Action research simply means "learning by doing." The text book definition of is "Action research...aims to contribute both to the practical concerns of people in an immediate problematic situation and to further the goals of social science simultaneously. Thus, there is a dual commitment in action research to study a system and concurrently to collaborate with members of the system in changing it in what is together regarded as a desirable direction. Accomplishing this twin goal requires the active collaboration of researcher and client, and thus it stresses the importance of co-learning as a primary aspect of the research process."by ABL Group. Future Search Process Design.
The more I learn about action research, I can see that what seperates it from other type of research from general professional practices, consulting, or daily problem-solving is the emphasis on scientific study, which is to say the researcher studies the problem systematically and ensures the intervention is informed by theoretical considerations. Much of the researcher’s time is spent on fine toning the tools to suit the uniqueness of the situation, and on collecting, analyzing, and presenting data on an ongoing, revolving basis.
Several attributes separate action research from other types of research. First is its focus on turning the people involved into researchers, too - people learn best, and more willingly apply what they have learned, when they do it themselves. Second, it also has a social dimension - the research takes place in real-world situations, and aims to solve real problems. Finally, the initiating researcher, unlike in other disciplines, makes no attempt to remain objective, but openly acknowledges their bias to the other participants.
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