Action research

The five key characteristics of our approach to action research are:

Collaboration between professional researchers and 'problem owners', who may be charities and other voluntary and community and not-for-profit organisations.
A focus on the 'real world'. Our action research starts with a practical issue or problem. The knowledge produced is practically useful and usable by practitioners and communities.
The agenda, viewpoints and perceptions of the problem owners are paramount throughout(rather than those of the professional researchers or external stakeholders).
Intervention with a view to achieving change. The hoped-for change may include solving a problem; developing a shared view on an issue or task; adapting to a changed environment; organisational development; or community development.
Knowledge building and knowledge exchange. Knowledge is built and transferred in both directions through cooperation between practitioners and professional researchers. Often there is a cyclical learning process: building knowledge and understanding by continuously 'testing' it against practical experience and applying it to real world situations before further modification and refinement by the researcher (in collaboration with practitioners).
(adapted from: Cairns, B., Harris, M. and Carroll, M. (2006) 'Action Research: Professional Researchers in the Community' in Handbook on Community Movements and Local Organizations edited by R. Cnaan and C. Milofsky, Kluwer Books / Plenum Press)

To download a discussion about the link between 'action research' and 'capacity building', please click here.