Practitioner research
A definition of practitioner research
Various definitions may be found in the literature for practitioner research, it may even be called different names ranging from participatory action research, to action research, to practitioner led inquiry, or community action research, but there are some common characteristics that distinguish it from other research methods. It is conducted by an individual or group that assumes a dual role, both as a practitioner or provider of services and as researcher. It is typically carried out for the purpose of advancing the practice. It offers a reflective and systematic approach to university research and outreach that places a study setting and participants at the heart of the study. It incorporates the collective knowledge of the community, and increases the likelihood that results will be applied. The methods may vary, but the role and relationships of the researcher and participants must be carefully negotiated and articulated.
Necessity for considering ethical concerns
The blurred roles of participant and researcher necessitate careful negotiation of ethical concerns due to power differentials and the risk to participants of involvement. The boundaries need to be very clear, all participants need to be fully informed, and the challenges of studying a population with whom the researcher has a relationship must be considered.
Going public with findings
Since this sort of research often takes place outside the lines of traditional research, it may be necessary to find non-mainstream places to make public the findings. Some alternative publication venues do exist, others reside in a “fugitive” state or exist in local archives that offer little access except to members of the community. Online archives have sprung up in various places to accommodate publication of practitioner research, and some attempts have been made to connect them to networks, but the findings still remain elusive without some extra effort to locate them.
Self-study
Faculty members who engage in this sort of research are often members of a growing “self-study” community that examines their own teaching practice with the intent of improving it, or conducts research with practitioners in order to ground their research in the communities within which they work. This is particularly true in Education, but is also found in other disciplines such as Nursing, Social Work, and other practitioner oriented disciplines.
Study teaching and / or service
Ask most veteran faculty members and they will tell you one of the biggest challenges of academic life is finding time for all of the responsibilities expected of professors. One way to address the issue is to blur the lines between teaching, research and service activities. Practitioner research offers one such opportunity to overlap responsibilities as it involves research along with teaching, in the case of a focus on one’s teaching practice, or on service in the case of a focus on one’s service activities. This is a case where meeting two goals at once can be a very effective way for faculty members to manage their time. New faculty members should think creatively about ways to use practitioner research to further professional development and build a pattern of accomplishment, after determining to what extent such research is valued in their field and at their campus.
About Practitioner Research
Practitioner Research: Evidence or Critique?
Shaw, I. (October, 2002). Health and Social Care Research Support Unit, Cardiff University, Wales.
International Inter-Centre Network for Social Work Research, Columbia University, New York
This paper sheds light on three topics: the relationship between PR and social work research, scope of PR to contribute to evidence based practice, and potential for PR as critique of practice and social science.
What Impact Has Practitioner Research Had in the Marketing Academy?
Hubbard, R. & Norman, A. (2007). Management Research News, Vol. 30, Iss. 1, p. 25-33.
Given the applied nature of marketing, it would be helpful to compare the relative impacts of work published by three groups: practitioners, practitioner-academic alliances, and academics.
Center for Practitioner Research
National College of Education, National-Louis University
This site contains the mission of the center, links to a concept paper with a definition of practitioner research and critical issues within the genre, a bibliography of resources, and details about an annual research forum.
Practitioner Research: Evidence or Critique?
Shaw, I. (2005). British Journal of Social Work, Vol. 35, No. 8, p. 1231-1248
This professor of social work revisits some of the origins and more recent directions in practitioner research in social work.
Places to Publish Practitioner Research
Journal of Research in Science Teaching (JRST)
University of Maryland
This is the official journal of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST). It publishes the highest quality articles on issues of science teaching and learning, as well as the broader context of science education policy. The target population is science education researchers and practitioners.
Practitioner Research in Higher Education
University of Cumbria
This online journal publishes research and evaluation papers that contribute to the understanding of theory, policy, and practice in teaching and supporting learning. It gives a voice to all participants in higher education conducting ethical and collaborative approaches to practitioner inquiry.
Journal of College Teaching and Learning
Clute Institute for Academic Research
TLC welcomes articles in all areas of K-12 and college level teaching, learning and administration.
Examples of Practitioner Research
The Use of Practitioner Research Strategy, Cases in a Large Scale Teacher Enhancement Project
McGinnis, J.R., University of Maryland College Park (2001). Annual Meeting of the Association for the Education of Teachers in Science,
Maryland Collaborative for Teacher Preparation
This paper describes cases that offer a snapshot of teaching designed to provoke discussion. The findings are the result of an NSF funded teacher enhancement program (CETP).
Practitioner Research in Children 1st: Cohorts, Networks and Systems
Lunt, N. Shaw, I & Mitchell, F. (2009). Institute for Research and Innovation in Social Services
This report explores the initiative of Children 1st and the Glasgow School of Social Work aimed at supporting practitioners as they develop and undertake small scale research projects.
Action Research
Ferrance, E. (2000). LAB At Brown University
This booklet is an edition in a series called “Themes in Education.” It is designed to respond to requests for information from practitioners, parents, and other members of the public. It includes a balanced view of action research and a glimpse of how it works in schools.
The Practitioner-Led Research Initiative (PLRI): Impact Report
National Research and Development Centre for Adult Literacy and Numeracy
This NRDC site contains links to a number of practitioner related publications, reports from practitioner research projects, and articles about practitioner research.
Practitioner Research Programme 2006-2009
Management School, Lancaster University
There are 12 edited research volumes that showcase research by practitioners in the Learning and Skills Sector on important leadership related themes. The volumes contain 56 research reports written by practitioners from across the UK.
Criticism of Practitioner Research
The Uses of Practitioner Research and Status Issues in Educational Research: Reply to Gary Anderson
Metz, M.H. & Page, R. (2002). Educational Researcher, Vol. 31, No. 7, p. 26-27
In calling for practitioner research Anderson highlights a number of important issues, but Metz and Page demonstrate that while much may be gained from development of a literature based in practice, not everything included under the umbrella of practitioner research should be called research.
