Interlevel Dynamics in Systemic Action Research

Levels of analysis are commonly used as frameworks for researching, understanding, and intervening in organizational systems. Levels of analysis typically refer to the identification of issues at units of complexity, such as the individual, the group, the intergroup, and the organization. The construct of levels of analysis is traditionally an important dimension of action research. This article reviews the traditional use of levels of analysis as the focus of action research and extends the notion to levels of aggregation or interlevel dynamics. It illustrates how interlevel dynamics are important both as the focus of action research and to the action research process itself.