Action research and action researchers: some introductory considerations

Action research has become increasingly acceptable as a legitimate methodology with which to research nursing; the term 'action research', however, now covers a range of approaches to strategic intervention and action theory generation. The reasons behind the 'rise' of action research, the differing approaches the term covers and the common characteristics of these approaches are described and their implications for action researchers discussed. The nature of the action theories that action research aims to surface/generate and validate is also discussed.