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'We thought we "knew"', so we "did"'

A voluntary organization's beginnings in action research

Tel-Hai College, Israel

Demelza Holmes

YWCA England & Wales, UK

Colette Jones

YWCA England & Wales, UK

In 2004, YWCA England & Wales began a two-year action research project with young women made possible with a grant from Big Lottery Fund. The research comprised four co-operative inquiry groups of young women in different geographical locations and of different composition. Each group met regularly and inquires, together with two YWCA project workers, about safe expression of sexuality and young women's sexual health. This article gives a practical account of the initial stages of the research; explores the challenges of doing co-operative inquiry and offers recommendations for other researchers who consider using this method. Particular attention is given to the challenges of working collaboratively in a hierarchical organization. It is argued that to establish collaborative relationships within the inquiry groups, similar relationships need to be demonstrated by the organization's staff and established within the organization's structures.

Key Words: action research • collaborative relationships • co-operative inquiry • reflexivity • young women

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Action Research, Vol. 5, No. 4, 407-429 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1476750307083719


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This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Lavie-Ajayi, M. Articles by Jones, C. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?