Action research is a participatory approach to enquiry which fitted well within the study described here that sought to strengthen shared governance decision making in a UK councillor model. This opinion paper argues that action research is in fact a work-based learning mechanism. As such action research can maximise learning at an individual, group, and organizational level through working with research participants in a participatory way in their own work settings. The study underpinning this article employed a single-case study design. Sub-cases comprising two shared governance councils were focused on. A maximum diversity sample of eight council members were individually interviewed and a focus group interview of eight council members was carried out. Over two hundred hours of participant observations of shared governance councils were undertaken. Decision-making processes were compared and contrasted through development of data displays that tracked each decision-making process observed from inception to resolution or end of fieldwork. In this way council members’ development was tracked through their day-to-day involvement in shared governance processes.

Action research has been demonstrated to be an effective means of work based learning. Use of its application with a shared governance development example has aided the provision of evidence for this claim.

Contact details:

Dr Tracey Williamson
Research Fellow (Older People/User Involvement)
Salford Centre for Nursing, Midwifery & Collaborative Research
University of Salford
Room C715 Allerton Building
Frederick Road
Salford M6 9PU
T.Williamson@salford.ac.uk