Is design-based research the same as action research? If they are different, what are some of the differences?

No, they are not the same. When action research is conducted, the educator, such as a teacher or administrator is both researcher and teacher, whereas a design-based study involves a partnership between researchers and practitioners. "The partnership in design-based research recognises that teachers are usually too busy and often ill trained to conduct rigorous research" (Anderson & Shattuck, 2012, p. 17). It is also recognised that teachers working in the real world of classrooms are essential for a study's validity. Furthermore, design-based research doesn't exclusively on a local need, as would be the case with action research. Design-based research also attempts to contribute to theories that are applicable to a variety of settings.