A process model for action research in social policy

Action research is an ambitious methodology, as it simultaneously aims at producing change (action) and advancing knowledge (research). The chapter elaborates on the transformative potential that action research can bring to the field of social policy, shedding light on the intrinsic tension between these two objectives. Specifically, it outlines the sharp distinction in roles, expectations, and obligations that shall be established between the client (the policymaker) and researchers to ensure scientific rigor and the democratic policymaking process. Consistently, we advance a process model to i) elicit the key phases to conduct action research in social policy and ii) distinguish and preserve the roles and contribution of all actors involved in the research. We illustrate our process model in action through three informative case studies from the Italian social policy context, which illustrate the potential for replicability of our approach across different policy domains.