Action research: Between methodological reconfigurations and challenges of scientificity

Abstract

The social sciences, by studying human interactions and the functioning of organizations, aim to produce knowledge useful for transforming reality. This article offers a critical, reflexive study based on an extensive review of theoretical literature, without period delimitation, drawing on general and disciplinary databases to identify the main currents of thought related to action research and to examine their scientific validity. Founded by Lewin and Collier in the 1940s, action research is distinguished by the direct involvement of the researcher and the active participation of social actors, prioritizing social transformation and the resolution of concrete problems over neutral and detached observation. The analysis pursues three objectives: to characterize the position of the researcher-actor, to demonstrate the methodological rigor inherent in this approach, and to assess its potential as an emerging paradigm. Faced with the uncertainties of fieldwork, action research establishes its scientific validity on four qualitative criteria: credibility, guaranteed by data triangulation and peer review; Transferability, supported by a detailed description of the contexts studied; the reliability of the analytical procedures; and confirmability, ensured by transparency regarding the researcher's stance. Structured around an iterative and cyclical approach, action research is establishing itself as an autonomous paradigm in the social sciences, particularly in management and education. The article, however, highlights certain limitations and calls for future work empirically testing these criteria.

Classification JEL: B41, C18, O35, Z13

Paper type: Theoretical Research