From action to theory building: an action research of rural social work practice in China

In recent years, action research has gradually been accepted by social work educators and practitioners in Mainland China. Some have tried integrating action research into social work education and practice. However, many people only learn the form but do not seriously uphold the spirit of action research and understand its mission of knowledge building. Therefore, this article first introduces the key elements of participatory action research (PAR) and then uses a PAR project of rural social work as an example to demonstrate how researchers collaborate with frontline practitioners and local villagers to co-create knowledge in pursuit of a practical solution to problems of rural development in post-reform China. Finally, the paper will conclude with a theory of rural-urban alliance which has been generated in the PAR process. I hope this article will become the text for dialogues within the social work action research community in Mainland China.