Abstract
This paper outlines a general 2-loop model of action research in order to account for two important facets of action research that traditional cycle models do not explicitly account for. One facet concerns the interplay between the processes of action research (ie diagnosing, action planning, acting, evaluating, and learning) on one hand, and their conceptual outcomes (ie the perceived real world situation, the theoretical understanding, and the observed organizational response) on the other. The second facet concerns the dynamic exchange of knowledge between the world theory and the world of practice. Both types of knowledge are necessary, but none of them are sufficient to shape the result of an action research project. We argue that the dialectic between these two worlds manifests itself in a certain point which we call “the moment of truth”, where the theoretical understanding is challenged by practical facts, and where practice is scrutinized by theoretical knowledge. We believe that by acknowledging these facets, it is possible to enhance the quality of action research.