Moving Forward Together in Aboriginal Women's Health: - Theses ...

Moving Forward TogetherJanet Kellyin this new millennium. Reason and Bradbury (2006, p. 1) describe actionresearch as:A participatory, democratic process concerned with developing practicalknowing in the pursuit of worthwhile human purposes, grounded in aparticipatory world view which we believe is emerging at this historicalmoment. It seeks to bring together action and reflection, theory andpractice, in participation with others, in the pursuit of practical solutionsto issues of pressing concern to people….and their communities.Aboriginal health research ethics highlighted the need for research thatsupports more meaningful participation of groups who were previously ‘theresearched’ (National Health and Medical Research Council 2003).Participatory action research as described by Reason and Bradbury encouragesresearchers to be decolonising in intent and nature. Co-researchers and Idiscussed a range of approaches and chose Community Based Action Researchwith repeated cycles as described by Stringer (2007) as being the mostappropriate. Stringer proposes three phases of Look (data gathering), Think(interpreting and analysis) and Act (resolving problems – planning andimplementing sustainable solutions)Building the picture – Look phaseDuring the initial Look data gathering phase, research participants areencouraged to describe their situation clearly and comprehensively (Stringer2007). This allows taken for granted visions, beliefs and viewpoints, andindividual perceptions of reality to be brought out into the open to beexamined, adjusted and or transformed in a process of liberation andenlightenment similar to that described by Freire (1972). A wide range ofmethods or tools are used including interviews, focus groups and meetings,literature review, mapping exercises, and joint analysis.Interpreting and analysis – Think phaseDuring the second interpretive and analysis Think phase, research participantsare encouraged to interpret and analyse the issues they are addressing.Interpretation involves clarifying meaning in order to make better sense of125