Action Research
Action research is a a type of research where the researcher collaborates with participants or organisations to identify problems, implement changes, and evaluate outcomes in order to improve real-world practices.
On this page:
- What is Action Research?
- Types of Action Research
- Action Research Spiral
- Advantages and Disadvantages
- Action Research in the Age of AI
- When to use Action Research
| Feature | Action Research | Traditional Research |
|---|---|---|
| Researcher role | Active participant | Independent observer |
| Main purpose | Solve practical problems | Generate theoretical knowledge |
| Research process | Cyclical and iterative | Usually linear |
| Research setting | Real organisational environment | Often controlled or theoretical |
| Main outcome | Practical improvements and insights | Generalisable knowledge |
Action research at a glance
What is Action Research?
Action research can be defined as “an approach in which the action researcher and a client collaborate in the diagnosis of the problem and in the development of a solution based on the diagnosis”[1]. In other words, one of the main characteristic traits of this type of research relates to collaboration between researcher and member of organisation in order to solve organizational problems.
Action study assumes social world to be constantly changing, both, researcher and research being one part of that change.[2] Action research is closely associated with applied research and is particularly suitable for studies aiming to solve real organisational problems. Unlike purely fundamental research, action research directly links knowledge generation with practical change within a specific context.
Action research combines research and practical problem-solving within a real organisational setting.
It is important to make a clear distinction between action research and consulting. Specifically, the former is greater than the latter in a way that action research includes both action and research, whereas business activities of consulting are limited action without the research.
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Types of Action Research
Generally, action researches can be divided into three categories: positivist, interpretive and critical.
Positivist approach to action research, also known as ‘classical action research’ perceives research as a social experiment. Accordingly, action research is accepted as a method to test hypotheses in a real world environment.
Interpretive action research, also known as ‘contemporary action research’ perceives business reality as socially constructed and focuses on specifications of local and organisational factors when conducting the action research.
Critical action research is a specific type of action research that adopts critical approach towards business processes and aims for improvements.
The following features of action research need to be taken into account when considering its suitability for any given study:
- It is applied in order to improve specific practices. Action research is based on action, evaluation and critical analysis of practices based on collected data in order to introduce improvements in relevant practices.
- This type of research is facilitated by participation and collaboration of number of individuals with a common purpose
- Such a research focuses on specific situations and their context
Action Research Spiral
Action study is a participatory study consisting of spiral of following self-reflective cycles:
- Planning in order to initiate change
- Implementing the change (acting) and observing the process of implementation and consequences
- Reflecting on processes of change and re-planning
- Acting and observing
- Reflecting
Action Research Spiral
It is important to note that individual stages specified in Action Research Spiral model may overlap, and initial plan developed for the research may become obsolete in short duration of time due to a range of factors.
The main advantage of Action Research Spiral model relates to the opportunity of analysing the phenomenon in a greater depth each time, consequently resulting in greater level of understanding of the problem. Disadvantages of Action Research Spiral model include its assumption each process takes long time to be completed which may not always be the case.
Advantages and Disadvantages
One of the biggest advantages of action research is its strong practical relevance. Research findings are directly connected to real organisational problems and can lead to immediate improvements.
Action research also allows researchers to gain detailed understanding of organisational processes through close interaction with participants. Another advantage is methodological flexibility. Action research may combine qualitative and quantitative methods depending on the research objectives and organisational context.
Despite its strengths, action research can be difficult to manage because researchers must balance practical involvement with academic objectivity. Close collaboration with participants may increase the risk of researcher bias and reduce neutrality of findings.
Action research may also be time-consuming due to multiple cycles of planning, implementation, observation, and reflection. In addition, because findings are usually highly context-specific, generalising results to other organisations may be difficult.
Action Research in the Age of AI
Action research has become increasingly important in modern business environments because organisations are continuously adapting to digital transformation, AI implementation, remote working, and technological innovation, among other similar trends.
For example, companies implementing AI-driven systems may use action research to examine how employees respond to such an innovation changes, how workflows adapt, and how organisational practices can be improved over time. The iterative nature of action research makes it particularly suitable for studying rapidly changing business environments where solutions must be continuously tested, evaluated, and refined.
At the same time, digital transformation introduces new ethical considerations related to employee monitoring, data privacy, algorithmic bias, and organisational transparency. Researchers conducting action research in digital settings must therefore pay careful attention to ethical responsibility and participant welfare.
When to Use Action Research
You can use action research when the objective of your study is to introduce change and improve organisational practices while simultaneously studying that change. It is particularly appropriate when you have direct access to an organisation and can collaborate with participants over time.
Moreover, this approach is suitable for studies focusing on issues such as improving employee performance, implementing new technologies (e.g. AI systems), enhancing organisational culture, optimising business processes or aligning operations after a merger or an acquisition.
Ethical considerations play a critical role in action research due to close interaction with participants. You have to manage issues such as informed consent, confidentiality, and potential power dynamics between researcher and participants must be carefully throughout the research process.
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References
[1] Bryman, A. & Bell, E. (2011) “Business Research Methods” 3rd edition, Oxford University Press
[2] Collis, J. & Hussey, R. (2003) “Business Research. A Practical Guide for Undergraduate and Graduate Students” 2nd edition, Palgrave Macmillan