Reflections on reflection in action research: notes from a field study

Abstract

There is wide agreement in the literature that “reflection” is a critical component in the methodology of action research (AR). This paper argues that there is little practical guidance for information systems researchers on how to carry out the process of reflection. The work is presented in the context of a case study of innovation in APC-MGE Ireland, a subsidiary of the critical power and cooling services division of the Schneider Electric Corporation. The paper describes the utilization of a novel form of action research recently proposed to the IS community by Mårtensson & Lee which they call dialogical AR. The study proposes to make a contribution by providing a questionnaire to assist the process on reflection in the course of AR cycles. The instrument was developed from engagement with the psychology literature and is suggested as a methodological plug-in to the Principles of Canonical Action Research.