Definition of DAR

From Dar

Towards a definition : What do we mean by DAR?

It's all about trying to improve a situation or solve a problem in an online environment through understanding how these relatively new forms of community work. We cannot do this effectively as outsiders, only by being a part of the communities we research ( participatory research). So it's the application of Action Research methodology to settings where groups of people just happen to live and work through computer mediated communications (CMCs) while geographically distributed.

In brief perhaps: "The application of Action Research methodology to facilitate distributed communities of practice"

Related subjects include:

Action Research
Communities of Practice
Online facilitation
Knowledge Management
Internet Research
Community Informatics