Action Research

2024/2025

Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

During this module students will conduct research activities that support and qualify technological transformation by involving affected people. Students will gain experiences with different action research methodologies and get familiar with how they can be utilised in a professional context. Students are to plan and possibly execute an action research project and thereby promote, test and/or evaluate responsible socio-technical intervention. This module is anchored in the Research group of Techno-Anthropology and Participation, Department of Planning.  

Learning objectives

Knowledge

  • describe the phases of action research, including those of problem identification, planning, action, observation, and reflection. 
  • explain classic and contemporary approaches in action research work, including different definitions, level of participation/ involvement and underpinning assumptions. 

Skills

  • plan, execute and/or evaluate action research methods in a professional setting. 
  • account for and analyze results from the applied action research methodology. 
  • reflect on how action research can contribute to responsible socio-technical intervention on a practical and theoretical level. 

Competences

  • describe and assess potentials and limitations of various action research approaches, including those related to the quality criteria for and the ethical dimensions of action research. 
  • facilitate participation in action research processes and in responsible socio-technical innovation. 
  • liaise the project work with the needs of the labor market. 

Type of instruction

Project module. Please refer to §17 of the curriculum about the structure and content of the programme.

Exam

Exams

Name of examAction Research
Type of exam
Oral exam based on a project
ECTS25
Assessment7-point grading scale
Type of gradingInternal examination
Criteria of assessmentThe criteria of assessment are stated in the Examination Policies and Procedures

Facts about the module

Danish titleAktionsforskning
Module codeTBTANK22302
Module typeProject
Duration1 semester
SemesterAutumn
ECTS25
Language of instructionEnglish
Location of the lectureCampus Copenhagen, Campus Aalborg
Responsible for the module

Organisation

Study BoardStudy Board of Techno-Anthropology and Sustainable Design
DepartmentDepartment of Sustainability and Planning
FacultyThe Technical Faculty of IT and Design