Action research at nursing homes – an alternative to new public management?

Abstract

This article discusses the action research approach and methodology. The article gives an empirical example of how a actions research design was developed and implemented at a nursing home in a one year long development project, where the objective of improving the quality of care for the elderly. Action researchers sees themselves as coproducers of knowledge based on trust and free agreement with agents of (transformative) social change. Hence action research underlines the close connection between understanding and changing the work place through collective action. ‘Truths’ become products of a process in which people come together to share experiences through a dynamic process of action, reflection and collective investigation. The article further more links the action research tradition to the concept of empowerment: social change through social mobilization and capacity building from below. The methodology adopted in the development project was future workshops with the researchers acting as facilitators (rather than experts) The FW has 3 phases (1) The Critique phase: Brainstorming session, where critical statements are listed. The participants vote about the negative statements. The facilitator finally summarizes prioritized themes (2) The Utopian Phase: Everything is possible. Dreams and visions. (3) The Realization Phase: The participants discuss how the vision can they become reality. First the utopia groups develops the ideas to concrete proposals, which are commented upon in plenum Second: the groups makes agreements about plans of action for the future. The outcome of FW is a typed protocol with concrete “utopian schetches” and a plan of action, which participants have committed themselves to work on in the future – facilitated by the team of Actions Researchers acting as mediators and facilitators. In the following steps more concrete plans for social experimentation can be developed and implemented. The article concludes that there are dilemmas and challenges in participatory processes. Action researchers must be aware not to overlook differences among participants and replace one set of dominant voices with another in the name of participation. However the overall conclusion is that the actions research methodology in fact can work as a tool for “bottom up” development of better care. The authors finally suggest that trade unions develops new schemes for lifelong learning (adult education programs) for staff in nursing homes based on the practical experiences from action research at work places.