Disseminating Action Research

Overcoming Barriers to Writing

After being involved in a project for a long time, it can sometimes feel overwhelming to actually sit down and start writing about it. Often, when feeling exhausted from the efforts of doing, writing can feel onerous. This can be especially true when projects have already resulted in substantive community change or when they have resulted in no change at all. It can be particularly discouraging to write about failures. Sometimes, a researcher may feel shy about authoring a collective story or may feel that by putting ink to paper, he or she is appropriating the voice of others. Many researchers would rather be out in the community organizing than recording what has already happened. Writing, for whatever reason, is a real struggle for many.

Nevertheless, finding the motivation and stamina to write about research is valuable for a number of reasons. First, deep reflection can improve personal practice. The writing process forces researchers to think through, synthesize and organize their ideas. As they reflect on their project stories, they have an opportunity to creatively imagine new projects and possibilities for change. The experience can be generative and energizing. It gives researchers a contemplative opportunity to celebrate their successes, mourn their mistakes and, most important, learn from both.

Moreover, by documenting their work, researchers give others the opportunity to learn from the experience too. Knowledge generated through hard work, dedication and deep analysis can then inform the work of others. By disseminating action research, researchers contribute to a body of knowledge that can advance a field, inform theoretical development and create change. The documents produced can provide stakeholders with tangible products that validate their experiences. Often, stakeholders are proud of their contributions when they see the final documents. Finished products can also be used for advocacy and policy change and to lend ‘legitimacy’ to a cause.

Finally, for many researchers, written documents are professional and academic currency. They need to write to succeed (and in some cases graduate). [Page 277]Consequently, writing is not so much a choice as an imperative.

Regardless of motivation, finding the time, energy and resources to write is necessary. The first step is to carve out time and space. Next, researchers need to figure out what they want to say. They will then need to identify who they want to say it to (and why). They need to assemble their authorship team, begin scripting, edit and then share the final products with the appropriate audience. Much like action research itself, the process is often cyclical and iterative. It is rarely linear or as easy as it sounds.

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