Action Research: An appropriate design for research in nursing?

Abstract

Action research is currently a fashionable research design for investigating nursing. This paper examines some of the reasons for this recent interest and discusses some of the issues surrounding the use of this research approach within the British National Health Service which at present is undergoing major organisational change. The use of action research to reduce the theory/practice gap is explored and the role of the researcher undertaking action research in nursing considered. The paper concludes that an action research design may not be the least problematic or the most appropriate design for the investigation of nursing and that the decision to use such an approach will depend upon a number of variables. © 1994, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.