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

Moving Forward TogetherJanet Kellyone’s experiences. Stringer (2007) advocates concepts drawn from people’sday to day lives and personal epiphanies 19 . As participants clarify the meaningof events, they come to understand the conceptual structures and pragmaticworking theories of themselves and others. The complex chaos of situationsbecomes apparent. Stringer (2007) describes four different approaches tointerpretation including; using interpretive questions of why, what, how, who,where and when; organisational review; concept mapping and problemanalysis. We used all four at different times. In their book Action Research inHealth, Stringer and Genat (2004) highlight that in action research, theemphasis is on investigation driven by participant perspectives rather thanthose contained in the literature. Data analysis becomes an interactive processbetween stakeholders through shared accounts and joint accounts.Resolving problems - Action phaseThe third phase involves resolving the problems though planning,implementing and evaluating action. Stringer (2007) advocates that planningfor action should involve all stakeholder groups to prevent future problems,disengagement and/or sabotage. All participants review the issues andformulate priorities. Goal setting using why, what, how, who, where and whenquestions become a collaborative process that identifies priorities and howeveryone’s needs can be met. Implementing the plan involves collaborativecommunity based processes supported by the research facilitator who mayassist with communication, reflection and analysis, linking people andresources together, conflict resolution and nurturing people as they try newroles. Regular review is important to monitor progress (Stringer 2007).More complex situations require additional strategies. A unifying vision isdeveloped by strategic planning, and then enacted through agreed operationalstatements and creating action plans that define objectives, tasks, steps, thepeople to be involved, places, timelines and resources. Plans are reviewed inview of opportunities and threats, financial considerations, resources availableand organisational and community arrangements. Democratic and collaborativeinvolvement, decision making and evaluation can be challenging to maintain19 Epiphanies are personal turning points, moments of clarity, ‘ah ha’ or ‘light bulb’ moments, amoment in time when something suddenly becomes clear.126