The term action research was coined by the social psychologist Kurt Lewin in the 1940s to describe a particular kind of research that united the experimental approach of social science with programs of social action to address social problems. Lewin's research aimed to promote social action through democratic decision-making and active participation of practitioners in the research process (Kember & Kelly, 1994, p. 2). Kemmis and McTaggart (1998) defined action research as: < a form of collective self-reflective enquiry undertaken by participants in social situations in order to improve the rationality and justice of their own social or educational practices, as well as their understanding of these practices and the situations in which these practices are carried out ... In education, action research has been employed in school based curriculum development, professional development, school improvements programs and systems planning and policy development. (p. 5) >

Dick (1999) described action research as a family of research methodologies which pursue action ( or change) and research ( or understanding) at the same time. In most of its forms it does this by using a cyclic or spiral process. Thus, action research is an emergent process, which takes shape as understanding increases; it is an iterative process, which converges towards a better understanding of what happens.