#📓 #📄 #🟠 # The action turn: Toward a transformational social science. ![[calendar-plus.svg]] <small>Oct 18, 2021</small> | ![[calendar-clock.svg]] <small>Nov 25, 2022</small> 🏷️ [[Action Research]] **Author:** Peter Reason & William R. Torbert **Citation:** Reason, P., & Torbert, W. R. (2001). The action turn: Toward a transformational social science. _Concepts and Transformation_, _6_(1), 1–37. --- # Summary Authors offer an epistemological understanding of action research. Discuss four domains and three strategies for action research. Argues that to be transformational you need to integrate first-, second- and third-person voices to increase validity of knowledge used for day-to-day life that will lead to more effective actions in real-time and keep us open to unexpected transformation when assumptions and habits are challenged. ## Key Takeaways # Notes & Important Ideas - 4 key features of transformational action research: 1. importance of [[practical knowing]] 2. participative relationships 3. experiential grounding 4. normative theory ([note on p.4](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/ADJRG6G2?page=4)) - Traditional empirical research conducted externally under controlled conditions ignores the variance in life and, therefore, the knowledge generated is of limited use. ([note on p.5](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/ADJRG6G2?page=5)) - Reason and Torbert argue that the purpose of inquiry is not just to contribute to new knowledge, but intentionally connect new knowledge with moment-to-moment action so that inquiry directly contributes to the growth and development of people, organizations and the broader communities. ([note on p.8](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/ADJRG6G2?page=8)) - Primary purpose of traditional academic research is to contribute to the body of knowledge. - Purpose of action research is a "practical knowing embodied in the moment-to-moment action of each research/practitioner" in service of the growth and development of people and systems. ([note on p.9](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/ADJRG6G2?page=9)) - All attention, knowing, acting and evidence gathering is based on normative theory of what action is appropriate now. ([note on p.9](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/ADJRG6G2?page=9)) - Research is done *with* people as the "human community involves mutual sensemaking and collective action" ([note on p.12](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/ADJRG6G2?page=12)) - Research needs to be grounded in practical experience of the situation to be understood and acted in. ([note on p.13](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/ADJRG6G2?page=13)) - Four types of knowing: 1. [[experiential knowing]] 2. [[presentational knowing]] 3. [[propositional knowing]] 4. [[practical knowing]] - Theory generated from action research should be not just descriptive, but normative, analogical, timely, and able to be implemented. ([note on p.16](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/ADJRG6G2?page=16)) - Three strategies of action research: 1. [[first-person research]] 2. [[second-person research]] 3. [[third-person research]] - Attending to our actions, there are [[organizational and learning framework#^f30125|three approaches to learning]] - The primary purpose of transformational action research is to enhance human development, so it needs to generate theory in practice that can be understood by those involved so they can act more effectively. ([note on p.31](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/ADJRG6G2?page=31)) > "purpose of knowledge is effective action in the world." ([Reason and Torbert 2001:10](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/ADJRG6G2?page=10)) > "Knowledge is thus always gained through action and for action" ([Reason and Torbert 2001:10](zotero://open-pdf/library/items/ADJRG6G2?page=10)) ## Connections to Other Materials --- # Personal Reflections & Application # Other References