.A. Maley, O. and Norman, C.D. (2006) ‘Developing
Internet-Based eHealth Promotion Programs: The Spiral
Technology Action Research (STAR) Model’, Health
Promotion Practice, 7 (4): 406-17. |
| The rapid growth of the Internet has
created opportunities for Web-based health education and
behavior change applications—termed eHealth promotion.
Many eHealth promotion applications are introduced without
an explicit model to guide the design, evaluation, and
ongoing improvement of the program. The spiral technology
action research (STAR) model was developed to address
this need. The model consists of five cycles (listen,
plan, do, study, act) that weave together technological
development, community involvement, and continuous improvement.
The model is illustrated by a case study describing the
development of the Smoking Zine (www.SmokingZine.org):
a youth smoking prevention and cessation website. |
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| Further Reading |
| Hart, E. and Bond, M. (1995) Action
Research for Health and Social Care: A Guide for Practice.
Milton Keynes: Open University Press. |
| This book offers a good introduction
to action research, containing a useful typology and history
of the methodology involved. |
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| Kennis, S. and McTaggart, R. (1988)
The Action Research Planner. 3rd edition. Victoria:
Deakin University. |
| This classic book provides a detailed
framework for the first phase of action research, providing
much helpful advice. |
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| Winter, R. and Munn-Giddings, C. (2001).
A Handbook for Action Research in Health and Social
Care. London: Routledge. |
| This text is a handbook for action
researchers, but goes beyond this description and explores
the theoretical issues underpinning action research. |
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© Sage Publications Ltd.
