DEFINITION“Action research is a sort of research

which binds the EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH of social sciences withprogammes of SOCIAL ACTION thataim to deal with the main social problems.” (Lewis, 1944)

Action Research is a method thatcombines:

THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE and KNOWLEDGE OF A PARTICULAR CONTEXT

Researcher has a dual role:

Researcher role and Participant role

GOALSSolve 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

FEATURES Participatory

Interactive

Subjective point of view

Democratic participation

Descriptive and exploratory purposes

Explanation of phenomena as comprehension of reality

Interpretative outcomes

CYCLICAL PROCESS OF ACTION RESEARCH

PROBLEM

DIAGNOSIS

DESIGN OF PROPOSAL

TAKING ACTION

EVALUATION/ RELECTION

PROBLEMDiscrepancies between what we want to reach and what it is actually happening. It may arises:

CONTRADICTIONS

DILEMMAS

DIFFICULTIES OR LIMITATIONS

DIAGNOSISCompilation 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.

DESIGN OF PROPOSAL

Focusing on the desired improvements

Alternatives of taking action and their

possible consequences

Reflection based on the gathered data

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

EVALUATIONProvides the evidence of scope and

consequences of the actions that werecarried out.

It may give raise to a redefinition of theproblem (if there are still issues not beingsolved) or show that there is even a biggerproblem to be solved