A typology proposal for action research

Abstract: This article is a theoretical essay that provides thoughts on action research and its application in the field of educational research, with special attention to that produced in Science Education. It shows the multiple facets assumed by research studies linking action and research, and, furthermore, questions the vague and indiscriminate use of the term Action-Research. Based on a review of the literature, it presents a number of characteristics to define action-research projects, separating this modality from other possibilities. In addition, it proposes a matrix showing basic characteristics in order to more precisely define the different action-research modalities. The expectation is that this matrix will help students and young researchers, as well as more experienced researchers, in the theoretical-methodological classification of their research projects.