Action Research: Its Foundations in Open Systems Thinking and Relationship to the Scientific Method

Abstract

This paper considers those interpretations of action research that can be traced to Kurt Lewin at the Research Center for Group Dynamics at the University of Michigan, and the work in social ecology by Emery and Trist at the Tavistock Institute. It locates the logical basis of these interpretations in the philosophy of pragmatism, particularly as it relates to Peirce's inferential logic and inquiry system. Drawing on this argument, and on the significant developments in approaches to systemic thinking over the past 40-50 years, a normative set of criteria is established for action research. The paper concludes that both positivist science (which relates to closed systems thinking) and action research (which relates to open systems thinking) are essential to any complete scientific approach.

A relational, transformative and engaged approach to sustainable supply chain management: The potential of action research

“…Dewey, Peirce and James) is often cited as foundational to the development of AR (Cassell & Johnson, 2006;Eikeland, 2007;Barton, Stephens, & Haslett, 2009). …”

The Continuous Improvement Grid: An Empirical Investigation into the Effectiveness of a Systems, and Action Research, Based Continuous Improvement Intervention, for ‘New’ Organisation Development

“…Of course perhaps this paradigm is, in part, maintained by the lack of valid and generalisable action research studies which have been subject to 'positivist evaluation. In this Journal Barton et al (2009) have highlighted the complementary opportunity offered by combining action research with positivist research which mirrors the aspiration for this work to be both scholarly consulting and pragmatic science. Accordingly the following credibility, validity and rigor goals were established a priori.…”

Learning from Conflict Resolution: An Opportunity to Systems Thinking

“…This is also true for ST. Furthermore, systems thinkers have contributed much on the refinements of Levin's thinking and the broader action research family (Barton et al ., ). The prominent systems journal Systemic Practice and Action Research is an obvious evidence of such a link.…”