Correct Answer:
C. To improve practices through systematic change
The primary goal of Action Research is to address and solve practical problems within a specific context, leading to immediate improvements in practices. It is a cyclical process involving planning, acting, observing, and reflecting. Thus, "To improve practices through systematic change" accurately captures its essence. Option A, "To develop new theories," is characteristic of basic or fundamental research. Option B, "To observe natural phenomena," describes observational studies. Option D, "To conduct experiments in laboratories," while a research method, doesn't encompass the real-world, improvement-focused nature of action research, which often occurs in applied settings.