Our in ACTION submission category is for volunteer placements that focus on “Action Research” – an approach to organizational development that involves the volunteer working with the host to create change through analysis and interventions. Submissions in this category describe the research issue/objective, the methodology and findings, and are structured/academic in tone and style. Authors are encouraged to include information on their organizational affiliation.

Action research (AR), like other forms of academic inquiry, requires a systematic investigation of a situation or level of previous knowledge. In addition, the expectation with AR is that a change will occur as a result of the intervention.  Importantly, although there is a tendency for the term ”research” to be linked to ”science” and to imply a technical approach to knowledge, this is not our focus. This River of Life category is intended to promote documentation of interventions that directly resulted in positive change. In all cases this will involve the integrated activity of the volunteer within an organization or in cooperation with several organizations.

AR topics are not in any way limited to a particular discipline or type of intervention. Positive action can be documented in many ways – as a result of changes in communication strategies, advocacy coordination, or even attitudinal shifts. We consider AR to be any observable paradigm shift in attitude, activity or advocacy. Thus, contributions may be interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, trans disciplinary or focused on one specific area of endeavour. For example, volunteers could report either:

> A focused topic, such as enhancing technology within a particular organization

> A multidisciplinary topic, such as  the expansion of health care programs to include watershed management issues, alternative livelihood strategies, and enhanced interjurisdictional communication

Regardless of approach, each submission in this category should consist of the following sections clearly identified within the manuscript:

> Objective: Describe the specific development targeted by the intervention and provide a background on the setting, such as country specific references

> Challenge: Outline challenges encountered in the project or program, including the time allotment for your volunteer stint

> Strategy and Results: Describe the research conducted and the changes that occurred from the action

> Conclusion: Explain the next steps and how the research might apply to other settings within the country and/or in other countries

> References: If applicable

View a sample in ACTION paper. Download the sample RiverOfLife-ResearchPaperinActionWatts paper.