This document gives an overview of what action research is, its features, and the steps to be followed when doing this kind of reserach.

2. DEFINITION
“Action research is a sort of research
which binds the EXPERIMENTAL
APPROACH of social sciences with
progammes of SOCIAL ACTION that
aim to deal with the main social
problems.” (Lewis, 1944)

3. Action Research is a method that
combines:
THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE and
KNOWLEDGE OF A PARTICULAR
CONTEXT
Researcher has a dual role:
Researcher role and Participant role

4. GOALS
 Solve a problem in a particular context
through the use of the SCIENTIFIC
METHOD.
 Contribute with significant information for
taking decisions, and making adjustment in
academic processes or programs.
 Improve or change one self´s teaching
methodology

5. FEATURES
 Participatory
 Interactive
 Subjective point of view
 Democratic participation
 Descriptive and exploratory purposes
 Explanation of phenomena as comprehension of
reality
 Interpretative outcomes

6. CYCLICAL PROCESS OF ACTION
RESEARCH
PROBLEM
DIAGNOSIS
DESIGN OF
PROPOSAL
TAKING
ACTION
EVALUATION/
RELECTION

7. PROBLEM
Discrepancies between what we want to
reach and what it is actually happening. It
may arises:
 CONTRADICTIONS
 DILEMMAS
 DIFFICULTIES OR LIMITATIONS

8. DIAGNOSIS
 Compilation of evidences that allow us to
reflect about the actual problem
 Inform about how the actions and process
are develop in the reality of the context
 Inform about the individuals who are
implied in the process and their points of
view.

9. DESIGN OF PROPOSAL
Focusing on the desired improvements
Alternatives of taking action and their
possible consequences
Reflection based on the gathered data

10. TAKING ACTION
Implementing of the proposal for action,
this proposal is carried out by the
individuals interested in the change or
improvement; or by individuals that
belongs to the context in which this
proposal is being implemented

11. EVALUATION
 Provides the evidence of scope and
consequences of the actions that were
carried out.
 It may give raise to a redefinition of the
problem (if there are still issues not being
solved) or show that there is even a bigger
problem to be solved