The term “action research” was coined around 1944 by the social psychologist Kurt Lewin. Lewin strongly believed that research in the social sciences must serve social practice, arguing that “Research that produces nothing but books will not suffice”.
Action research (AR) is fundamentally a form of social science research that explicitly links theory and practice by having the researcher become a participant in the action rather than remaining an outside observer. Its goal is to contribute both to practical concerns in an immediate problematic situation and to the goals of social science through joint collaboration within an agreed ethical framework.
The core concept is that you cannot fully understand a system until you try to change it. Therefore, the process of change itself becomes the subject of research. This approach is favored for investigating social systems because these systems are closely interrelated and complex, requiring a holistic understanding.