Building social capital for educational action research: the contribution of Bridget Somekh

Abstract

The article will review some of Bridget Somekh’s action research projects as attempts to build networks of trust and reciprocity across a range of educational stake‐holders. It will also examine Bridget’s wider role within the education action research movement as a whole, looking at her achievements as a facilitator of networks of action researchers across national, professional and ideological boundaries. The article will attempt an overall assessment of her inclusive approach to networking in terms of its strengths and weaknesses. In doing so it will draw on the growing literature surrounding ‘social capital theory’.

Keywords:

• action research
• social capital
• intellectual capital
• social networks