Working together in a voluntary association: Participatory Action Research using Conversation Analysis

这项博士研究将是对自愿协会内部互动的个案研究调查，在参与性行动研究(PAR)框架内使用对话分析(CA)，以记录和批判性地评估小组成员之间的沟通，并支持小组加强他们的进程和实现他们自己的目标。这项研究将探索：a)在志愿协会的组织互动中发生了什么？b)(A)(A)如何联系和影响组织在实现其目标方面的成功(正如小组成员自己所理解的)？c)(C)(如何)CA和PAR如何结合以产生对志愿协会的优先事项有用并基于其优先事项的有目的的知识？本研究将有助于理解志愿协会在社会中所扮演的角色，并有助于理解群体决策过程。通过首次利用这种研究方法的创新组合，本研究也将为CA和PAR的发展做出贡献。在PAR研究框架内使用CA有可能增加CA调查结果对组织的影响，方法是超越提供专家建议，让参与者更深入地了解研究，并对采取行动进行更有力的投资。与此同时，关于一群志愿者如何共同努力改变世界的知识可以帮助提供信息并加强PAR实践，因为PAR基于包容、参与、重视所有声音和以行动为导向的干预原则(O‘Neill 2010)。通过尝试CA和PAR的组合，我还将开发一种新的研究方法，希望将这些方法结合在一起的其他研究人员可以借鉴。

This PhD research will be a case-study investigation into interactions within a voluntary association, using conversation analysis (CA) within a participatory action research (PAR) framework in order to document and critically assess communication between group members and support the group to strengthen their processes and fulfil their own aims. The research will explore: a) What happens in organisational interactions of a voluntary association?b) (How) does (a) relate to and impact on the success of the group in achieving its aims (as understood by the group members themselves)?c) (How) can CA and PAR be combined to produce purposeful knowledge that is useful for and based on the priorities of a voluntary association?This study will contribute to understanding of the role voluntary associations play within society, and understanding of group decision-making processes. By making use of this innovative combination of research methods for the first time, this study will also contribute to the development of both CA and PAR. Using CA within a PAR research framework has the potential to allow increased impact of CA findings for an organisation, by moving beyond provision of expert advice towards deeper understanding of the research by participants and a stronger investment in taking action. Meanwhile, knowledge gained about how a group of volunteers work together to make change in the world could help to inform and enhance PAR practices, because PAR is based on principles of inclusion, participation, valuing all voices, and action-oriented interventions (O'Neill 2010). By piloting the combination of CA and PAR, I will also be developing a new way of doing research that could be drawn upon by other researchers wishing to combine these approaches.