5. Action Research and Participatory Research
Cooperation with other stakeholders such as clients, patients, team members, administrators and service users is central to the action research process. Action research is participatory in nature. But participatory action research is not the same as action research.
The two methods have similarities and differences. To simplify the differences, action research focuses on the idea that improving the process improves the organization. Participatory action research relies on reflective practice of the researchers in action and unlike action research does not wait to apply new understandings to the next situation, but incorporates them into the ongoing process.