Contributing to Moving Action Research to Activism with Living Theory Research

Abstract

This paper follows the organisation of the successful proposal: 1) The research and action aims; 2) methodology, theoretical tools and methods; 3) results, outputs, program changes and events. The research aims are focused on the communication of meanings of relationally dynamic values in educational conversations in the generation of living-theories by activist scholars that carry hope for the flourishing of humanity. The action aims are focused on establishing a global educational conversation with a focus on improving practice with these values. The methodology, theoretical tools and methods are focused on the generation of their living-theories. The results, outputs, program changes and events demonstrate the spreading global educational influences of Living Theory research.

Autoethnographic engagement in participatory action research: Bearing witness to developmental transformations for college student activists

“…As such, the ways that we employed autoethnographic journaling with activist-researchers on our team is similar to that in which Jack Whitehead’s (2009; 2015) employed living-theory in the UK with teacher education students and education practitioners who engage in action research. In his model of "living theory research," Whitehead (2020) had teachers (i.e., activist-researchers) reflect on “the educational influences in their own learning, the learning of others, and in the learning of the social formations that influence practice and understandings” (p. 57) and to understand the values underlying these influences. These reflections were used as data to improve practice.…”

Supporting Communities in Caring for Salmon and Each Other: Creek Restoration as a Site for Multi-System Change and Wholistic Re/conciliation

“…While action research provides us with protocols and processes that can be enacted to illuminate and disrupt colonial structures and encourage equitable participation and decision making, more is required to blur the boundaries between our professional roles and our personal responsibilities as beings who belong to this Land (Kimmerer, 2013) and to one another. Whitehead (2020) challenges us move beyond action research to activism, broadly defined, by engaging in what he refers to as Living Theory Research, involving the enactment of our deepest ethical and political convictions. In this regard, centering action research around the questions posed by Health Justice (2018) including how we might learn to be human, to live well together, to behave as good relatives, and to become good ancestors to all those who come after us 8 , demonstrates how Indigenous worldviews can inform action research to address the ecological crisis.…”