Page 40 - Producing a Video to Communicate a New Model of Coaching to GAA Coaches

Consisting of systematic self-reflection on one’s own practice to bring about

improvement and contribute to new knowledge, action research is described by its
cyclical nature, of which there are many models including the original model of plan,

act, observe, and reflect devised by Kurt Lewin (1946). This cycle is described as spiral

in nature by Kemmis and McTaggart (1988) (Fig. 3.1) implying a series of action
research cycles to improve understanding, where observing and reflecting on ‘the

process and consequences’ of action lead to ‘re-planning, acting, observing and
reflecting and so on’ (p. 66). Action Research leads to the potential for new creative

action or creation (McNiff & Whitehead, 2002).

Figure 3.1. Action Research Cycles

3.3 Me as Action Researcher

Reflecting then on what kind of role I am taking as researcher and my aims to further

the cause of coach development and coaching in the GAA, I identify myself in the role
of change agent. The change agent is, as described by O’Leary (2004, p 92), someone

who ‘is working to better a situation based precisely on (these) subjectivities. Change
agents often work in participatory and collaborative ways.’ This perspective defines me

as an individual practitioner researcher within the Action Research methodological
paradigm. As an agent of change acting in an effort to create transformation by

producing a video resource, the model of action research I choose must reflect both the

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