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The interactive researcher as a virtual participant : A Habermasian interpretation

Sandberg, Fredrik LU and Wallo, Andreas (2013) In Action Research 11(2). p.194-212
Abstract

This article explores the role of the interactive researcher by drawing on Jürgen Habermas's theory of communicative action to develop the concept of virtual participant. An ideal interactive research project is used to explore the issues faced by interactive researchers in three phases - initial, implementation and conclusion. In each phase, an interactive research project is used to demonstrate the issues that are discussed. First, this article argues that the concept of communicative rationality can be helpful in understanding how mutually trusting relationships between practitioners and researchers can be established at the beginning of a project. Second, it argues that the idea of taking a virtual stand on validity claims can be... (More)

This article explores the role of the interactive researcher by drawing on Jürgen Habermas's theory of communicative action to develop the concept of virtual participant. An ideal interactive research project is used to explore the issues faced by interactive researchers in three phases - initial, implementation and conclusion. In each phase, an interactive research project is used to demonstrate the issues that are discussed. First, this article argues that the concept of communicative rationality can be helpful in understanding how mutually trusting relationships between practitioners and researchers can be established at the beginning of a project. Second, it argues that the idea of taking a virtual stand on validity claims can be used during a project to engage a performative attitude and achieve mutual understanding with actors in the practice system. Third, this article argues that the concept of the virtual participant can explain how the interactive researcher can engage in performative action without becoming captive to the practice system. The concept of the virtual participant helps to enhance understanding of the complexity of the role of the interactive researcher.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
keywords
Action research, communicative action, communicative rationality, Habermas, interactive research, performative action, virtual participant
in
Action Research
volume
11
issue
2
pages
19 pages
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • scopus:84879162391
ISSN
1476-7503
DOI
10.1177/1476750313484503
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
179fdc57-4719-41e0-81f3-e9c6c23bdef5
date added to LUP
2016-04-11 22:49:13
date last changed
2022-03-16 05:08:14
@article{179fdc57-4719-41e0-81f3-e9c6c23bdef5,
  abstract     = {{<p>This article explores the role of the interactive researcher by drawing on Jürgen Habermas's theory of communicative action to develop the concept of virtual participant. An ideal interactive research project is used to explore the issues faced by interactive researchers in three phases - initial, implementation and conclusion. In each phase, an interactive research project is used to demonstrate the issues that are discussed. First, this article argues that the concept of communicative rationality can be helpful in understanding how mutually trusting relationships between practitioners and researchers can be established at the beginning of a project. Second, it argues that the idea of taking a virtual stand on validity claims can be used during a project to engage a performative attitude and achieve mutual understanding with actors in the practice system. Third, this article argues that the concept of the virtual participant can explain how the interactive researcher can engage in performative action without becoming captive to the practice system. The concept of the virtual participant helps to enhance understanding of the complexity of the role of the interactive researcher.</p>}},
  author       = {{Sandberg, Fredrik and Wallo, Andreas}},
  issn         = {{1476-7503}},
  keywords     = {{Action research; communicative action; communicative rationality; Habermas; interactive research; performative action; virtual participant}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{194--212}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{Action Research}},
  title        = {{The interactive researcher as a virtual participant : A Habermasian interpretation}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1476750313484503}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/1476750313484503}},
  volume       = {{11}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}