Action research: lessons learned from a multi-iteration study of computer-mediated communication in groups

Action research has been presented as a promising approach for academic inquiry because of its focus on real world problems and its ability to provide researchers with a rich body of field data for knowledge building. Published examples of action research, however, are hard to find in business communication literature. What are the reasons for this? I try to provide a basis for answering this question as well as helping other business communication researchers-particularly those interested in computer-mediated communication issues-to decide whether and when to employ action research. I offer a first-person, confessional tale-like account of an action research study of computer-mediated communication in groups. In order to focus on the lessons learned, my focus is on the process of conducting action research and not on empirical results. Some of the situations and related lessons discussed are somewhat surprising and illustrate the complex nature of action research. The doctoral research, conducted over four years in Brazil and New Zealand, highlights the challenges associated with action research's dual goal of serving practitioners and the research community.

[1]  Ned Kock,et al.  The three threats of action research: a discussion of methodological antidotes in the context of an information systems study , 2004, Decis. Support Syst..

[2]  Ned Kock,et al.  Compensatory adaptation to a lean medium: an action research investigation of electronic communication in process improvement groups , 2001 .

[3]  Ned Kock,et al.  Asynchronous and distributed process improvement: the role of collaborative technologies , 2001, Inf. Syst. J..

[4]  Ned Kock,et al.  Information systems action research: serving two demanding masters , 2001 .

[5]  Enid Mumford,et al.  Advice for an action researcher , 2001, Inf. Technol. People.

[6]  N. Kock.  CHANGING THE FOCUS OF BUSINESS PROCESS REDESIGN FROM ACTIVITY FLOWS TO INFORMATION FLOWS : A DEFENSE ACQUISITION APPLICATION , 2001 .

[7]  M. Lynne Markus,et al.  Special Issue on Intensive Research in Information Systems: Using Qualitative, Interpretive, and Case Methods to Study Information Technology-Third Installment; Foreword , 2000, MIS Q..

[8]  N. Hoffart.  Basics of Qualitative Research: Techniques and Procedures for Developing Grounded Theory , 2000 .

[9]  Ulrike Schultze,et al.  A Confessional Account of an Ethnography About Knowledge Work , 2000, MIS Q..

[10]  K. Hambridge.  Action research. , 2000, Professional nurse.

[11]  R. Hirschheim.  INFORMATION SYSTEMS EPISTEMOLOGY: AN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE , 2000 .

[12]  Richard Baskerville,et al.  Investigating Information Systems with Action Research , 1999, Commun. Assoc. Inf. Syst..

[13]  Jone Rymer,et al.  The Genre System of the Harvard Case Method , 1999 .

[14]  Francis Y. Lau,et al.  Toward a framework for action research in information systems studies , 1999, Inf. Technol. People.

[15]  Allen S. Lee.  Rigor and relevance in MIS research: beyond the approach of positivism alone , 1999 .

[16]  Thomas H. Davenport,et al.  Rigor vs. relevance revisited: response to Benbasat and Zmud , 1999 .

[17]  M. Lynne Markus,et al.  Special issue on intensive research in information systems: using qualitative, interpretive, and case methods to study information technology—foreword , 1999 .

[18]  Michael D. Myers,et al.  A Set of Principles for Conducting and Evaluating Interpretive Field Studies in Information Systems , 1999, MIS Q..

[19]  Munir Mandviwalla,et al.  New Directions for GDSS , 1999 .

[20]  Upkar Varshney,et al.  Communications of the Association for Information Systems , 2000 .

[21]  Trevor Wood-Harper,et al.  Panel 8 IS Action Research: Can We Serve Two Masters? , 1999 .

[22]  Paul Gray,et al.  Is IS Research on GSS Relevant , 1998 .

[23]  R. Baskerville,et al.  Diversity in information systems action research methods , 1998 .

[24]  N. Kock.  Negotiating mutually satisfying IS action research topics with organizations: an analysis of Rapoport’s initiative dilemma , 1997 .

[25]  Robert J. McQueen,et al.  Can action research be made more rigorous in a positivist sense? The contribution of an iterative approach , 1997 .

[26]  Richard L. Baskerville,et al.  Distinguishing action research from participative case studies , 1997 .

[27]  F. Lau,et al.  A review on the use of action research in information systems studies , 1997 .

[28]  Ping Zhang,et al.  Fast timing estimation for CDMA waveforms in a near-far environment , 1996, Proceedings of GLOBECOM'96. 1996 IEEE Global Telecommunications Conference.

[29]  R. Baskerville,et al.  A critical perspective on action research as a method for information systems research , 1996, J. Inf. Technol..

[30]  Alan R. Dennis,et al.  A Meta-Analysis of Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Participant Satisfaction in Group Support Systems Research , 1996, ICIS.

[31]  J. Teichman,et al.  Philosophy: A Beginner's Guide , 1995 .

[32]  Robert Davison.  The Development of an Instrument for Measuring the Suitabiltiy of Using GSS on Support Meetings , 1995, PACIS.

[33]  M. Markus.  Electronic Mail as the Medium of Managerial Choice , 1994 .

[34]  Mary Lacity,et al.  Understanding Qualitative Data: A Framework of Text Analysis Methods , 1994, J. Manag. Inf. Syst..

[35]  Robert Sommer,et al.  Serving Two Masters: Center for Consumer Research at the University of California, Davis, 1976-1992 , 1994 .

[36]  Pamela Jordan.  Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory procedures and techniques , 1994 .

[37]  Kenneth L. Arnold.  The Manager's Guide to ISO 9000 , 1994 .

[38]  Peter Jackson,et al.  ISO 9000: An Implementation Guide for Small to Mid-Sized Businesses , 1994 .

[39]  R. Brent Gallupe,et al.  Blocking electronic brainstorms. , 1994 .

[40]  Matthew B. Miles,et al.  Qualitative Data Analysis: An Expanded Sourcebook , 1994 .

[41]  Andrew Clement,et al.  Computing at work: empowering action by “low-level users” , 1994, CACM.

[42]  Jim Sheffield,et al.  Using Electronic Meeting Technology to Support Economic Policy Development in New Zealand: Short-Term Results , 1993, J. Manag. Inf. Syst..

[43]  Ricardo Semler,et al.  Why my former employees still work for me , 1994 .

[44]  Elizabeth Adams St. Pierre,et al.  Writing: A method of inquiry. , 1994 .

[45]  Beth H. Jones,et al.  Impact of Communication Medium and Computer Support on Group Perceptions and Performance: A Comparison of Face-to-Face and Dispersed Meetings , 1993, MIS Q..

[46]  Bjørn Gustavsen,et al.  Action Research and the Generation of Knowledge , 1993 .

[47]  Peter Reasonl,et al.  Sitting Between Appreciation and Disappointment: A Critique of the Special Edition of Human Relations on Action Research , 1993 .

[48]  Frank Heller,et al.  Another Look at Action Research , 1993 .

[49]  Maryam Alavi,et al.  An assessment of electronic meeting systems in a corporate setting , 1993, Inf. Manag..

[50]  Mo Adam Mahmood,et al.  Measuring the Organizational Impact of Information Technology Investment: An Exploratory Study , 1993, J. Manag. Inf. Syst..

[51]  M. El-den,et al.  Emerging Varieties of Action Research: Introduction to the Special Issue , 1993 .

[52]  Colin Runciman,et al.  Perfect hash functions made parallel-Lazy functional programming on a distributed multiprocessor , 1993, [1993] Proceedings of the Twenty-sixth Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences.

[53]  Lorin M. Hitt,et al.  Is Information Systems Spending Productive? New Evidence and New Results , 1993, ICIS.

[54]  Susan J. Winter.  The Symbolic Potential of Computer Technology: Differences Among White-Collar Workers , 1993, ICIS.

[55]  Lyman D. Ketchum,et al.  All Teams are not Created Equal: How Employee Empowerment Really Works , 1992 .

[56]  D. B. Candlin,et al.  Managing the Introduction of Expert Systems , 1992 .

[57]  R. McTaggart.  Principles for Participatory Action Research , 1991 .

[58]  Jay F. Nunamaker,et al.  Electronic meeting systems , 1991, CACM.

[59]  J. Gill,et al.  Research Methods For Managers , 1991 .

[60]  Wanda J. Orlikowski,et al.  Studying Information Technology in Organizations: Research Approaches and Assumptions , 1991, Inf. Syst. Res..

[61]  P. Checkland.  From framework through experience to learning: The essential nature of action research , 1991 .

[62]  Paul R. Lawrence,et al.  The Information Systems Research Challenge: Qualitative Research Methods , 1990 .

[63]  S. Barley.  Images of Imaging: Notes on Doing Longitudinal Field Work , 1990 .

[64]  William M. Fox,et al.  An Interview with Eric Trist, Father of the Sociotechnical Systems Approach , 1990 .

[65]  C. Steinfield,et al.  A Social Influence Model of Technology use , 1990 .

[66]  A. H. Love.  Serving two masters. , 1989, The Ulster medical journal.

[67]  Joseph Moses Juran.  Juran on Leadership For Quality , 1989 .

[68]  J. V. Maanen,et al.  Tales of the Field: On Writing Ethnography , 1989 .

[69]  Gary James Jason,et al.  The Logic of Scientific Discovery , 1988 .

[70]  D. Pugh,et al.  How to Get a Phd , 1987 .

[71]  M. Schlossberg.  A Practical Guide to Behavioral Research: Tools and Techniques (2nd ed.). , 1987 .

[72]  Richard L. Daft,et al.  Organizational information requirements, media richness and structural design , 1986 .

[73]  D. A. Kenny,et al.  The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. , 1986, Journal of personality and social psychology.

[74]  J. Davis.  The Logic Of Causal Order , 1987 .

[75]  Viviane M. J. Robinson,et al.  The Origins and Status of Action Research , 1984 .

[76]  Ralph L. Rosnow,et al.  Essentials of Behavioral Research: Methods and Data Analysis , 1984 .

[77]  H. J. Arnold.  Moderator variables: A clarification of conceptual, analytic, and psychometric issues , 1982 .

[78]  L. Berkowitz,et al.  External validity is more than skin deep: Some answers to criticisms of laboratory experiments. , 1982 .

[79]  W. Edwards Deming,et al.  Out of the Crisis , 1982 .

[80]  J. Voelkel.  Guide to Quality Control , 1982 .

[81]  R. Yin.  The Case Study Crisis: Some Answers , 1981 .

[82]  Peter Checkland,et al.  Systems Thinking, Systems Practice , 1981 .

[83]  William R. Darden,et al.  Causal Models in Marketing , 1980 .

[84]  T. Jick.  Mixing Qualitative and Quantitative Methods: Triangulation in Action. , 1979 .

[85]  Edward G. Carmines,et al.  Reliability and Validity Assessment , 1979 .

[86]  G. Susman,et al.  An Assessment of the Scientific Merits of Action Research. , 1978 .

[87]  B. Glaser.  Theoretical Sensitivity: Advances in the Methodology of Grounded Theory , 1978 .

[88]  R. Belfield.  The process of innovation. , 1977, Science.

[89]  John Short,et al.  The social psychology of telecommunications , 1976 .

[90]  R. Rapoport.  Three Dilemmas in Action Research , 1970 .

[91]  James W. Westcott,et al.  The Practical Theorist The Life and Work of Kurt Lewin , 1970 .

[92]  C. Brodsky.  The Discovery of Grounded Theory: Strategies for Qualitative Research , 1968 .

[93]  S. Siegel,et al.  Nonparametric Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences , 2022, The SAGE Encyclopedia of Research Design.

[94]  H. B. English.  Resolving social conflicts. , 1949 .

[95]  K. Lewin.  Action Research and Minority Problems , 1946 .

[96]  P. Schilder,et al.  The Conceptual Representation and the Measurement of Psychological Forces , 1940 .

[97]  M. Kendall,et al.  The Logic of Scientific Discovery. , 1959 .