Action research is a method of “enquiry into the self by the self.” (McNiff, J. 2002). From http://www.jeanmcniff.com/ar-booklet.asp
Jean McNiff, (2002) states, “A useful way to think about action research is that it is a strategy to help you live in a way that you feel is a good way. It helps you live out the things you believe in, and it enables you to give good reasons every step of the way.”
The method is to identify an aspect you want to investigate, plan an intervention, try out the plan, evaluate the results, reflect on them, and then identify the next step from the questions or problems generated by the last cycle. This is a life-learning process.