Why a Methodology for Practice-Oriented Research Is a Necessary Heresy

In the last few decades, practice-oriented research has become important in society, as well as in the social, policy, and management sciences. However, having been developed to a large extent during the second half of the last century, existing research methodology bears the marks of science in an ivory tower, focusing on knowledge for knowledge's sake. This book argues that this shift in the context of discovery needs a follow-up in the context of justification. What's more, the book explains the need to develop a methodology for the contexts of discovery and implementation, and for addressing ethical validity in designing and evaluating practice-oriented research. Contrary to conventional wisdom, a focus on practice-oriented research can be reconciled with the task of building theories in science.