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The Palgrave Handbook of Organizational Change Thinkers pp 297–314Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

David Coghlan: The World of the Scholar Practitioner and Practical Knowing

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Abstract

David Coghlan is first and foremost a scholar practitioner who has interrogated what this means both philosophically and as a practitioner of and educator in organization development (OD). He is most widely known for his conceptualization of insider action research and for introducing action research and OD to new audiences across different disciplines and settings through the book Doing Action Research in Your Own Organization, now in its fourth edition. As action research becomes increasingly diffuse in terms of different modalities, Coghlan’s theoretical papers on authenticity, practical knowing and interiority offer core ideas that speak to and transcend the particularity of each modality. Coghlan is a major contributor to the field of OD through his writing and editing work. His exploration of the OD/action research heritage includes its history, modes of expression, and action research’s rejected place in the academy. He coedited The SAGE Encyclopedia of Action Research, a major contribution to the world of action research that brings together its myriad histories, contributors, theories, methods, and practices. This work represents an important characteristic of Coghlan’s writing, namely, his exploration of relationships between ideas such as action learning and action research, thus, bringing a freshness to how we apply them to practice. Coghlan remains a prolific writer in his field, and his oeuvre reflects his ongoing work toward articulating of a philosophy of OD.

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Further Reading

  • Coghlan, D. (2008). Authenticity as first person practice: An exploration based on Bernard Lonergan. Action Research, 6(3), 351–366. doi:10.1177/1476750308094649.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coghlan, D. (2010). Seeking common ground in the diversity and diffusion of action research and collaborative management research action modalities: Toward a general empirical method. In W. A. Pasmore, A. B. Shani, & R. W. Woodman (Eds.), Research in organizational change and development (Vol. 18, pp. 149–181). Bingley: Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Coghlan, D. (2011). Action research: Exploring perspectives on a philosophy of practical knowing. The Academy of Management Annals, 5(1), 53–87. doi:10.1080/19416520.2011.571520.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coghlan, D. (2013). Messy, iterative groping in the swampy lowlands: The challenges of insider scholar-practitioner inquiry. Research in Organizational Change and Development, 21, 121–147. doi:10.1108/S0897-3016(2013)0000021007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coghlan, D. (2016). Inside organizations: Exploring organizational experiences. London: Sage.

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  • Coghlan, D., Rashford, N. S., & De Figueiredo, J. N. (2016). Organizational change and strategy: An interlevel dynamics approach (2nd ed.). Oxon: Routledge.

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  • Coughlan, P., & Coghlan, D. (2008). Action learning and action research (ALAR): A methodological integration in an inter-organizational setting. Systemic Practice and Action Research, 21(2), 97–104. doi:10.1007/S11213-007-9086-0.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    Geralyn Hynes

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  1. Geralyn Hynes
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Correspondence to Geralyn Hynes .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. College of Education and Human Development, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, USA

    David B. Szabla

  2. Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA

    William A. Pasmore

  3. The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA

    Mary A. Barnes

  4. Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA

    Asha N. Gipson

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Hynes, G. (2017). David Coghlan: The World of the Scholar Practitioner and Practical Knowing. In: Szabla, D.B., Pasmore, W.A., Barnes, M.A., Gipson, A.N. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Organizational Change Thinkers. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-52878-6_71

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