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3.6.1 Use of Action Research in Nursing Research
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Chapter 3 Research Framework
Reed (2005) stated that AR has gained popularity in nursing research due to its
ability to develop practice-based knowledge that can assist in changing practice and
democratising inquiry.
Robinson and Street (2004) adopted an action research approach in order to improve
networks between acute care nurses and aged care assessment teams. They stated
that AR values the participation of all stakeholders in the conduct and decision-
making of the research as well as addressing practical problems to improve a
situation. For the purpose of this study, decision-making is central to autonomy, and
hence the usefulness of using an action research approach in further advancing this
research.
Various other researchers have advocated for the benefits of using AR in nursing
research (Dickinson, Welch and Ager, 2007; Fenton, 2008; Tutton, 2005). Fenton
(2008) used an action research approach to introduce a post-fall assessment
algorithm into a community rehabilitation hospital for older adults and offered that
as a research design, AR is effective in the implementation of change in a clinical
environment, involving collaboration, re-education and changing ways of thinking.
Fenton (2008) stated that AR is a practical, problem-solving approach that minimises
the gap between research and practice. Fenton (2008) added that because nurses are
used to problem-solving in their daily work, AR is particularly applicable to research
with this discipline; nurses can learn by doing the research and thus are more likely
to incorporate the findings in practice. Again, introducing phase two AR to this study
complements the research undertaken in phase one and “minimises the gap between
research and practice” (the findings from phase one (research) led to phase two
(practice)).
Dickinson, Welch and Ager (2007) also used an action research approach in order to
improve the hospital mealtime experience for older people. The ward context was
explored at the beginning and at the end of the study using focus groups, interviews,
observations and benchmarking. Dickinson, Welch and Ager (2007) stated that AR
is an approach that has become a popular method of undertaking research for several
reasons, but mainly because of the appeal of undertaking meaningful research in the