Action research a Handbook for Students

participatory 
action 
research 
50
2.4 CPAR — Critical participatory action research
50
2.5 
Action 
science 
51
2.6 Collaborative action research 
52
2.7 Educational action research 
53
2.8 
Appreciative 
inquiry 
53
2.9 Participatory rural appraisal 
54
2.10 Feminist participatory action research
54
2.11 
Insider 
action 
research 
56
3. Data collection methods and analysis techniques in action research 
56
3.1 Selected methods of data collection and analysis
58
3.2 Collecting data for a thesis and keeping a research journal
59
3.3 Selection of action research methods conducted 
with 
excluded 
groups 60
Chapter 3. Action research and master’s thesis
63
Introduction 
63
1. The process of action research 
66
1.1 Reflective action and checking the lay of the land
68
1.2 Formulating a (research) problem
69
1.3 
Collecting 
data 
72
1.4 
Analysing 
data 
76
1.5 Report and sharing the outcomes
79
1.6 Planning the action (intervention) and implementing the plans 
81
2. Dissertation as an action research report 
82
Chapter 4. The researcher and their relationships with (co-)
participants 
of 
action 
research 
87
Introduction 
87
1. Entangled in relationships
87
1.1. 
Multiplicity 
of 
relations 
88
1.1.1. The role of the thesis advisor in the action research process 
89
1.1.2. A researcher in/with the organisation
90
1.1.3. External environment of the organisation 
92

---

7
t
Able
of
contents
1.2. Building and negotiating relationships with the organisation 
in an action research project
94
1.2.1. Identification and analysis of stakeholders 
94
1.2.2. Building a relationship: challenges and action strategies 
96
1.3. 
Research 
community 
97
2. Ethical aspects of action research
99
2.1. 
Selected 
ethical 
systems 
100
2.2. Ethics as a common concern 
104
2.3. Selected examples of ethical problems occurring 
in 
action 
research 
106
3. 
Hope 
and 
future 
110
Conclusion 
115
Bibliography 
117
About 
Authors 
127

---

---

This scientific monograph is one of two publications resulting from the project 
“Research for practice. The use of implementation master's theses based on ac-
tion research for the development of organisations”, implemented between 2017 
and 2019 by students and employees of the Faculty of Management and Social 
Communication of the Jagiellonian University in cooperation with public and 
non-governmental organisations. The monographs are a series of complemen-
tary reflections on action research, seen from two different perspectives. Each 
of the books published as part of the collection Action Research in Academic 
Theory and Practice is directed to a different audience. The monograph, Action 
Research as an Approach in the Execution of the Thesis Advisory Process, describes 
how to change the diploma seminar, aimed at ensuring that the thesis advisory 
process allows both to develop students’ research competences and create con-
ditions for open learning about organisational reality as is, and also leads to the 
development of emancipatory attitudes of students. The second monograph, Ac-
tion Research. A Handbook for Students, was created for students undertaking 
action research and to write a thesis on this basis. It presents a description of the 
possibilities that the action research approach gives to researchers and, and also 
shows how a thesis can be created based on action research and what challenges 
are associated with it.
These books differ not only in terms of intended readers. Their authors tried 
to show how various theoretical and methodological inspirations can accompa-
ny action research. The attractiveness of action research lies, among other things, 
in the fact that it creates a peculiar frame for researching and transforming reali-
ty that is not rigid, but plastic, and can be used in various methodological trends 
and organisational contexts.
The project that results in this publication could have been implemented 
primarily thanks to the commitment and courage of students of the Institute of 
Public Affairs and the Institute of Culture who undertook to carry out action 
research and on its base to create implementation master’s theses. They were (in 
PREFACE

---

A
ction
R
eseARch
A h
Andbook
foR
s
tudents
10
alphabetical order): Katarzyna Adamczyk, Justyna Bołoz, Kamila Brodzińska, 
Sabina Bulanda, Katarzyna Ciaputa, Brygida Czartoryska, Bartosz Dąbrow-
ski, Natalia Dziurny, Aleksandra Filipowska, Wioleta Gajeska, Jacek Gołąbek, 
Klaudia Grygierek, Magdalena Iwaniuk, Natalia Jarząbek, Piotr Kamola, Marta 
Kąsiel, Dorota Kosno, Aleksandra Krystek, Patrycja Kubarska, Aleksandra Ku-
cia, Paweł Kurleto, Monika Lechowicz, Wiktoria Łukowicz, Kornelia Malczyk, 
Kamila Marek, Paula Mentel, Piotr Ołdak, Marta Pałka, Dominika Piskorow-
ska, Kinga Przerada, Agnieszka Siciarz, Dominika Sikora, Aleksandra Skow-
ron, Cecylia Sobek, Natalia Wasilewska, Katarzyna Wilczek, Karolina Wójcik, 
Mariola Wróblewska, Paulina Wrześniak, Roksana Zdunek, Natalia Żabińska, 
Karolina Żyłowska.
Our students had the opportunity to conduct action research owing to pub-
lic and non-governmental organisations, which are our partners in this project: 
The Cracow Library, Diversity Hub, Historical Museum of the City of Cracow, 
City Office, Social Initiatives Support Center, Cracow Festival Office, Korpo-
racja Ha! Art, Łaźnia Nowa Theatre, Bunkier Sztuki, K. Szymanowski’s Cracow 
Philharmonic, Fundacja Hipoterapia – Na Rzecz Rehabilitacji Dzieci Niepełno-
sprawnych, Stowarzyszenie Gmin i Powiatów Małopolski, Silesian Museum in 
Katowice, Stowarzyszenie Rodziców i Przyjaciół Dzi eci z Zespołem Downa 
„Tęcza”, Institute of Urban and Regional Development, Historical Museum of 
the City of Cracow, Primary School No. 36 in Cracow, National Museum in 
Cracow, Foundation Bureau of Social Initiative, Fundacja Tygodnika Powszech-
nego, Fundacja Ukryte Skrzydła, East of Art Foundation, C. K. Norwid Culture 
Centre, dr Tytus Chałubiński Tatra Museum, MATIO Fundacja Pomocy Ro-
dzinom i Chorym na Mukowiscydozę, District Office in Cracow, Małopolska 
Organizacja Turystyczna.
The project team that supervised the implementation of the project and 
co-implemented the research together with the students and partner organi-
sations included employees of the Jagiellonian University: Mgr Monika An-
toniuk-Gula, Dr hab. Katarzyna Barańska, dr hab. Ewa Bogacz-Wojtanowska, 
prof. UJ, Dr Małgorzata Ćwikła, Dr Anna Góral, Dr Beata Jałocha, Prof. Dr hab. 
Piotr Jedynak, Dr Jakub Kołodziejczyk, Dr hab. Grzegorz Mazurkiewicz, mgr 
Marcin Mich, dr Anna Pluszyńska, prof. Dr hab. Grażyna Prawelska-Skrzypek, 
Mgr Sylwia Wrona, Dr Michał Zawadzki.
On behalf of the entire project team, I would like to thank everyone for 
their great commitment, as a result of which we had the opportunity to un-
derstand and implement the idea of action research. I would like to thank the 
Students for the trust they have placed in us. I am very grateful to the organi-
sations for opening the door for young researchers and giving them a chance to 

---

11
P
RefAce
gain priceless experience. I would like to thank the Thesis advisor and the whole 
Team for two years of wonderful, intensive scientific and didactic work that we 
have experienced together.