Participatory Practice Research and Action Research: Birds of a feather?

Abstract

ABSTRACTPractice Research is frequently discussed in connection with Action Research. Often questions like ‘What is the difference?’ are raised and confuses when discussing participatory methodological approaches. There are similarities between the two approaches – in ideology and in the aims and the practical approaches. There are however also differences which researchers and their partners must discuss as a part of the research project. The article will discuss similarities and differences through Participatory Practice Research and Participatory Action Research – and by placing the two approaches metaphorically in different trees with branches entangling each other. It is not possible to separate the two approaches totally. But it is possible to pinpoint the differences and thereby support the needed negotiations in the participatory research processes – and make it possible for researchers, practitioners and service users to use either one of them or both of them in an intentional rather than coincidental matter.