Action Research as a Tool for Social Change

Abstract

Action research is a dynamic approach that aims to produce in-depth knowledge about a social system while simultaneously transforming it. With its origins dating back to Kurt Lewin’s work in the 1940s, this method has found a place in many different disciplines, from education to health, community development to organizational change, over an eighty-year period. This study aims to examine the fundamental characteristics, theoretical foundations, and implementation steps of action research as a tool for social change. Within the scope of the article, the participatory, democratic, and status quo-questioning nature of action research is addressed, while the stages of identifying a focus area, the reconnaissance process, developing an action plan, data collection, and analysis are detailed. Unlike traditional research methods, action research synthesizes academic knowledge with everyday life experience by establishing a horizontal collaboration between the researcher and participants. Consequently, action research does not merely describe the current situation but offers a powerful methodological framework that encourages social justice and social transformation by producing concrete solutions at the local level.

Keywords

• Action research
• social change
• social work
• participatory research

Bir Sosyal Değişim Aracı Olarak Eylem Araştırması

Abstract

Eylem araştırması, bir sosyal sistem hakkında derinlemesine bilgi üretmeyi ve aynı zamanda o sistemi dönüştürmeyi amaçlayan dinamik bir yaklaşımdır. Kökenleri Kurt Lewin’in 1940’lı yıllardaki çalışmalarına dayanan bu yöntem, seksen yıllık süreçte eğitimden sağlığa, topluluk geliştirmeden organizasyonel değişime kadar pek çok farklı disiplinde kendine yer bulmuştur. Bu çalışma, eylem araştırmasının temel özelliklerini, teorik temellerini ve uygulama basamaklarını bir sosyal değişim aracı olarak incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Makale kapsamında; eylem araştırmasının katılımcı, demokratik ve statükoyu sorgulayan doğası ele alınırken; odak noktasının belirlenmesi, keşif süreci, eylem planı oluşturma, veri toplama ve analiz aşamaları detaylandırılmaktadır. Geleneksel araştırma yöntemlerinden farklı olarak eylem araştırması, araştırmacı ile katılımcılar arasında yatay bir iş birliği kurarak akademik bilgi ile gündelik yaşam deneyimini sentezler. Sonuç olarak eylem araştırması, sadece mevcut durumu betimlemekle kalmayıp, yerel düzeyde somut çözümler üreterek sosyal adaleti ve toplumsal dönüşümü teşvik eden güçlü bir metodolojik çerçeve sunmaktadır.

Keywords

• Eylem araştırması
• sosyal değişim
• sosyal hizmet
• katılımlı araştırma

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