Action Research

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 Introduction
• Action Research is a research method
that aims to simultaneously investigate
and solve an issue. In other word, as its
name suggests, action research conducts
research and take action at the same
time.
• Researcher actively participate with
respondents and the situation while also
conducting research.
• To do action research, researcher need
to combine both action and research
• Action without research is consulting.
 Definition
• Kurt Lewin MIT Professor, coined the term
“Action Research” in 1934. In his paper (1946)
“Action Research and Minority Problems”, he
defines action research as :

• “Research conducted specifically within the context

in which the problem existed was the key to arriving
at a solution”

• Action research is very interactive method

which is generally applied in the social sciences.
• Due to nature of the research, it is also
sometimes called a Cycle of Action or a Cycle of
Inquiry.
 Definition
• Stephen M Corey firstly discussed action
research in education perspective in 1951:-

• “Action research is a process for studying problem

by part owners scientifically to take decision for
improving their current practices”

• Paulo Freire in 1960

• “ Action research is a philosophy and
methodology of research generally
applied in the social sciences. It
seeks transformative change through
the simultaneous process of taking
action and doing research, which are
linked together by critical reflection.”
 Definition
• John Best and Kahn :- “Action research is focused on
the immediate application and not on the
development of theory. It has placed its emphasis on
a real problem in a local setting. Its finding are to be
evaluated in terms of local applicability, not in terms
of universal validity”
• Sara Blackwell :- “ Action Research is the research
concerned with school problems carried out by school
personnel’s to improve school practices”
• Carr and Kemmis :- “ Action research is a form of self-
reflective inquiry that can be utilized by teachers in
order to improve the rationality and justice of
• Their own practices
• Their understanding of these practices
• The situations in which these practices are carried out
 Definition
• Such a process adopted by the teachers to
solve her or his own problems is called
Action Research.
• Action research is done by practitioners
themselves rather than professional
researchers.
• Finding immediate answers to questions or
solutions to those problems
• Suggesting a solution based on analysis
• Testing the solution herself or himself
• Accepting the solution only when it satisfies
the above test .
 Features/Characteristics of Action
Research
• Situational and problem solving perspective
• It is focused on immediate problems solving
• It is applicable in local settings.
• It aims at improving classroom and school practices.
• It aims at improvements of professional efficiency.
• It involves little finances.
• Objective in nature
• Cyclic Process
• Scope is broad
• Flexible in nature
• Collaborative and participatory
• Self evaluative :- Just as action research is self initiated since it evolves out of the
perception of problem by practicing individual or group, it become self evaluative where
 Limitations of Action Research
• Poor Quality :- Action research is of
poor quality because it is conducted
by teachers who are untrained busy
in teaching .
• No Generalization :- As action
research is conducted in local setting
and to find out solution of an
immediate problem, so its results
cannot be generalized.
 Scope of Action Research
• Curriculum planning and course material
development
• Program delivery and learning strategies
• Student assessment and evaluation
• Staff Development
• Management and administration
• Behavioral changes, like attitudes, values, staff
motivation, etc.
 Purpose of Action Research
Educational Purpose of Action
Research
• To develop a greater understanding of individual
student's thoughts and actions.
• To develop a deeper understanding of teachers'
experiences with particular educational innovations
• To provide teachers an opportunity for personal
examination.
• To develop a deeper self awareness in practitioners
such as clarification of their assumptions about
education and recognition of contradictions between
their own ideas and actual classroom practice.
• To examine the impact of the research process on
practitioners
• To conduct research as an individual learning process
valuing experiential knowledge.
 Professional Purposes for Action
Research
• Uses action research as a form of staff
development
• Seeks the legitimization of their role.
• Develops action research networks of
practitioners for the promotion of
professionalism.
 Political Purposes for Action
Research

• Promoting social change with a focus

on economic and social justice through
collective efforts to increase
educational opportunities for all
constituents. Typical issues addressed
are: gender, class, cultural equity and
voice in education.
 Types of Action Research
• Participatory Action Research :- Emphasizes that
participants should be members of the community being
studied, empowering those directly affected by outcomes
of said research. In this method, participants are effectively
co-researchers with their lived experiences considered
formative to the research process.
• Example :- As part of an ongoing commitment to improve
school facilities for students with disabilities, an action
research plan asked students using wheelchairs to time
how long it took them to get to and from various points on
school grounds. After the information was collected, the
students were asked where they thought ramps or other
accessibility measures would be best utilized, and the
suggestions were sent to school administrators.
 Types of Action Research
• Practical Action Research :- Focuses more on how
research is conducted and is designed to address and
solve specific issues.
• Example :- Science teachers at your city’s high school
have been witnessing a year-over-year decline in
standardized test scores in chemistry. In seeking the
source of this issue, they studied how concepts are
taught in depth, focusing on the methods, tools, and
approaches used by each teacher. They found that
there had been no change in how chemistry was
taught in the last decade—with no incorporation of
more modernized teaching approaches or useful
online tools. Teachers resolved to implement more
modern
Both techniques
types in their
of action are moreteaching to increasing
focused on see if thatthe capacity and ability of future
could improve
practitioners scores.
than contributing to a theoretical body of knowledge.
 Action Research Models
• Operational (Technical) Action Research :- is
usually visualized like a spiral following a series of
steps , such as
“Planning Acting Observing Reflecting”

• Collaboration Action Research :- is more

community based , focused on building a network
of similar individuals (e.g., college professor in a
given geographic area) and compiling learnings
from iterated feedback cycles.
• Critical Reflection Action Research :- Serves to
contextualize systemic processes that are already
ongoing (e.g., working retroactively to analyze
existing school systems by questioning why certain
 Benefits of Action Research
• Addressing Social Issues: Action research can be used to
address pressing social issues such as poverty, inequality,
discrimination, and environmental degradation. By
engaging stakeholders and implementing practical
interventions, action research contributes to positive social
change.
• Community Empowerment: Action research empowers
communities to identify and address their own needs and
challenges. By involving community members as active
participants in the research process, it promotes
empowerment, self-reliance, and collective action.
• Improving Services and Programs: In fields such as
education, healthcare, and social services, action research
can lead to the improvement of services and programs. By
systematically evaluating existing practices and
implementing evidence-based interventions, action
research helps enhance the quality and effectiveness of
 Benefits of Action Research
• Promoting Equity and Inclusion: Action research can
contribute to promoting equity and inclusion by
addressing systemic barriers and inequalities. By focusing
on the experiences and perspectives of marginalized
groups, action research can inform policies and practices
that promote fairness, diversity, and social justice.
• Building Collaborative Partnerships: Action research
fosters collaborative partnerships between researchers,
practitioners, policymakers, and community members. By
bringing together diverse stakeholders, it promotes
dialogue, collaboration, and shared decision-making,
leading to more effective solutions to complex social
problems.
• Strengthening Democracy: Action research contributes to
strengthening democratic processes by promoting citizen
participation and engagement. By involving individuals and
communities in decision-making processes, it enhances
democratic values such as transparency, accountability,
 Benefits of Action Research
• Generating Knowledge for Social Change: Action
research generates knowledge that is relevant,
contextualized, and actionable for addressing social
challenges. By combining rigorous research
methods with practical interventions, it produces
insights and solutions that can inform policy
development, advocacy efforts, and community
organizing.
• Catalyzing Innovation: Action research fosters
innovation by encouraging experimentation,
adaptation, and learning. By creating spaces for
creativity and experimentation, it enables the
development of innovative approaches to
addressing social problems and improving societal
outcomes.
 Action Research inappropriate use
• To drive an unpopular policy
• Experiments with different solution
without thinking very carefully the
soundness and ethics
• Manipulate employes
• Try to bring together a difunctional
groups
• Bolster a flogging career
 Action Research-Steps

• There are many frameworks of action research but they generally follow the
similar process of four phases:-
• Planning

• Action

• Analysis

• Conclusion
 Action Research-Steps
Phase 1 – Planning
• Inquiry
• Research Question
• Literature Review
• Design
• Determine data collection method
• Consider ethical issues
• Obtain required permissions
• Create deadlines
• Layout
 Action Research-Steps
Phase 2 – Action
• Data Collection
• Qualitative
• Observations

• Artifacts

• Interviews

• Quantitative
• Survey

• Performance data
 Action Research-Steps
Phase 3 – Analysis
• Organizing data through Graphs
and trend analysis to have initial
idea
• Analyze data to reach finding of
research
• Conclusion is made based on
findings
 Action Research-Steps
Phase 4 – Conclusion
• Writing of the findings

• Sharing with world through

publications and reflect in your
own practices

• Identify new inquiry and give

future guidance of research
 Effects of Action Research in Supply
Chain
• Enhanced Problem-Solving : By involving all relevant stakeholders in identifying and
addressing issues, it ensures that solutions are comprehensive and practical.
This collective effort leads to more effective and innovative problem-solving
capabilities.
• Continuous Improvement : The iterative nature of action research aligns well with
continuous improvement philosophies. By refine processes, enhance efficiency, and eliminate waste.
This cycle leads to sustained repeatedly planning, acting, observing, and reflecting, supply chains
can continuously performance improvements over time.
• Increased Stakeholder Engagement and Empowerment : Action research actively involves
stakeholders at all levels, including suppliers, logistics providers, and internal teams. This
participation increases buy-in and commitment to the implemented changes. Empowered
stakeholders are more likely to support and sustain improvements, fostering a culture of
collaboration and shared responsibility.
• Improved Communication and Collaboration : Regular interaction and feedback loops inherent
in action research enhance communication and collaboration across the supply chain. Stakeholders
develop a better understanding of each other's needs and constraints, leading to more coordinated
and cohesive operations.
 Effects of Action Research in Supply
• Adaptability and Flexibility :
Chain
The iterative process of action research makes supply
chains more adaptable and responsive to change. As new challenges and opportunities arise,
supply chains can quickly test and implement solutions, maintaining resilience and
competitiveness in dynamic markets.
• Innovation and Knowledge Generation : Action research encourages experimentation
and innovation. Through its cycles, it generates valuable insights and practical knowledge
that can be shared across the organization and industry. This continuous learning process
drives innovation, leading to new and improved practices in supply chain management.
• Enhanced Customer Satisfaction : By focusing on problem-solving and continuous
improvement, action research can lead to more reliable and efficient supply chains.
Improved performance metrics, such as faster delivery times and higher order accuracy,
directly contribute to enhanced customer satisfaction and loyalty.
• Cost Reduction : Through iterative refinement of processes, action research can identify
and eliminate inefficiencies, leading to significant cost savings. This includes reducing
inventory holding costs, minimizing waste, and optimizing logistics and transportation costs.
 Practical Examples in SCM
• Inventory Optimization :
 Problem : Excess inventory leading to high holding costs.
 Intervention : Implement a Just-In-Time (JIT) inventory system.
 Observation : Monitor inventory levels, stockouts, and ordering costs.
 Reflection : Analyze data and stakeholder feedback to determine JIT
effectiveness.
 Iteration : Adjust reorder points and supplier schedules based on findings.
• Supplier Relationship Management :
 Problem : Poor supplier performance affecting production timelines.
 Intervention : Introduce a supplier performance evaluation and feedback
system.
 Observation : Track supplier performance metrics and feedback.
 Reflection : Discuss with suppliers and internal teams to understand
issues.
 Iteration : Modify evaluation criteria and feedback processes to
 Difference between Fundamental and Action
Research
Ser No Fundamental Action
1. Expert Researcher Any Practitioner
2. Theory Building Day to Day practice based
3. Addition of new knowledge Solution of practical problem
4. Long Duration Short Duration
5. Complex and rigid research design Simple and flexible design
6. Hypotheses formulated on the basis of literature Hypotheses formulated on the basis of observation

7. Random sample is drawn Incidental Sample

8. Standardized tools used Teacher made tools used
9. More infrastructure and finance needed No much finance and infrastructure needed
10. Results are generalizable Results are not generalizable
11. Evaluation by Experts Evaluation by Practitioner
 Difference between Action Research and Applied
Research
Ser Action Research Applied Research
1 Action research focuses on solving specific problems within a Applied research looks at practical application of theories
specific setting
2. Action research involves collaboration between researchers and Applied research is typically conducted by researchers alone
practitioners
3. Action research is iterative, meaning it involves a cycle of Applied research follows a more linear process
planning, action, observation and reflection
4. In Action research, the researcher actively participates in the In applied research , researcher maintains a more objective and
research process detached role
5. Action research aims to bring about change and improvement Applied research aims to provide insights and knowledge in a
particular field
6. Action research is often used in education and social sciences Applied research is commonly seen in fields such as engineering
and medicine
7. Action research is typically conducted within the context of a Applied research can have broader applications
specific organization
8. Action research tends to involves smaller sample size and more Applied research involves larger sample sizes and quantitative
qualitative data data
9. Action Research emphasizes the practical implementation of Applied research focuses on contributing to existing knowledge
research findings and understanding