Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Knowing by Doing: Action Research as an Approach to HCI

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Ways of Knowing in HCI

Abstract

Action research (AR) is an approach to research that involves engaging with a community to address a problem or a challenge and through this problem solving to develop scholarly knowledge. AR could involve any of a number of methods described in this book. Key to this type of research is that it includes the community participants as co-researchers throughout and that the result of the intervention be helpful and sustainable insofar as possible.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Interested readers are referred to the chapter on Grounded Theory Method in this same volume, which also engages the concerns and ideas of the pragmatists.

  2. 2.

    Interested readers should also explore value-sensitive design, values in design, and participatory design as design-oriented approaches that focus on multiple-stakeholder viewpoints.

References

  • Allen, M., & Foth, M. (2011). Research in action for community informatics: A matter of conversation. The Journal of Community Informatics. 7(3).

    Google Scholar 

  • Baskerville, R., & Pries-Heje, J. (1999). Grounded action research: A method for understanding IT in practice. Accounting, Management and Information Technology, 9, 1–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blackman, L., Hayes, R. L., Reeves, P., & Paisley, P. (2002). Building a bridge: Counselor educator– school counselor collaboration. Counselor Education and Supervision, 41, 243–255.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braten, S. (1973). Model monopoly and communication: Systems theoretical notes on democratization. Acta Sociologica, 16(2), 98–107.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carroll, J. M., Horning, M. A., Hoffman, B., Ganoe, C. H., Robinson, H. R., & Rosson, M. B. (2011). Visions, participation and engagement in new community information infrastructures. The Journal of Community Informatics. 7(3).

    Google Scholar 

  • Denzin, N. K. (1997). Interpretive ethnography. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dewey, J. (1976). Essays on logical theory. 1902–1903. In A. Boydston (Ed.), Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dewey J. (1991/1927). The public and its problems. Athens: Ohio University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foth, M., & Axup, J. (2006). Participatory design and action research: Identical twins or synergetic pair? In Proceedings of the Participatory Design Conference (pp. 93–96).

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenbaum, J., & Kyng, M. (Eds.). (1992). Design at work: Cooperative design of computer systems. Hillsdale, NJ: L. Erlbaum Assoc. Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenwood, D. J., & Levin, M. (2007). Introduction to action research 2e. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grundy, S. (1988). Three modes of action research. In S. Kemmis & R. McTaggert (Eds.), The action research reader (3rd ed.). Geelong: Deakin University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guba, E. G., & Lincoln, Y. S. (1989). Judging the quality of fourth generation evaluation. In E. G. Guba & Y. Lincoln (Eds.), Fourth generation evaluation (pp. 228–251). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, R. L., Paisley, P. O., Phelps, R. E., Pearson, G., & Salter, R. (1997). Integrating theory and practice: Counselor educator – school counselor collaborative. Professional School Counseling, 1, 9–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • James, W. (1948). Essays in pragmatism. New York: Hafner.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kock, N. (1998). Can communication medium limitations foster better group outcomes? An action research study. Information and Management, 34(5), 295–305.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kohli, R., & Kettinger, W. J. (2004). Informating the clan: Controlling physicians costs and outcomes. MIS Quarterly, 28(3), 363–394.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lassiter, L. E. (2005). Chicago guide to collaborative ethnography. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Lewin, K. (1946). Action research and minority problems. Journal of Social Issues, 2(4), 34–46.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Lewin, K. (1948). Resolving social conflicts. New York: Harper.

    Google Scholar 

  • Light, A., Egglestone, P., Wakeford, T., & Rogers, J. (2011). Participant making: Bridging the gulf between community knowledge and academic research. The Journal of Community Informatics. 7(3).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Masters, J. (1995). The history of action research. In I. Hughes (Ed.), Action research electronic reader The University of Sydney, Retrieved from March 3, 2012, from http://www.behs.cchs.usyd.edu.au/arow/Reader/rmasters.htm.

  • McCutcheon, G., & Jung, B. (1990). Alternative perspectives on action research. Theory into Practice 24(3): Summer.

    Google Scholar 

  • McKernan, J. (1991). Curriculum action research. A handbook of methods and resources for the reflective practitioner. London: Kogan Page.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muller, M. J. (2007). Participatory design: The third space in HCI (revised). In J. Jacko & A. Sears (Eds.), Handbook of HCI 2e. Mahway, NJ, USA: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paisley, P. O., Bailey, D. F., Hayes, R. L., McMahon, H. G., & Grimmett, M. A. (2010). Using a cohort model for school counselor preparation to enhance commitment to social justice. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 35(3), 262–270. Reprinted in A. A. Singh & C. F. Salazar (Eds.), Social justice in group work: Practical interventions for change. London: Routledge/Taylor and Francis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paisley, P. O., Hayes, R. L., & Bailey, D. F. (1999). School counselor practice and preparation: A local partnership for change. Georgia School Counselors Association Journal, 1(6), 52–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Palen, L. (2010). Better ODDS than “Snowballs in Hell?” – or – What might action research do for HCI?. Presented at Human-Computer Interaction Consortium. Fraser, CO, USA, Retrieved February 27, 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rapoport, R. (1970). Three dilemmas in action research. Stronger Families Learning Exchange Bulletin, 23(6), 499–513.

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Schon, D. A. (1983). The reflective practitioner: How professionals think in action. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schuler, D., & Namioka, A. (1993). Participatory design: Principles and practices. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, D. E. (1989). Sociological theory: Methods of writing patriarchy. In R. A. Wallace (Ed.), Feminism and sociological theory (pp. 34–64). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stolterman, E. (2008). The nature of design practice and implications for interaction design research. International Journal of Design, 2(1), 55–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stringer, E. T. (2007). Action research. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, University of California Irvine, 5072 Donald Bren Hall, Irvine, CA, 92797–3440, USA

    Gillian R. Hayes

Authors
  1. Gillian R. Hayes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gillian R. Hayes .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California, USA

    Judith S. Olson

  2. Group Social Computing, IBM T.J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, New York, USA

    Wendy A. Kellogg

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Hayes, G.R. (2014). Knowing by Doing: Action Research as an Approach to HCI. In: Olson, J., Kellogg, W. (eds) Ways of Knowing in HCI. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0378-8_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0378-8_3

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-0377-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-0378-8

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation