Summary of the Practice of Co-Operative Inquiry: Research ´with´ Rather Than ´on´ People
Summary 3
The Practice of Co-operative Inquiry: Research ´with´ rather than ´on´ People (Heron & Reason)
Table of contents
1 Introduction to co-operative inquiry 1
2 Four phases of co-operative inquiry 1
3 Different forms of co-operative inquiry 2
4 Co-operative inquiry cultures 2
5 Ways of knowing 2
6 Inquiry skills and validity procedures 2
7 Words and questions 3 Bibliography 4
Introduction to co-operative inquiry
The article “The Practice of Co-operative Inquiry: Research ´with´ rather than ´on´ People” by Heron & Reason characterizes co-operative inquiry as a way of working with people with similar interests and concerns as you in order to: * understand your world * make sense of your life * develop new, creative ways of looking at things * to learn how to act in order to change things * and learn how to do things better
The features of co-operative inquiry include e.g. * research done with people, rather than on people * not just books but practical thinking of researchers, creative action of people involved * there is a co-operative relationship between researcher and subjects under study – each work as co-researchers and co-subjects * interplay between reflection/making sense & experience/action * primary procedure is to use inquiry cycles, moving several times between the four phases of reflection/action to increase validity of the inquiry
Four phases of co-operative inquiry
In phase 1 a group of researchers decide the focus of inquiry and develop a set of questions /propositions they wish to investigate. They plan a method for exploring the idea in action through practical experience. Finally they agree a set of procedures for gathering and recording data from the experience. (E.g. a diary or video)
In phase 2 co-researchers become also co-subjects as they engage in actions agreed on. They observe and record the process and outcomes of their own but also other’s action
The Practice of Co-operative Inquiry: Research ´with´ rather than ´on´ People (Heron & Reason)
Table of contents
1 Introduction to co-operative inquiry 1
2 Four phases of co-operative inquiry 1
3 Different forms of co-operative inquiry 2
4 Co-operative inquiry cultures 2
5 Ways of knowing 2
6 Inquiry skills and validity procedures 2
7 Words and questions 3 Bibliography 4
Introduction to co-operative inquiry
The article “The Practice of Co-operative Inquiry: Research ´with´ rather than ´on´ People” by Heron & Reason characterizes co-operative inquiry as a way of working with people with similar interests and concerns as you in order to: * understand your world * make sense of your life * develop new, creative ways of looking at things * to learn how to act in order to change things * and learn how to do things better
The features of co-operative inquiry include e.g. * research done with people, rather than on people * not just books but practical thinking of researchers, creative action of people involved * there is a co-operative relationship between researcher and subjects under study – each work as co-researchers and co-subjects * interplay between reflection/making sense & experience/action * primary procedure is to use inquiry cycles, moving several times between the four phases of reflection/action to increase validity of the inquiry
Four phases of co-operative inquiry
In phase 1 a group of researchers decide the focus of inquiry and develop a set of questions /propositions they wish to investigate. They plan a method for exploring the idea in action through practical experience. Finally they agree a set of procedures for gathering and recording data from the experience. (E.g. a diary or video)
In phase 2 co-researchers become also co-subjects as they engage in actions agreed on. They observe and record the process and outcomes of their own but also other’s action
Bibliography: Heron, J. & Reason, P. 2007. The Practice of Co-operative Inquiry: Research ‘with’ rather than ‘on’ People. In Reason, P. & Bradbury, H. (Eds.) 2007. Handbook of Action Research. Concise Paperback Edition. First published 2001. SAGE Publications. pp. 144-154