Novice Action Researchers’ Theoretical Understanding and Practical Implementation of Action Research in eHealth

Action Research (AR) is increasingly used as a participatory approach in eHealth research. However, many researchers in the field are new to the approach and AR can differ from the methodological frameworks they are used to. It is unclear how eHealth researchers who are new to AR perceive the approach and whether they are able to implement it in their research. In this mixed-methods study, novices’ attitudes towards AR and their expectations about its risks and benefits were investigated. This was done in interactive workshops, followed by semi-structured interviews. In general, participants were positive about the approach, and were able to relate it to their research practices. Their perceptions of AR were in line with definitions of AR. Knowledge sharing was found to be an important factor in familiarizing them with AR, and a reflection on the methods used was included to help future projects structure such knowledge sharing.