Working together in a voluntary association: Participatory Action Research using Conversation Analysis

This PhD research will be a case-study investigation into interactions within a voluntary association, using conversation analysis (CA) within a participatory action research (PAR) framework in order to document and critically assess communication between group members and support the group to strengthen their processes and fulfil their own aims.
The research will explore:
a) What happens in organisational interactions of a voluntary association?
b) (How) does (a) relate to and impact on the success of the group in achieving its aims (as understood by the group members themselves)?
c) (How) can CA and PAR be combined to produce purposeful knowledge that is useful for and based on the priorities of a voluntary association?

This study will contribute to understanding of the role voluntary associations play within society, and understanding of group decision-making processes. By making use of this innovative combination of research methods for the first time, this study will also contribute to the development of both CA and PAR. Using CA within a PAR research framework has the potential to allow increased impact of CA findings for an organisation, by moving beyond provision of expert advice towards deeper understanding of the research by participants and a stronger investment in taking action. Meanwhile, knowledge gained about how a group of volunteers work together to make change in the world could help to inform and enhance PAR practices, because PAR is based on principles of inclusion, participation, valuing all voices, and action-oriented interventions (O'Neill 2010). By piloting the combination of CA and PAR, I will also be developing a new way of doing research that could be drawn upon by other researchers wishing to combine these approaches.