Examples
Worked examples
- Is an instance
A teacher-researcher conducts an action-research cycle to test a new feedback practice in their classroom.
- Is an instance
A community organisation and university partner conduct PAR cycles to improve a service iteratively.
Counter-examples
Looks similar, but isn't
- Not an instance
A single-cycle pilot study labelled 'action research' without iterative learning cycles.
- Not an instance
Action research framing without practitioner co-investigators or shared reflection.
Editorial commentary
Action research traces to Kurt Lewin's work in the 1940s and has developed multiple traditions: technical action research (focused on improving practice), practical action research (involving practitioner reflection), and emancipatory or critical action research (focused on social transformation). It is widely used in education (teacher inquiry), nursing, organisational development, and community development. Action research emphasises iterative cycles, participation of stakeholders as co-researchers, and integration of theory and practice. It overlaps with participatory action research (PAR) which emphasises power-sharing more strongly.
References
- Lewin K 'Action research and minority problems' Journal of Social Issues 1946. Reason P, Bradbury H 'Handbook of Action Research' 2008.
Also known as
Action enquiry · Participatory action research (PAR)
Machine-readable encodings
Use in your systems
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