Action research: what it is, phases and examples

The best way to do things is to do them yourself. This statement is used by companies, community projects and national governments. These organizations rely on the Action researchto cope with their ever-changing and unstable environment as they operate in an increasingly interdependent world.

This article describes the definition of action research, its phases and some examples.

What is action research?

Action research is a strategy that aims to find realistic solutions to organizational difficulties and problems. It is similar to applied research.

Essentially, it is learning by doing. First, a problem is identified, then some measures are taken to solve it, then the effectiveness of the efforts is measured, and if the results are not satisfactory, the steps are applied again.

It can be divided into three different groups:

• Positivist: Also known as “classic action research,” this method views research as a social experiment. This research is used to test theories in the real world.
  nterpretivist: This type of research is called “contemporary action research”. She views corporate reality as socially constructed and focuses on the details of local and organizational factors when conducting this research.
• Critical: This is a type of research that critically examines enterprise systems and attempts to improve them.

Characteristics of action research

Action research is an approach that combines research and practical action to address and solve problems in an organizational context. Here are some of their key features:

• Continuous cycle: Action research follows a continuous cycle of planning, action, observation and reflection. The results of one phase are used to inform and improve the next phase, and the process is repeated until a satisfactory solution is reached.
• Active participation: The active participation of members of the organization or community affected by the problem. This promotes collaboration and the involvement of people in identifying and solving problems.
• Collaborative approach: It promotes collaboration between researchers and practitioners or members of the organization. Multidisciplinary teams are often involved in the process.
• Improvement oriented: The main goal of action research is to improve the current situation. Through data collection and reflection, an attempt is made to identify and apply practical solutions that lead to real improvements in the organization.
• Critical reflection: Critical reflection is an essential part of action research. Participants analyse the information collected and the actions taken thoroughly and objectively, questioning previous assumptions and beliefs.
• Flexible customization: Action research is flexible and can be adapted to changing circumstances. If a strategy is not working as expected, adjustments and changes can be made to the process to better solve the problem.
• Use of empirical data: Action research is based on the collection of empirical data and concrete evidence. Qualitative and quantitative research methods are used to obtain accurate information.
• Practical implementation: As the action research cycle progresses, concrete actions are carried out based on the research results. These measures aim to directly address the problem at hand.
• Reflection and documentation: It is important to document the entire action research process, including results, lessons learned, and decisions made. This allows for ongoing assessment and the opportunity to share knowledge with others.
• Long-term commitment: Action research can be a time-consuming process. Long-term commitment to problem solving and continuous improvement is a key characteristic.

Stages of action research

All research is about learning new things. Action research develops knowledge based on research in specific and often useful circumstances. It begins with identifying a problem. The research process then goes through the following phases:

• Organize
• Act
• Observe
• Reflect

Phase 1: Plan

For an action research project to be successful, the researcher must plan. After a research topic or question has been established, the first step is to develop an action plan to guide the research process. The research plan aims to answer the research question. The research strategy describes what, when and how to do.

Phase 2: Take action

The next step is to implement the plan and collect data. At this point, the researcher must choose how to collect and organize the research data. The researcher should also check all instruments and equipment before data collection to ensure that they are relevant, valid and complete.

Phase 3: Observe

Observation of data is essential for any research. The researcher should review the goals and expectations of the project before observing data. This is the final step before drawing conclusions and taking action.
Various types of graphs, charts, diagrams, and networks can be used to represent the data. They help make judgments or move on to the next phase of observation.

Phase 4: Think

In this phase, a possible solution is implemented and the results are observed. It is important to see whether the possible solution found through research can actually solve the problem being studied.
The researcher should explore alternative ideas if the action research project's solutions cannot solve the problem.

Examples of action research

Below you will find two examples of action research from practice.

Example 1

Action research initiatives are often situation-specific. However, other researchers may adapt the techniques. The example comes from a researcher's report (Franklin, 1994) on a project to promote nature-based tourism in the Caribbean.

In 1991, an action research project was launched to examine how nature-based tourism could be implemented in the four Leeward Islands in the Caribbean: St. Lucia, Grenada, Dominica and St. Vincent.

To protect the environment, a government-led action study determined that the consultation process should involve multiple stakeholders, including commercial companies.

Initially, two researchers conducted the study and held scoping conferences on each island. The scoping conferences resulted in proposals and action plans for local, community-based nature tourism sub-projects.

Several islands formed advisory groups and initiated community and awareness-raising projects at the national level. Regional project meetings were held to discuss experiences, self-assessments and strategies. Creating a documentary about a local initiative helped build community. And the study was a success, leading to a number of changes in the field.

Example 2

Lau and Hayward (1997) used action research to analyse Internet-based collaborative work groups.

Over a two-year period, researchers led three research problem-solving cycles with 15 teachers, project staff, and 25 health professionals from various fields. The goal was to find out how internet-based communication could impact their virtual workgroup.

First, expectations were defined, technology deployed and a tailored workgroup system developed. Participants suggested shorter, scattered training sessions with project-specific instructions.
In the second phase, the introduction of the system was completed. In the last cycle, the stability of the system and the formation of virtual groups were observed. The most important finding was that the learning curve had been misjudged and that frustrations could only be solved to a limited extent by technical assistance over the telephone. According to the researchers, the lack of high-quality online material about health care in the community was detrimental.

Role clarity, networking, knowledge sharing, resource assistance, and experiential learning are critical to the growth of virtual groups. How group support systems can help groups connect with their external environment and support members' learning requires further research.

Conclusion

Action research as a methodological tool analyses human action from a communicative and participatory movement that favors the exchange of knowledge and the development of a relationship structure of trust and commitment with the subjects that constitute the reality to be changed.

During the process, it is necessary to continuously monitor the decisions, actions and all intentional activities developed by the actors involved in the situation. Therefore, in this approach, research is not limited to just one form of action, but aims to expand the researchers' knowledge and awareness of the individuals and/or groups involved.

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