Abstract
In this brief overview of action research in higher education in southern Africa , the authors, all of whom are academic leaders in action research in this region, report on the successes and challenges of conducting action research in settings where its methodological validity and rigor are still questioned by many mainstream academics. This chapter provides rich evidence of the transformational potential of action research to make a difference in the lives of both researchers and participants, particularly within contexts of poverty and disadvantage. Much of the work being done is the result of various networks and partnerships with international academics and global funders, an important factor that needs to be developed to advance action research in this region, while retaining an African flavor.
The original version of this chapter was revised. An erratum to this chapter can be found at DOI 10.1057/978-1-137-40523-4_50.
An erratum to this chapter can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-40523-4_50
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Acknowledgments
Ideas and excerpts from the following article have been included in this chapter: Wood, L. (2014) Action research for the 21st century: Exploring new educational pathways. South African Journal of Higher Education, 28(2): 662–674.
Funding for some of the research mentioned was awarded by the National Research Foundation (NRF). Any findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author, and, therefore, the NRF does not accept any liability thereof.
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Wood, L. et al. (2017). A Snapshot of Action Research in and by Higher Education in Southern Africa. In: Rowell, L., Bruce, C., Shosh, J., Riel, M. (eds) The Palgrave International Handbook of Action Research. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-40523-4_14
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