Correspondence: Mohamed Fawzy Afify, School of Management, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 1483 686378; Fax +44 (0) 1483 689511; E-mail: m.afify@surrey.ac.uk

¹is an assistant lecturer at Faculty of Tourism and Hotels, Menoufia University, in Egypt, having previously worked in Egyptian hotel resort properties. He is currently studying for his PhD at the University of Surrey. His study into the implementation of continuous improvement in foodservice operations has adopted an action research approach.

Received 12 December 2007; Revised 12 December 2007.

Abstract

 This paper discusses action research (AR) as a research methodology. AR attempts to solve problems and bring about change. AR can be regarded as a marriage between 'Theory' and 'Praxis', requiring collaboration between researchers and practitioners. This paper reviews AR and some methodological issues associated with it. The status of AR in hospitality industry and some reported AR studies are examined.