Practice research refers to research that is applied or used in real world settings, as opposed to purely theoretical research. There are three types of practice research: 1) Research into practice examines existing practices. 2) Research for practice aims to solve practical problems. 3) Research through practice generates new knowledge through projects or case studies. The seminar discussed these different approaches to relating research and professional practice using examples from various fields.

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What is Practice Research?
Salford Practice Research Group
Research Seminar, 13.00, Wednesday 5th March 2014
Paul Chynoweth
“Practice"
“the actual application or use of a plan or method, as
opposed to the theories relating to it”
(Concise Oxford English Dictionary)( g y)
“a set of human activities performed regularly, and seen
as meaningfully related to each other by people
participating in them”
(Johannesson & Perjons 2012, p. 2)

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The relationship between research and practice:
Christopher Frayling Bruce Archer
Research into, for, and through practice
1. Research into practice
Anthony Giddens (1938 ‐ )

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2. Research for practice
Marie Curie (1867 ‐ 1934)
3. Research through practice
Christiaan Barnard (1922 – 2001)

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References
Archer, B. (1995) ‘The Nature of Research’, Co‐design: the interdisciplinary
journal of design and contextual studies, January 1995, pp. 6 – 13.
Ch h P (2013) ‘A T f R h S l f h Ch d S iChynoweth, P. (2013) ‘A Taxonomy of Research Styles for the Chartered Surveying
Profession: Research into Practice, for Practice, and through Practice’, Proceedings of
RICS COBRA 2013 Research Conference, New Delhi, India, 11 – 12 September 2013.
Johannesson, P. & Perjons, E. (2012) A Design Science Primer, Createspace.
[Online] Available at: http://designscienceprimer.wordpress.com.
Frayling, C. (1993) Research in Art and Design, Royal College of Art Research
Papers Vol 1 No 1Papers, Vol. 1, No. 1.
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/SPROG