This review of recent action research books covers the period from about mid-2004 to mid-2006, complementing an earlier review (Dick, 2004). After noting some important recent additions to the action research literature, I address the literature on several different applications of action research including education, community, participatory development, and organizations. There are briefer sections on other topics. Action research journals and special issues of other journals are also identified. Finally, I identify some themes and trends in the action research literature.
Andrew, J. , & Robottom, I. (2005). Communities’ self-determination: whose interests count? In M. Keen , V. A. Brown & T. Dyball , (Eds.), The handbook of social learning in environmental management (pp. 63-67). London: Earthscan .
2.
Argyris, C. , & Schön, D. A. (1974). Theory in practice: Increasing professional effectiveness. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass .
3.
Arhar, J. , Holly, M. L. , & Kasten, W. C. (2000). Action research for teachers: Traveling the yellow brick road. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall .
4.
Ariizumi, Y. (2005). Five empowering principles of action research that lead to successful personal and professional development. Lanham, MD: University Press of America .
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Barrett, F. J. , & Fry, R. E. (2005). Appreciative inquiry: A positive approach to building cooperative capacity. Chagrin Falls, OH: Taos Institute .
6.
Barrett, R. (2006). Building a values-driven organization: A whole system approach to cultural transformation. Burlington, MA: Butterworth/Heinemann .
7.
Bartlett, S. (2005). Good governance: Making age part of the equation-An introduction . Children, Youth and Environments, 15(2), 1-17 .
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Baskerville, R. , & Myers, M. D. (2004). Special issue on action research in information systems: Making IS research relevant to practice: Foreword . MIS Quarterly, 28(3), 329-335 .
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Benne, C. G. , & Garrard, W. M. (2003). Collaborative program development and evaluation: A case study in conflict resolution education. In Y. Suarez-Balcazar & G. W. Harper (Eds.), Empowerment and participatory evaluation of community interventions: multiple benefits (pp. 71-87). Binghampton, NY: Haworth Press .
10.
Boog, B. W. M. , Keune, L. , & Tromp, C. (2003). Action research and emancipation . Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, 13(6), 419-425 .
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Brydon-Miller, M. , Maguire, P. , & McIntyre, A. (Eds.) (2004). Traveling companions: Feminism, teaching, and action research. Westport, CT: Praeger .
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Chapman, J. (2004). System failure: Why governments must learn to think differently (2nd ed.). London: Demos , retrieved June 20 2006 from http://www.demos.co.uk/systemfailure2_pdf_media_public.aspx.
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Charmaz, K. (2006). Constructing grounded theory: A practical guide through qualitative analysis. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage .
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Checkland, P. (1981). Systems thinking, systems practice. Chichester: Wiley .
15.
Coghlan, D. , & Brannick, T. (2001). Doing research in your own organization. London: Sage .
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Coghlan, D. , & Brannick, T. (2005). Doing research in your own organization (2nd ed.). London: Sage .
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Coghlan, D. , Dromgoole, T. , Joynt, P. , & Sorensen, P. (Eds.) (2004). Managers learning in action. London: Routledge .
18.
(Reprinted in B. Cooke & J. W. Cox , (Eds.), Fundamentals of action research, Volume I, pp. 69-98. London: Sage .)
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Cooke, B. , & Cox, J. W. (2005). Fundamentals of action research, 4 volumes. London: Sage .
20.
Cooperrider, D. L. , & Whitney, D. (2005). Appreciative inquiry: A positive revolution in change. San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler .
21.
Corburn, J. (2005). Street science: Community knowledge and environmental health justice. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press .
22.
Cottor, R. , Asher, A. , Levin, J. , & Weiser, C. C. (2004). Experiential learning exercises in social construction: A field book for creating change. Chagrin Fall, OH: Taos Publications .
23.
Creighton, J. L. (2005). The public participation handbook: Making better decisions through citizen involvement. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass .
24.
Dick, B. (2004). Action research literature: Themes and trends . Action Research, 2(4), 425-444 .
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Durrant, J. , & Holden, G. (2006). Teachers leading change: Doing research for school improvement. London: Paul Chapman .
26.
Enabling Education Network (2005). Learning from difference: An action research guide for capturing the experience of developing inclusive education (version 2). Manchester: Enabling Education Network, University of Manchester (CDROM) .
27.
Farmer, D. J. (2005). To kill the king: Post-traditional governance and bureaucracy. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe .
28.
Fawcett, S. B. , Boothroyd, R. , Schultz, J. A. , Francisco, V. T. , Carson, V. , & Bremby, R. (2003). Building capacity for participatory evaluation within community initiatives. In Y. Suarez-Balcazar & G. W. Harper (Eds.), Empowerment and participatory evaluation of community interventions: Multiple benefits (pp. 21-36). Binghampton, NY: Haworth Press .
29.
FedNor (nd). The KNet story. A series of six videos. Retrieved July 17 2006 from: http://smart.knet.ca/.
30.
Fine, M. , Roberts, R. , Torre, M. , & Bloom, J. (2004). Echoes of Brown: Youth documenting and performing the legacy of Brown v. Board of Education (DVD and accompanying book). New York: Teachers College Press .
31.
(Reprinted in B. Cooke & J. F. Cox (Eds.), Fundamentals of action research, Volume III, pp. 137-166. London: Sage .)
32.
Gastil, J. , & Levine, P. (Eds.) (2005). The deliberative democracy handbook: Strategies for effective civic engagement in the twenty-first century. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass .
33.
Glaser, B. G. (2003). The grounded theory perspective, II: Description’s remodelling of grounded theory methodology. Mill Valley, CA: Sociology Press .
34.
Glaser, B. G. , & Strauss, A. (1967). The discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for qualitative research. Chicago, IL: Aldine .
35.
Gonsalves, J. , Becker, T. , Braun, A. , Campilan, D. , De Chavez, H. , Fajber, E. , Kapiriri, M. , Rivaca-Caminade, J. , & Vernooy, R. (Eds.). (2005). Participatory research and development for sustainable agriculture and natural resource management: A sourcebook. 3 volumes. Los Baños, Philippines: International Potato Center-Users’ Perspectives With Agricultural Research and Development, and Ottawa, Canada: International Development Research Centre .
36.
Gray, D. E. (2004). Doing research in the real world. London: Sage .
37.
Greenwood, D. J. & Levin, M. (in press). Introduction to action research (2nd. ed.). London: Sage .
38.
Guerin, B. (2005). Handbook of interventions for changing people and communities. Reno, NV: Context Press .
39.
Hale, A. , & Wills, J. (Eds.) (2005). Threads of labor: Garment industry supply chains from the workers’ perspective. Malden, MA: Blackwell .
40.
Hammell, K. W. , & Carpenter, C. (Eds.) (2004). Qualitative research in evidence-based rehabilitation. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone .
41.
Hendricks, C. C. (2006). Improving schools through action research: A comprehensive guide for educators. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon .
42.
Holly, M. L. , Arhar, J. , & Kasten, W. C. (2005). Action research for teachers: Traveling the yellow brick road (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall .
43.
Howard, J. K. , & Eckhardt, S. A. (2005). Action research: A guide for library media specialists. Worthington, OH: Linworth .
44.
Humphrey, M. (2005). Living the hero’s quest: Character building through action research. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited .
45.
Huxham, C. (2003). Action research as a methodology for theory development . Policy and Politics, 31(2), 239-248 .
46.
Imam, I. , & Williams, B. (Eds.) (in press). Systems-based approaches in evaluation (provisional title). American Evaluation Association .
47.
Inayatullah, S. (2006). Anticipatory action learning: Theory and practice . Futures, 38(6), 656-666 .
48.
Israel, B. A. , Eng, E. , Schulz, A. J. , & Parker, E. A. (Eds.) (2005). Methods in community-based participatory research for health. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass .
49.
Published simultaneously as volume 31, number 1/2 of the Journal of Prevention and Intervention in the Community.
50.
Jones, J. (2005). Management skills in schools: A resource for school leaders. London: Paul Chapman .
51.
Kahane, A. (2004). Solving tough problems: An open way of talking, listening, and creating new realities. San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler .
52.
Keen, M. , Brown, V. A. , & Dyball, R. (Eds.) (2005). Social learning in environmental management: Building a sustainable future. London: Earthscan .
53.
Koch, T. & Kralik, D. (2006). Participatory action research in health care. Oxford: Blackwell .
54.
Kock, N. (in press). Information systems action research: Bridging the industry-university technology gap. New York: Springer .
55.
Kosha, V. (2005). Action research for improving practice: A practical guide. London: Paul Chapman .
56.
Law, M. (2004). Building knowledge through participatory research. In K. Hammell & C. Carpenter (Eds.), Qualitative research in evidence-based practice (pp. 40-50). Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone .
57.
(Reprinted in B. Cooke & J. F. Cox (Eds.), Fundamentals of action research, volume I, pp. 3-17. London: Sage .)
58.
Lipshitz, R. , Friedman, V. J. , & Popper, M. (2006). Demystifying organizational learning. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage .
59.
Lunch, N. , & Lunch, C. (2006). Insights into participatory video: A handbook for the field. Oxford: Insightshare .
60.
MacGilchrist, B. , & Buttress, M. (2005). Transforming learning and teaching: We can if... London: Paul Chapman .
61.
Mårtensson, P. , & Lee, A. S. (2004). Dialogical action research at Omega Corporation . MIS Quarterly, 28(3), 507-536 .
62.
McCarthy, J. , & Galvão, K. (2004). Enacting participatory development: Theatre-based techniques. London: Earthscan .
63.
McCormack, B. , Manley, K. , & Garbett, R. (Eds.) (2004). Practice development in nursing. Oxford: Blackwell .
64.
McNiff, J. , & Whitehead, J. (2005). Action research for teachers: A practical guide. London: David Fulton .
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McNiff, J. , & Whitehead, A. J. (2006). All you need to know about action research. London: Sage .
66.
McPherson, M. , & Nunes, M. B. (2004). Developing innovation in online learning: An action research framework. London: RoutledgeFalmer .
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Mertler, C. A. (2006). Action research: Teachers as researchers in the classroom. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage .
68.
Midgley, G. , & Ochoa-Arias, A. E. (Eds.) (2004). Community operational research: OR and systems thinking for community development. New York: Kluwer Academic .
69.
Mikkelsen, B. H. (2005). Methods for development work and research: a new guide for practitioners (2nd ed.). New Delhi: Sage .
70.
Mitlin, D. (2004). Editor’s introduction: Reshaping local democracy . Environment & Urbanization, 16(1), 3-8 .
71.
Molloy, J. P. (1988). Oxford House manual: An idea based on a sound system for recovering alcoholics and addicts to help themselves. Silver Spring, MD: Oxford House .
72.
Nelson, G. , & Prilleltensky, I. (2005). Community psychology: In pursuit of liberation and well-being. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan .
73.
O’Leary, Z. (2006). Researching real-world problems: A guide to methods of inquiry. London: Sage .
74.
Pedraza, P. (2005). Reflections on collaborative research and the NLERAP process. In P. Pedraza & M. Rivera (Eds.), Latino education: An agenda for community action research (pp. 457-462). Mahway, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum .
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Pedraza, P. , & Rivera, M. (Eds.) (2005a). Latino education: An agenda for community action research. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum .
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Pedraza, P. , & Rivera, M. (2005b). Origins of the National Latino/a Education Research and Policy Project (NLERAP). In P. Pedraza & M. Rivera (Eds.), Latino education: An agenda for community action research (pp. 3-10). Mahway, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum .
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Phelps, R. , & Hase, S. (2002). Complexity and action research: Exploring the theoretical and methodological connections . Educational Action Research, 10(3), 507-523 .
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Ramon, S. (Ed.) (2003). Users researching health and social care: An empowering agenda. Birmingham: Venture Press .
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Ramos, J. M. (2006a). Action research and futures studies . Futures, 38(6), 639-641 .
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Ramos, J. M. (2006b). Dimensions in the confluence of futures studies and action research . Futures, 38(6), 642-655 .
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Rapoport, R. , Bailyn, L. , Fletcher, J. K. , & Pruitt, B. H. (2002) Beyond work-family balance: Advancing gender equity and workplace performance. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass .
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Reason, P. , & Bradbury, H. (Eds.) (2001) Handbook of action research: Participative inquiry and practice. London: Sage .
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Reason, P. , & Bradbury, H. (Eds.) (2006) Handbook of action research (concise paperback ed.). London: Sage .
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Reason, P. , & Torbert, W. R. (2001). Toward a transformational science: A further look at the scientific merits of action research . Concepts and Transformation, 6(1), 1-37 .
85.
Reeb, R. N. (in press). Community action research: Benefits to community members and service providers. Binghamton: Haworth Press .
86.
Robinson, V. (1993). Problem-based methodology: Research for the improvement of practice. Oxford: Pergamon Press .
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Robinson, V. , & Lai, M. K. (2005). Practitioner research for educators: A guide to improving classrooms and schools. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin .
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Schachter, C. , Teram, E. , & Stalker, C. (2004). Integrating grounded theory and action research to develop guidelines for sensitive practice with childhood sexual abuse survivors. In K. Hammell & C. Carpenter (Eds.), Qualitative research in evidence-based practice (pp. 77-88). Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone .
89.
Senge, P. (2006). The fifth discipline: The art and practice of the learning organization (revised and updated). New York: Doubleday .
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Sessa, V. , & London, M. (2006). Continuous learning in organizations: Individual, group, and organizational perspectives. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates .
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Shields, P. M. (2003). The community of inquiry: Classical pragmatism and public administration . Administration and Society, 35(5), 510-538 .
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Shields, P. M. (2005). Classical pragmatism does not need an upgrade: Lessons for public administration . Administration and Society, 37(4), 504-518 .
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Silka, L. (Ed.) (2005). Scholarship in action: Applied research and community change. US Department of Housing and Urban Development .
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Somekh, B. (2006a). Action research: A methodology for change and development. Maidenhead: Open University Press .
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Somekh, B. (2006b). Constructing intercultural knowledge and understanding through collaborative action research . Teachers and Teaching: Theory and Practice, 12(1), 87-106 .
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Stackpool-Moore, L. , Taylor, P. , Pettit, J. , & Millican, J. (2006). Currents of change: Exploring relationships between teaching, learning and development. London: Institute of Development Studies . (Also available online at: http://www.pnet.ids.ac.uk/guides/ltt/Resources/currentsofchange.pdf).
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Stavros, J. M. , & Torres, C. B. (2005). Dynamic relationships: Unleashing the power of appreciative inquiry in daily living. Chagrin Falls, OH: Taos Institute .
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Stoecker, R. (2005). Research methods for community change: A project based approach. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage .
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Stringer, E. (1999). Action research (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage .
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Stringer, E. , & Dwyer, R. (2005). Action research in human services. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall .
101.
Suarez-Balcazar, Y. , & Harper, G. W. (Eds.) (2003). Empowerment and participatory evaluation of community interventions: Multiple benefits. Binghamton, NY: Haworth Press .
102.
Tacchi, J. , Slater, D. , & Hearn, G. (2003). Ethnographic action research: A user’s handbook developed to innovate and research ICT applications for poverty eradication. New Delhi: UNESCO .
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Taggart, G. L. , & Wilson, A. P. (2005). Promoting reflective thinking in teachers: 50 action strategies (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin .
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Tang, Y. , & Joiner, C. (Eds.) (2006). Synergic inquiry: A collaborative action methodology. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage .
105.
Thatchenkery, T. (2005). Appreciative sharing of knowledge: Leveraging knowledge management for strategic change. Chagrin Falls, OH: The Taos Institute .
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Torbert, B. , Cook-Greuter, S. , Fisher, D. , Foldy, E. , Gauthier, A. , Keeley, J. , Rooke, D. , Ross, S. , Royce, C. , Rudolph, J. , Taylor, S. , & Tran, M. (2004). Action inquiry: The secret of timely and transforming leadership. San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler .
107.
UN-Habitat & Huairou Commission (2004). Local to local dialogue: A grassroot women’s perspective on good governance. Nairobi, Kenya: UN-Habitat .
108.
Van Tiem, D. , & Rosenzweig, J. (2006). Appreciative inquiry. Alexandria, VA: ASTD Press .
109.
Wadsworth, Y. (1997). Do it yourself social research (2nd ed.). Crows Nest, NSW: Allen & Unwin .
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Wadsworth, Y. (2005). How can professionals help people to inquire using their own action research?Melbourne: ALARPM . Action Research Case Studies, retrieved July 17 2006 from http://www.alarpm.org.
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White, A. M. (2004). Lewin’s action research model as a tool for theory building: A case study from South Africa . Action Research, 2(2), 127-144 .
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Whitehead, J. , & McNiff, J. (2006). Action research: Living theory. London: Sage .
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Whitney, D. , Trosten-Bloom, A. , Cherney, J. , & Fry, R. (2005). Appreciative team building. Taos, NM: iUniverse Inc .
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Wigmore, D. (2005a). A common goal: Union and researcher collaboration celebrate the work of June Fisher, M.D . New Solutions, 15(1), 3-14 .
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Wigmore, D. (2005b). Where to?New Solutions, 15(1), 67-69 .
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Williams, M. C. (2004). Write a doctoral thesis about work: Professional action research: A creative reader introducing rich modelling. Cottlesloe, WA: Resource Press .
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Wills, J. , with Hurley, J. (2005). Action research: Tracing the threads of labor in the global garment industry. In A. Hale & J. Wills (Eds.), Threads of labor: Garment industry supply chains from the workers’ perspective (pp. 69-94). Malden, MA: Blackwell .
118.
Yolles, M. (2004). Editorial . Journal of Organisational Transformation and Social Change, 1(1), 5-10 .
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Yu, J. E. (2004). Reconsidering participatory action research for organizational transformation and social change . Journal of Organisational Transformation and Social Change, 1(2-3), 111-141 .
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Zirkel, S. , & Cantor, N. (2004). 50 years after Brown v. Board of Education: The promise and challenge of multicultural education . Journal of Social Issues, 60(1), 1-15 .
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Zirkel, S., Lopez, G. E., & Brown, L. M. (Eds.) (2004). The 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education: Interethnic contact and change in education in the 21st century . Journal of Social Issues, 60(1), special issue.
