2 Action Research in the LGBTQ Community
Action research falls under the term “transformative research”. Transformative research can be defined in a few different ways. It is usually associated with the science field, and within that field it refers to discoveries, tools, or ideas that either drastically change an important concept in education, engineering, or science or lead to a new paradigm in either (“Learn About Transformative Research”). Another definition of transformative research is research that puts an emphasis on collaboration, change, and creativity, and is based on the idea that the research design process can be used to produce environmental, economic, and social change (Hassan).
Simply put, action research combines researching while simultaneously taking action on the issue being researched (“Library Guides”). It can also be described as a methodology that aims to create professional or social change. Furthermore, due to its goals being simultaneously focused on change rather than just knowledge gathering, action research studies are often based on current issues and create practical solutions for them. An action research study can follow this process: assess a problem, investigate the issue and its likely causes, create a solution to the issue, apply the suggested solution, observe the application of the solution, and then reflect on the outcomes (and start over, if needed) (“Library Guides”).
A good way to understand methods of research can be by reading an action research study. A study that employed the action research method is called, “Lessons From a Community-Based Participatory Research Study With Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Youth and their Families”. The article can be found in Sage Journals, which has an entire section dedicated to action research articles simply called, “Action Research”. In the abstract of the article, the authors explain that in community-based participatory research (CBPR), local residents worked alongside academic researchers at every stage of the research project (Katz-Wise et al.). The authors use the paper to discuss using CBPR for the Trans Teen and Family Narratives Project, which is a mixed-methods study that examined how family environmental factors affect the well-being and health of transgender and gender-nonconforming youth.
The authors explain that CBPR is one of the best methods when conducting research on marginalized communities because it takes into account power imbalances and makes the research more relevant to the community (Katz-Wise et al.). Action research also ensures that the community being researched gets to share their views rather than the researchers making observations on their own. Before the study had even been put into motion, the researchers laid out a three-step plan to partner with the community: two members of the community were to be established as partners and be involved with the development of the Trans Teen and Family Narratives Project, two community advisory boards were to be created, and community members and groups that represented the interests of the families were to be identified.
Members of the project and trusted community members met regularly with the families being studied. One of the lessons the authors said the team learned was that building connections to people in the community who have existing partnerships with LGBTQ organizations is helpful in building trust. The team of researchers wanted to give surveys in addition to conducting interviews with LGBTQ families—during the meetings, both adult and youth attendees helped to give input on what questions could appear on the surveys and asked in interviews (Katz-Wise et al.). Community members also helped recruit other LGBTQ individuals to the research project by sharing fliers, sending emails, and sharing information on social media.
References
Hassan, Muhammad. “Transformative Design – Methods, Types, Guide – Research Method.” Research Method, 27 Mar. 2023, researchmethod.net/transformative-design.
Katz-Wise, Sabra L., et al. “Lessons From a Community-based Participatory Research Study With Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Youth and Their Families.” Action Research, vol. 17, no. 2, SAGE Publishing, June 2019, pp. 186–207. https://doi.org/10.1177/1476750318818875.
“Learn About Transformative Research.” NSF – National Science Foundation,
beta.nsf.gov/funding/learn/research-types/transformative-research#:~:text=Transformative%20research%20challenges%20current%20understanding,in%20science%2C%20engineering%20or%20education.
Library Guides: Research Methodologies Guide: Action Research. https://instr.iastate.libguides.com/c.php?g=49332&p=318066
