Action Research: A Practical and Empowering Approach to Systemic Change
A hands-on introduction to Action Research, the foundation behind Columinity
I’ve been working on our product, Columinity, for a while now without fully realizing that its foundations are rooted in Action Research. It was Christiaan Verwijs who first pointed this out — and once he did, the connection became obvious. That insight sent me down a path of deeper exploration. I started reading more, especially Action Research: All You Need to Know by Jean McNiff, and took notes along the way.
This post is an overview of what I’ve learned. It captures the core ideas of Action Research, not just as a theory, but as a practical, empowering approach for teams who want to improve how they work. Since learning about Action Research, I’ve also gained hands-on experience using it at client engagements. I’ve included photos from those sessions to show what it can look like in practice. If you’re curious to learn more, check our other articles and materials:
- How to practice Action Research with Columinity?
- Action Research with Columinity — a workshop description
- Free download: Columinity Poster Package
Good to know: We offer facilitated Action Research workshops to help teams and organizations diagnose results, identify actionable improvements, and evaluate progress. Contact us (info@columinity.com) to explore the possibilities.
Why Action Research?
The traditional gap between theory and practice — between thinkers and doers — has grown. Action Research challenges this divide by affirming that everyone, not just academics, can create knowledge. Everyone is capable of making meaningful contributions to both practice and theory. Action Research empowers people to improve their work and lives, encourages learning, experimentation, and collaboration as the basis for improvement, and bridges the gap between research and practice.
Ordinary people can develop personal theories grounded in real-life experiences and shared through both actions and words. This approach democratizes knowledge production, making theory relevant again by rooting it in lived experience rather than detached expertise. These personal theories evolve, shaped by ongoing reflection, experimentation, and learning. When shared, they can spark new thinking in others and contribute to broader, collective improvement.
What Is Action Research?
Action Research is a practical, reflective process where practitioners investigate and improve their work. It’s not research on people, but research with and by people. It follows a continuous learning cycle — observe, reflect, act, evaluate, and adjust. It’s about improving what you do and understanding why it works (or doesn’t), driven by thoughtful questions that help you explore, learn, and move forward.
“Action Research is a practical, reflective process where practitioners investigate and improve their work. It’s not research on people, but research with and by people.”
The idea has been around for decades. Initially shaped in the 1940s by Kurt Lewin, Action Research was designed to connect theory and practical change. Since then, it has evolved into a widely used approach across sectors such as education, healthcare, business, government, and community development.
Unlike traditional research, Action Research recognizes that knowledge is created in the messy, real-world context of daily work — the “swampy lowlands” — not just in the detached “high grounds” of academia. It values lived experience and practical insight as valid sources of learning and change. This makes it especially powerful in complex or uncertain environments, where rigid methods often fall short. By staying close to actual practice, Action Research offers insights that are immediately useful and deeply relevant.
How Is Action Research Done?
Action Research is a cycle of learning by doing. You look at what’s happening, try something new, and learn from what changes. It’s practical and reflective at the same time. Rather than aiming for perfect solutions upfront, it encourages small, purposeful steps that build insight over time. This makes it especially useful in complex or uncertain situations, where action and learning need to go hand in hand.
A typical cycle includes:
- Observe and diagnose what’s happening in your practice.
- Reflect on what’s working and what’s not.
- Take action to improve something.
- Evaluate the results — what changed, what didn’t?
- Adapt your approach and keep learning.
Along the way, you collect evidence — data, conversations, experiences — and explain your thinking. You don’t need to prove you’re right; you need to show that you’re learning, adapting, and acting with care. While people may use different methods, the aim is the same: to improve practice through thoughtful, informed action.
Who Can Do Action Research?
Anyone can do Action Research. No exceptional credentials are needed — just curiosity, honesty, and a willingness to learn. What matters most is being close to the work and open to learning from it. Whether you’re part of a team, leading one, or supporting others, you can investigate your work and make meaningful improvements. Action Research isn’t reserved for academics or experts; it belongs to anyone who wants to understand what’s happening and take steps toward change.
In traditional research, outside researchers study a group from a distance — they observe, measure, and report, often without being involved in the day-to-day context. In contrast, Action Researchers are insiders: they are part of the system they’re trying to understand and improve. This insider perspective provides deeper insight and greater immediacy. It makes the knowledge created through Action Research more grounded, practical, and often more actionable.
“Action Researchers are insiders: they are part of the system they’re trying to understand and improve.”
When Action Research Makes Sense
Action Research can be done anytime, anywhere. It’s especially valuable when you want to improve something that matters — something that affects real people, real teams, or real outcomes. Whether the issue is subtle or systemic, Action Research gives you a way to explore it thoughtfully and take informed steps forward. It’s not about quick wins or surface-level fixes — it’s about digging deeper into what’s going on and trying approaches that are grounded in insight, not guesswork.
It’s also a powerful approach when you feel stuck between theory and practice — when frameworks, best practices, or standard tools fall short of your actual context. Action Research gives you a structured way to learn from your own experience and make adjustments based on what you discover. If you care about learning, not just performing, and want your team to grow through reflection and experimentation, this approach offers a clear path. It invites teams to make sense of their reality — and to shape it, one thoughtful step at a time.
“It’s a powerful approach when you feel stuck between theory and practice — when frameworks, best practices, or standard tools fall short of your actual context.”
Practice Action Research with Columinity
Action Research isn’t just a theory; it’s something teams can apply right away. That’s where Columinity comes in. Our platform helps teams collect meaningful input, uncover patterns in how they work, and reflect together on what to improve. It makes the Action Research cycle easier to start and easier to repeat. Teams don’t have to guess what’s working or rely on vague impressions; they can learn directly from their data.
Columinity is built around the core principles of Action Research: diagnosis, reflection, action, and evaluation. It surfaces clear signals, helps teams formulate hypotheses, and supports translating insight into practical steps. Teams stay close to what’s happening in their day-to-day context, while also developing a shared understanding of where they want to go next.
We’ve seen teams use Columinity to uncover blind spots, clarify goals, and create space for real improvement, without adding heavy process or overhead. It doesn’t replace the team’s thinking; it supports it. Whether you’re starting small or coordinating across an organization, Columinity keeps the Action Research cycle grounded, collaborative, and actionable.
“Teams use Columinity to uncover blind spots, clarify goals, and create space for real improvement, without adding heavy process or overhead.”
What’s Next?
If you’re curious to take the next step, we offer facilitated Action Research workshops to help teams and organizations diagnose results, identify actionable improvements, and evaluate progress. Just reach out at info@columinity.com, we’re happy to explore the possibilities with you.
That said, don’t let us be the bottleneck. If you feel ready, just get started! Simply by using Columinity and following the flow of the tool, you’re already putting Action Research into motion.
You can also download the free Columinity Poster Package to start using our materials and bring Action Research into your team or organization right away.
