Polyphonic inquiry for team development, learning and knowledge production

In this chapter we describe how we, as researchers, interacted with practitioners in the field as we co-constructed a polyphonic inquiry for team development, learning and knowledge production, inspired by action research. We build on social constructionist meta-theoretical ideas and write about our experience from a constructionist approach to research and social change. Our practice was developed and refined while working together with a team of advisers in an NGO for organic farming and organic food production located in Denmark. In overall terms, and in line with the values of the organization, a basic principle of this practice was to think and work in terms of sustainability, environmental care, and social responsibility.
We undertake research as a form of social action as described by Sheila McNamee (2010), Sheila McNamee and Dian Marie Hosking (2013), and Kenneth J. Gergen (2015), and in this research paradigm the researcher’s role can be seen as a “disturber,” “facilitator” and “co-creator.” In this chapter we describe and reflect on how this practice took shape, share some examples from it and explain the methodology and theory behind our practice.