Participatory action research, mixed methods, and research teams: learning from philosophically juxtaposed methodologies for optimal research outcomes

Abstract

BackgroundWorkplace health interventions incorporating qualitative and quantitative components (mixed methods) within a Participatory Action Research approach can increase understanding of contextual issues ensuring realistic interventions which influence health behaviour. Mixed methods research teams, however, face a variety of challenges at the methodological and expertise levels when designing actions and interventions. Addressing these challenges can improve the team’s functionality and lead to higher quality health outcomes. In this paper we reflect on the data collection, implementation and data analysis phases of a mixed methods workplace health promotion project and discuss the challenges which arose within our multidisciplinary team.MethodsThis project used mixed methods within a Participatory Action Research approach to address workers’ sun safety behaviours in 14 outdoor workplaces in Queensland, Australia, and elucidate why certain measures succeeded (or failed) at the worker and management level. The project integrated qualitative methods such as policy analysis and interviews, with a range of quantitative methods – including worker surveys, ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure measurement, and implementation cost analyses.ResultsThe research team found the integration of qualitative and quantitative analyses within the Participatory Action Research process to be challenging and a cause of tensions. This had a negative impact on the data analysis process and reporting of results, and the complexity of qualitative analysis was not truly understood by the quantitative team. Once all researchers recognised qualitative and quantitative data would be equally beneficial to the Participatory Action Research process, methodological bias was overcome to a degree to which the team could work cooperatively.ConclusionsMixed methods within a Participatory Action Research approach may allow a research team to discuss, reflect and learn from each other, resulting in broadened perspectives beyond the scope of any single research methodology. However, cohesive and supportive teams take constant work and adjustment under this approach, as knowledge and understanding is gained and shared. It is important researchers are cognisant of, and learn from, potential tensions within research teams due to juxtaposed philosophies, methodologies and experiences, if the team is to function efficiently and positive outcomes are to be achieved.

The use of participatory action research to improve energy intake of the soccer athletes

“…The design of participatory action research has recently begun to be widely used for solving various health problems. Some studies also show the effectiveness of participatory action research designs to change the behavior of research subjects towards better one (Sena et al, 2018;Sendall et al, 2018). Action research was also considered appropriate for solving sports nutrition problems.…”

“…Within the framework of nutritional care, innovative strategies are needed to improve the level of nutritional consumption and nutritional status of athletes. This innovative strategy can be accommodated with action research designs (Sena et al, 2018;Sendall et al, 2018). Based on the background above, it is necessary to conduct research with a participatory research action approach to correct nutritional problems that occur in UNNES soccer athletes.…”

Chinese Arts-Based Psycho-Oncology: A Translational Systemic Meta-Synthetic Perspective

“…In this context, feedback-based adjustment and readjustment of appropriate treatment, in our case music psychooncology, is important and three practical domains come into play: (i) continuous optimisation of music therapeutic models and their adjustment for individualised psycho-oncology, (ii) dynamic implementation in clinical practice and (iii) dynamic implementation in public health. In contrast to the use of rigid black-box models to assess mono-dimensional input-outcomecorrespondence, these processes require appropriate research methods such as modified forms of action research, which has also influenced epistemologically oriented mixed-methods research in medicine [64] and inspired dynamic research in multi-dimensional health care [65,66].…”

Koncepcja koprodukcji wiedzy a tworzenie polityki oparte na dowodach. Analiza literatury przedmiotu

“…hierarchią dowodów naukowych, systematyczne ilościowe przeglądy dowodów naukowych z randomizacją (Burns, Rohrich, Chung, 2011), to przykłady koprodukcji wiedzy prezentowane w wybranych artykułach dotyczą głównie badań o charakterze jakościowym. Zastosowanie metod ilościowych nie jest wprawdzie sprzeczne z podejściem koprodukcyjnym, takim jak partycypacyjne badania w działaniu (Sendall et al, 2018), jednak koprodukcja wiedzy pod postacią badań w działaniu trafia na podatniejszy grunt w przypadku metod jakościowych, w których kontakt z uczestnikami badań jest silnie wpisany w logikę procesu badawczego (np. Kafel, 2016).…”