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The Study Circle. Participatory Action Research, With and For the Unemployed. “There is a whole ocean of error and a few islands of truth, and neither chart nor compass to go by. We build up the map by accumulating shipwrecks… (Connell 1983: 252).”
Mark Brophy
Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Doctorate of Philosophy in Education and Training by Thesis at Victoria University.
February, 2001
Table of contents Table of contents Table of appendices Declaration of authorship Acknowledgments Guide to acronyms List of tables Abstract Page Number Introduction to Part one – methodology/literature review
1
Chapter one
3
1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7
Chapter two 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11 2.12
Introduction Introduction The thematic concern – research purpose Research aims Significance of research Unemployment Government initiatives Chapter summary
Methodology
40
Introduction Research paradigms Relationship between paradigms Critical theory Critical theory/postmodern tensio ns Participatory action research Emancipatory action research Reflective analysis Empowerment Agency Bias, subjectivity and validity Chapter summary
ii
Chapter three 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8
93
Introduction Examples of alternative educational programs for unemployed Models of adult education Study circles - introduction What is a study circle? Study Circle experiences - internationally and in Australia Key principles of establishing a study circle Chapter summary
Chapter four
Method
4.1 4.2 4.2.1 4.2.2 4.2.3 4.3 4.3.1 4.3.2 4.3.3 4.4 4.5
Study circles – the milieu
147
Introduction Planning the study circle Developing the discussion guide Recruiting members Sample size Planning the data collection Correspondence Session transcripts Interviews Planning triangulation, validity and reflective analysis Chapter summary
iii
Introduction to Part two – the study circle season
189
Chapter five
214
Description of season
5.1 Introduction 5.2 Study circle member profiles 5.3 Attendance 5.4 Overview 5.4.1 5.4.2 5.4.3 5.4.4 5.4.5 5.4.6 5.4.7 5.4.8 5.5 5.6
Emergent issues in relation to study circle process Chapter summary
Chapter six
Reflecting upon the themes
6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5
266
Introduction Redefining “unemployed” and “work” Psychological and physiological effects of unemployment Education/Training Working with bureaucracies 6.5.1 6.5.2 6.5.3
6.6
Session one Session two Session three Session four Session five Session six Session seven Session eight
Government organisation Non-government organisations Employers Individual alternatives in response to unemployment 6.6.1 LETS 6.6.2 WWOOF 6.6.3 Job modularisation 6.6.4 Voluntary work 6.6.5 Living on a low income
6.7 Structural alternatives in response to unemployment 6.7.1 Free market 6.7.2 Public sector job section 6.7.3 Redefining work and a guaranteed income
iv
6.8 Chapter seven 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6
Chapter eight References
Chapter summary Reflecting upon the members’ individual experience
322
Introduction Interviews Chronological reflection Post study circle member check Empowerment from members’ perspective Chapter summary
Conclus