Co-operative inquiry: Reflections on practice

Abstract

Co-operative inquiry (CI) is a form of action research which emphasises participation. This paper discusses CI as a research methodology. An overview is given and then greater detail is provided using as a vehicle my use of CI in a particular research study. This study explored whether conventionally-educated systems developers could adopt a richer model of organisations by using metaphors for organisations as cognitive structuring devices. Finally some reflections are given on the challenges CI poses for both individual researchers and the wider academic community. © 2002 MCIL.