Synopsis "A Voyage of Discovery: Systemic Approach Modeling Integral Action Research"
André Morin discusses research methods that may help people from various professional fields - in particular educators, social workers, health workers, and small businesses - find a cooperative way of solving complex individual and social problems. Rooted in French researchers such as Barbier, Dubost, Lerbet, Le Moigne, and also in Latin America's renowned Paulo Freire, these methods have proved to be a blessing for graduate students and social agents seeking to find solutions to complex issues, and also to Morin in his own teaching. In order to address problems in their multifaceted real-world complexity, Morin suggests combining two research paths: Integral Action Research (or PAR) and Systemic Approach Modeling. This twin approach, he argues, will allow researchers - in education, social work, health, management, etc. - to produce model designs capable of going beyond the limits of science in its quantitative and experimental dimension, and thus to attain the very depths of human values and creativity, transforming the very persons being researched into cooperative actors and researchers. Morin not only provides powerful insights regarding the path to follow when undertaking research. He also provides an immense literature review of fascinating research experiences carried out in various parts of the world, in particular in England, Canada, the United States, Europe, and Africa.
