質性研究中，參與式行動研究是晚近興起且漸流行的研究方法，其研究重視合作、教育及行動，期待引起社會改變。參與式行動研究適合用來解決專業社群的實務問題，其應用於護理始於1980年代，此研究法之崛起，主因實證知識與理論對實務問題的解決有限。本文針對參與式行動研究的特質與分類、其認識論主張，此研究法為何可產生實踐的效力以及應用此研究法的實作策略進行文獻整理，並就台灣護理專業應用此研究法的現況進行評論；期望護理學人能深入了解此研究法，發展能解決護理實務問題的在地知識。

Participatory action research is an innovative qualitative research method, focusing on collaboration, education and action. The goal of participatory action research is to initiate social change. Participatory action research is an appropriate method to resolve practical problems. In the 1980s, the method was adopted in nursing profession due to the
failure of translating evidence based knowledge and its application from theory to practice. This article describes the characteristics and the category of participatory action research, the epistemology and the power effect of the research and the guideline for doing the research. Moreover, comment of the research methods applied in Taiwan nursing
profession was also provided. By well recognizing and applying participatory action research, nursing professionals can develop powerful local knowledge to deal with practice problems.