The tradition of action research is particularly optimistic
about this research/practice dichotomy. In a
seminal paper, William Whyte relates three case
studies in which an action research approach yielded
research that was both “scientifically legitimate and
highly useful to practitioners” (Whyte, 1989). In one
example, researchers were hired to explore possibilities
for changes in ship design that would lead to
better living and working environments for crew
members. The research wound up being quite successful,
and the results were replicated to other
shipping companies and maritime nations. Notable
in this case was the concrete, empirical evidence of
improvement that was assembled by the
researchers