There is a continuum which ranges from the barest contact to a situation where the clients do the research for themselves and without assistance. It may be useful to identify some points on this continuum. This will indicate the range of choices open to the action researcher. One way of describing the continuum is by distinguishing non-involvement, representation, and participation. In non-involvement , the researcher does it all.
Representation uses a small group of people.
They speak on behalf of a larger number. Participation implies that all stakeholders are involved, or at least are given a chance to be involved. Clearly, though, there are many levels of involvement for those who are representatives or participants. They may be involved only in some shallow information exchange. At the other extreme they may do the research themselves, without outside help.