Complete thesis - Murdoch University

vast amounts of data about everything. High control is also likely to lead to artificialaction on the part of the participants, adding an element of bias regardless of theimplied objectivity of the research. This lack of manipulation, a strength of ActionResearch, is an advantage in generating relevant and valid knowledge for the contextPersonal over-involvement – some researchers contend that good research is hindered bythe personal biases introduced through approaches such as Action Research. However,Action Research is seen to foster change, generally accompanied by emotionalinvolvement on the part of all participants – either resistance and apathy or supportand enthusiasm. The researcher as ‘cultural insider’ provides considerable benefits forthe study: intimacy with the subcultures and alternate realities that comprise theoverall context reality provide valuable insights for interpretation of the results of thestudy. Edwards (1999) states that the peculiar benefit of deep insider research is theknowledge the researcher brings concerning history and cultures and an awareness ofbody language, semiotics and slogan systems operating within the cultural norms ofthe organisation/group, with much of this undiscoverable to outsiders. As Eisenhart(1989) notes, discussing the use of case study research in theory building, the underlyingassumption is that the intimate interaction with actual evidence often produces theorywhich closely mirrors reality. The iteration of cycles may work towards reducing potentialdistortions in the findings caused by over-involvement. Personal identification withmethodologies, techniques, instruments etc, introduced as part of the research is also apotential source of personal bias, but can be minimised through a clear understandingthat one outcome of the research is learning (which may indicate inappropriatenessrather than the opposite)Lack of generalisability – the generalisability of studies involving humans in a social settingis problematic: the basic principle of randomness that is necessary for generalisationto be possible is missing in Action Research, which also fails to identify any populationto which the results can be generalised. Therefore, some researchers suggestconstructs that establish the ‘trustworthiness’ of the study as more appropriate. Theseprovide truth value through credibility, applicability through transferability, consistencythrough dependability and neutrality through confirmability (Erlandson et al,1993) so thatthe judgements arrived at [are] not gratuitous or the result of subjective whim.(Madison, 1988, p 28)197