Professor Emeritus Peter Reason
BA, PhD
Job Title:
Visiting Professor in Organizational Behaviour/Director and Director of Studies, Postgraduate Programme in Action Research
Subject Group:
Key Research Interests:
Human dimensions of sustainability
Research Interests
I have, for the past 25 years, contributed to the development of participative approaches to action research in the human sciences and in management approaches variously referred to as "co-operative inquiry", "participatory action research", and "action science" or "action inquiry". In these forms of experiential action research, all those involved in the inquiry process are co-researchers, contributing both to the thinking that forms the research endeavour and to the action which is its subject. I have been particularly concerned to articulate ‘quality’ in action research. I am recognized as an international authority in this area and one who has linked different schools of practice. More recently my major concern has been with the devastating and unsustainable impact of human activities on the biosphere which, I argue, is grounded in our failure to recognize the participatory nature of our relationship with the planet and the cosmos. This has led specifically to applications of action research to ecological education and carbon reduction.
Publications
Jump to:
Books | Refereed journals papers | Book ChaptersBooks
Reason, P., & Bradbury, H. 2008. Handbook of Action Research: Participative inquiry and practice 2nd edition. London: Sage Publications.
Reason, P., & Bradbury, H. 2006. Handbook of Action Research: Concise paperback edition: 362. London: Sage Publications.
Reason, P., & Bradbury, H. 2001. Handbook of Action Research: Participative Inquiry and Practice:468. London: Sage Publications.
Refereed journal papers
Marshall, J., Coleman, G., & Reason, P. (2011). Leadership for Sustainability: An action research approach. Sheffield: Greenleaf.
Marshall, J., Coleman, G., & Reason, P. (2011). Leadership for Sustainability: An action research approach. Sheffield: Greenleaf.
Reason, P., Coleman, G., Ballard, D., Williams, M., Gearty, M., Bond, C., et al. (2009). Insider Voices: Human dimensions of low carbon technology.
Reason, P., Coleman, G., Ballard, D., Williams, M., Gearty, M., Bond, C., et al. (2009). Insider Voices: Human dimensions of low carbon technology. Bath: Centre for Action Research in Professional Practice, University of Bath.
► older publications
Reason, P. 2007. Education for ecology: science, aesthetics, spirit and ceremony. Management Learning. 38 (1): 27-44. Click here for article 
(DOI): 10.1177/1350507607073021
Reason, P. 2006. Choice and quality in action research practice. Journal of Management Inquiry. 15 (2): 187-203. Click here for article
(DOI): 10.1177/1056492606288074
Reason, P. 2006. A response to J.A.McKernan. Journal of Management Inquiry. 15 (2): 207-208. Click here for article
(DOI): N/A
Reason, P. 2005. Living as part of the whole. Journal of Curriculum and Pedagogy. 2 (2): 35-41. Click here for article
(DOI): N/A
Reason, P. 2004. Action research and the single case: A response to Bjørn Gustavsen. Concepts and Transformations. 8 (3). Click here for article
(DOI): 10.1075/cat.8.3.09rea
Reason, P. 2004. Commentary: Critical design ethnography as action research. Anthropology and Education Quarterly. 35 (2). Click here for article
(DOI): 10.1525/aeq.2004.35.2.269
Reason, P. 2003. Pragmatist philosophy and action research: Readings and conversation with Richard Rorty. Action Research, 1 (1): 103-123. Click here for article
(DOI): 10.1177/14767503030011007
Bradbury, H., & Reason, P. 2002 . Action research: an opportunity for revitalizing research purpose and practices. Qualitative Social Work. 2 (2): 155-175. Click here for article
(DOI): 10.1177/1473325003002002003
Reason, P. 2002. Justice, Sustainability and participation: Inaugural professorial lecture. Concepts and Transformation. 7 (1): 7-29. Click here for article
(DOI): 10.1075/cat.7.1.03rea
Reason, P. 2002. Special Issue- Editorial: The Practice of Co-operative Inquiry. Systemic Practice and Action Research. 15 (3): 169-270. Click here for article
(DOI): 10.1023/A:1016300523441
Reason, P., & Torbert, W.R. 2001. The action turn: Toward a transformational social science. Concepts and Transformations. 6 (1): 1-37. Click here for article
(DOI): 10.1075/cat.6.1.02rea
Reason, P. 2001. Earth community: Interview with Thomas Berry. Resurgence. 204:. 10-14. Click here for article
(DOI): N/A
Reason, P. 2001. Participation, in writing, carving and teaching. ReVision. 23 (4): 44-48. Click here for article
(DOI): N/A
Torbert, W.R., & Reason, P. 2001. Toward a participatory worldview part 1. ReVision. 24 (1). pp. 1-48. Click here for article
(DOI): N/A
Reason, P., & Torbert, W.R. 2001. Towards a participatory worldview part 2. ReVision. 24 (2). pp. 1-48. Click here for article
(DOI): N/A
Book Chapters
Seeley, C., & Reason, P. [In Press] 2008. Expressions of Energy: An epistemology of presentational knowing. In P. Liamputtong & J. Rumbold Eds., Knowing Differently: Arts-based and collaborative research methods. New York: Nova Science Publishers.
Reason, P., & Bradbury, H. 2008. Introduction. In Reason, P., & Bradbury, H. (eds.) Handbook of Action Research: Participative inquiry and practice 2nd edition. London: Sage Publications.
Heron, J., & Reason, P. 2008. Extending epistemology within a co-operative inquiry. In Reason P, & Bradbury H. (eds.) Handbook of Action Research: Participative inquiry and practice 2nd Edition. London: Sage Publications.
Gaya Wicks P, Reason P, & Bradbury H. 2008. Living Inquiry: Personal, political and philosophical groundings of Action Research Practice. In Reason P, & Bradbury H. (eds.) Handbook of Action Research: Participative inquiry and practice 2nd edition. London: Sage Publications.
Reason, P., & Bradbury, H. 2008. Whither Action Research?. In Reason P, & Bradbury H. (eds.)Handbook of Action Research: Participative inquiry and practice 2nd edition. London: Sage Publications.
Reason, P., & Riley, S. 2008. Co-operative Inquiry: An action research practice. Qualitative Psychology: A practical guide to research methods, 2nd ed. London: Sage Publications. (ed. )Smith J.
► older publications
Reason, P. 2007. Wilderness Experience in Ecological Education. Oxford: Oxford University Press. (eds.) Reynolds M, & Vince R.
McArdle, K.L., & Reason, P. 2007. Action Research and Organization Development. In Cummings TC.(ed.) Handbook of Organization Development. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Reason P, & McArdle KL. 2004. Brief Notes on the Theory and Practice of Action Research. In . Becker S, & Bryman (eds.) A Understanding Research Methods for Social Policy and Practice. London: The Polity Press.
Reason, P. 2003. Doing Co-operative Inquiry. In Smith J. (ed.) Qualitative Psychology: A Practical Guide to Methods. London: Sage Publications.
Bradbury, H., & Reason, P. 2001. Conclusion: Broadening the Bandwidth of Validity: Issues and choice points for improving quality in action research. In Reason P, & Bradbury H. (eds.) Handbook of Action Research: Participative inquiry and practice: 467-455. London: Sage Publications.
Reason, P., & Bradbury, H. 2001. Inquiry and Participation in Search of a World Worthy of Human Aspiration. In Reason P, & Bradbury H. (eds.) Handbook of Action Research: Participative inquiry and practice: 1-14. London: Sage Publications.
Reason, P. 2001. Learning and Change through Action Research.In Henry J. (ed.) Creative Management: 182-194. London: Sage Publications..
Reason, P., & Marshall, J. 2001. On Supervising Graduate Research Students. In Reason P, & Bradbury H. (eds.) Handbook of Action Research: Participative Inquiry and Practice: 413-419. London and Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
Reason, P., & Bradbury, H. 2001. Preface. In Reason P, & Bradbury H. (eds.) Handbook of Action Research: Participative inquiry and practice: xxiii-xxxxi. London: Sage Publications.
Heron, J., & Reason, P. 2001. The Practice of Co-operative Inquiry: Research with rather than on people. In Reason P, & Bradbury H. (eds.) Handbook of Action Research: Participative inquiry and practice: 179-188. London: Sage Publications.
Reason, P. 2001. Verso una visione del mondo ecologica e partecipativa. Pluriverso: biblioteca delle idee per la cività planetaria. 4: 58-64.
