SELF-REFLECTION AND VULNERABILITY IN ACTION RESEARCH - BRINGING FORTHNEW WORLDS IN OUR LEARNING

This paper looks at experiences in using action research in a self-ref lective fashion. It addresses some of the problems which the action re searcher has in coping with ourselves in our research. Mendes (1996) q uotes Maturana: ''Everything is fundamental in our being alive and the refore, if we want to explain human experience we need to understand h ow being alive together generates our existence.''(2) Although I would add that the social view of existence can be complemented by the view that our personal existence comes forth from a deeper domain, this st atement is my starting point. Working from a anecdote which demonstrat es the critical importance of individual perception in labeling any is sue as a ''mess,'' I discuss the importance of self-reflection in the research process and the importance to us as researchers in recognizin g our own vulnerability in the research context. Finally, I describe s ome positive outcomes or ''prizes'' of recognizing our vulnerability i n research processes and using this vulnerability as a spur to improvi ng our research.