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Action Research, Inc. is an international, behavioral research and consulting firm dedicated to bridging the gap between scientific research and real world applications. We specialize in the application of the methods, statistical techniques, and research findings from behavioral science to a wide range of behaviors. Our diverse team of research professionals works closely with a range of clients to provide data-driven answers to research questions and to put these data into action.
The Name: Action Research
The company name is a tribute to the seminal work of Kurt Lewin in the early part of 20th century. Lewin is well-known in academic circles for his important scholarly contributions in the areas of field theory, group dynamics, group facilitation (T-groups), and ultimately, action research. Action research blends the scientific rigor and precision of academic research with an emphasis on real-world applications and practical use. As Lewin stated:
The research needed for social practice can best be characterized as research for social management or social engineering. It is a type of action-research…leading to social change. Research that produces nothing but books will not suffice
(Lewin, 1946). |
Lewin exemplified the Action Research approach in his work during WWII on troop morale, psychological warfare, and homeland efforts to reduce consumption of resources needed for the war effort. His work continued after the war in reducing intergroup and racial tensions through the Research Center for Group Dynamics at MIT (which he established) and the National Training Laboratories facilities for the Navy (which continues to operate today).
From Lewin’s work, we highlight three essential elements of applied research:
1. Draw heavily on the academic research base in psychology and related disciplines. As Lewin stated, “There is nothing so practical as a good theory.” For this reason, the lead staff at Action Research have extensive training in social and behavioral sciences, and they stay current on the theoretical and methodological developments in these fields.
2. B = f (P|E). Behavior is a function of the person in their particular environment. That is, in creating and conducting marketing and outreach, it is essential to recognize that efforts to promote change must consider both the psychological factors internal to the individual (attitudes, values, beliefs, motivations) and the environment in which the person operates (e.g., the physical environment and social environment). This principle is represented in our corporate logo.
3. Data and empirical methods are fundamental tools in any attempt to understand human behavior. This third principle highlights the process by which Action Research is conducted. Just as the theoretical models developed by academic scholars are tested through research, so too must the applied work using these theories be evaluated. Research is at the heart of applied work, and the staff at Action Research are trained in the latest and most sophisticated methods of measurement, methodology, and statistical analysis.
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