ABSTRACT
The aim of this chapter is to provide some insight into ways in which action research can contribute to the development of theory about the implementation of the NPM ideals. There are many forms of action research, so it is important to begin by saying what is meant by the term here. For readers who have encountered action research before, I emphasize that I am not concerned here with varieties of action research that are forms of self-development or organizational development such as those propounded by Eldon and Chisholm (1993), Reason and Bradbury (2000), Stringer (1996) and Whyte (1991). The promotion of ideological positions about participation and empowerment that is intrinsic to many of the latter approaches is also not pertinent to this chapter.
