Reflective Teacher and Action Research: Linking Educational Practice with Living Theory

Action research is a unique method in the field of educational research in which practitioners with the idea of improvement, research in their learning environment. This paper tries to plan and review the relation between teacher educational practice and action research method applying based on theoretical correlation of this method with the approach of “living theory”. In this regard, the relation between teacher educational practice and the theories derived from his research thoughts in action research is explained using analytic-descriptive method. Revision of theoretical foundations and methodological features of action research, conceptualization of teacher as reflective practitioner in living theory approach, and emphasis on the relation between action research and educational practice based on teacher theory are described. The findings reveal that action research can be a unique method in humanities especially education and is the origin of educational theorizing of reflective teacher and consequently, linking educational practice with theory.