Action research networks: role and purpose in the evaluation of research outcomes and impacts

Zornes, Deborah; Ferkins, Lesley; Piggot-Irvine, Eileen

doi:10.1080/09650792.2015.1045538

Cited by 9 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…number of events, number of specific event types, or the share of the event types, was significant, despite the variability across the countries ( Table 4 ). Time could be a possible reason for the insignificant results, given that the effects of MSP activities involving research processes are reported to show their effects only after a time lag [ 32 , 43 – 45 ]. In brief, our study confirms that changes triggered by MSPs happen slowly, as commonly recognized in the MSP and innovation systems literature [ 46 – 49 ].…”

Section: Analysis and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of multi-stakeholder platforms on multi-stakeholder innovation networks: Implications for research for development interventions targeting innovations at scale

et al. 2018

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Multi-stakeholder platforms (MSPs) have been playing an increasing role in interventions aiming to generate and scale innovations in agricultural systems. However, the contribution of MSPs in achieving innovations and scaling has been varied, and many factors have been reported to be important for their performance. This paper aims to provide evidence on the contribution of MSPs to innovation and scaling by focusing on three developing country cases in Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda. Through social network analysis and logistic models, the paper studies the changes in the characteristics of multi-stakeholder innovation networks targeted by MSPs and identifies factors that play significant roles in triggering these changes. The results demonstrate that MSPs do not necessarily expand and decentralize innovation networks but can lead to contraction and centralization in the initial years of implementation. They show that some of the intended next users of interventions with MSPs–local-level actors–left the innovation networks, whereas the lead organization controlling resource allocation in the MSPs substantially increased its centrality. They also indicate that not all the factors of change in innovation networks are country specific. Initial conditions of innovation networks and funding provided by the MSPs are common factors explaining changes in innovation networks across countries and across different network functions. The study argues that investigating multi-stakeholder innovation network characteristics targeted by the MSP using a network approach in early implementation can contribute to better performance in generating and scaling innovations, and that funding can be an effective implementation tool in developing country contexts.

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Section: Analysis and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of multi-stakeholder platforms on multi-stakeholder innovation networks: Implications for research for development interventions targeting innovations at scale

et al. 2018

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“…There are many research studies which claim to include or involve communities, and indeed start out with the premise that all stakeholders are equal. Somewhere along the way, however, these studies often deteriorate to a researcher knows best model, where participants, subjects, and stakeholders are secondary (Zornes, 2012). As we reported in Zornes, Ferkins, and Piggot-Irvine (2016), in AR, building relationships is a defining feature and their importance is paramount.…”

Section: We Articulated In the Esar That We Were Evaluating Multiple mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Somewhere along the way, however, these studies often deteriorate to a researcher knows best model, where participants, subjects, and stakeholders are secondary (Zornes, 2012). As we reported in Zornes, Ferkins, and Piggot-Irvine (2016), in AR, building relationships is a defining feature and their importance is paramount. The relationships developed, in turn, spawn a variety of networks, among teams, with stakeholders, and with the larger community .…”

Section: We Articulated In the Esar That We Were Evaluating Multiple mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Second, the dialogical approach to engaging respondent/participant input was deliberate in terms of practitioner-researcherorganization-community flow of information and enhancement of ownership of improvement rather than us "holding" the knowledge. As a result of the collaboration and the dialogical approach to engagement, we have already been able to report that varied levels of networks have developed (Zornes et al, 2016) …”

Section: Phase 4: Review Of Achievementmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Developing a Framework for Research Evaluation in Complex Contexts Such as Action Research

Piggot-Irvine

Zornes

2016

Sage Open

Self Cite

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Early investigation led the Evaluative Study of Action Research (ESAR) team to conclude that the complexity of a global, large scale study (evaluation of more than 100 highly diverse action research [AR] projects) called for an overarching research evaluation framework that differed from traditional frameworks. This article details the flexible, rigorous, Evaluative Action Research (EvAR) framework developed to meet the complex demands of the diverse AR projects and the intent to conduct high engagement research evaluation. The EvAR fulfilled multiple overarching needs to: authentically collaborate, engage, and enhance ownership from the ESAR team and the AR project participants and boundary partners evaluated; be informed in decision making via strong reference support; be responsive and flexible yet meet accountability demands to track, demonstrate, and measure process, outcomes, and impacts of projects; use mixed-method data collection to enhance rigor of findings; and utilize a highly reflective and reflexive approach to the evaluation. Many of the latter needs align with underpinning principles and values in AR itself; that is, it is collaborative, consultative, democratic, reflective, reflexive, dialogical, and improvement oriented. Rationale for the framework is provided alongside full details of phases and implementation elements using the ESAR as an example. Throughout the article, features are highlighted that distinguish this new EvAR framework from others. The advantages of adopting a flexible framework, which aims to enhance engagement of those evaluated, are highly relevant to contexts beyond AR if ownership of evaluation outcomes is a goal.

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“…In the study researcher aimed to encourage participants to influent the process, so the closest understanding of the term "participation" in this survey is within the context of promoting development. Within the critical social work paradigm, effective participation recognizes not only the importance of involving all stakeholders in the development process [12], but also analyzing if doing so really increases the capacity of all to use the results of mutual decisions [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Utilising Action Research to Enhance Critical Social Work Practice: Ukraine's Experience of Introducing Community Paralegals

Yeroshenko

2019

PoS

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The study was conducted to examine the course development process during which the perception of paralegal's role in local communities of Ukraine was shaped. Based on action research and critical social work paradigm the study demonstrates the role of training participants in constructing new knowledge, and how the understanding of paralegals concept in Ukraine had changed under their influence. The findings from a few cycles of action research reveal that there are fewer limitations to be a paralegal in Ukraine, as it was presupposed, paralegals role has shifted from only service brokerage and providing information, to conflict-solving, and providing new initiatives in local communities, moreover, the educational program for paralegals was changed in terms of their requests and according to their regional specifics.

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Action research networks: role and purpose in the evaluation of research outcomes and impacts

Cited by 9 publications

References 37 publications

Effects of multi-stakeholder platforms on multi-stakeholder innovation networks: Implications for research for development interventions targeting innovations at scale

Effects of multi-stakeholder platforms on multi-stakeholder innovation networks: Implications for research for development interventions targeting innovations at scale

Developing a Framework for Research Evaluation in Complex Contexts Such as Action Research

Utilising Action Research to Enhance Critical Social Work Practice: Ukraine's Experience of Introducing Community Paralegals

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