Action research involves building knowledge as innovations are occurring; police officers and community agencies study what they do while they are doing it and use the information, as it comes in, to modify and improve what they do. Some resist research because they believe that it is a substitute for action. Others mistakenly believe that research must always be done by outsiders and that evaluations by police themselves are believable only if the outcomes are negative. Research on police interventions in family crises exemplifies the importance of matching criteria to goals. Police agencies should also conduct exploratory research regarding the impacts of new interventions. When police participate in action research, they gain new perspectives on the problem being studied and have a sense of ownership of the information. In addition, researchers can work with teams of community members and police officers. 9 references