Download - Participatory Action Research An Introduction to a Research Approach Rachel Casey 19 June 2015
Presentation OverviewParticipatory Action Research = PAR
What is PAR?
What is PAR all about?
How does PAR happen?
What methods are used in PAR?
What are possible products of PAR?
What are the pros and cons to PAR?
How could PAR work for us?
What do you think?
Additional resources
Please ask questions anytime! Discussions are way more interesting than presentations!
What is Participatory Action Research? PAR is an approach to research that brings together
researchers and community members: To identify problems that the community faces
To empower community members to research and create solutions to those problems
To improve conditions in the community
What is PAR all about? PAR emphasizes collaboration between researchers and community
members Community members are partners in research, not subjects of research
Research focuses on questions that the community thinks are important to investigate
PAR focuses on creating social change The ultimate goal of research is meaningful change in the community
PAR works to empower community members through their participation in social action
How does PAR happen?
Plan
Act
Observe
Reflect
PAR uses a cyclical process Reflecting as a group on
how the research is going Planning the research
activities and next steps Acting out the planned
research activities Observing the collected
data and research process
What methods are used in PAR?
Surveys Observations Interviews Focus groups Community
meetings Photovoice
What are possible products of PAR?
PAR presents research findings in ways that will engage community members and other stakeholders and prompt social change:
Powerpoint or poster presentation
YouTube video or documentary
Art installation or exhibit
Theatrical production
Publication in an academic journal
Presentation at an academic or industry conference
Anything else the collaborators choose!
What are the pros and cons to PAR?
Pros Produces practical outcomes
Focus on positive change
Involves community participation
Cons Big commitment of time and effort
Research goals not always feasible
Process can be messy and take a long time
How could PAR work for us? Form a research team of interested community members
Research team members would meet on a regular basis
Research team members would receive training in research ethics and methods
Reflect and decide upon research question that is important to community
This conversation could happen with the research team or during a community meeting
Possible research question: What resources do reentering women need?
Plan a research approach that will answer that question
Possibilities include questionnaires, focus groups, and interviews
Collect data using the chosen research approach
Analyze the data to generate research findings
This could be a collective process or one that is delegated to the academic researcher
Share the research findings with community members and stakeholders
What do you think?
What other information would you like to have about PAR?
What do you like about PAR? What do you dislike about PAR?
Do you think PAR might work for our group? Why or why not?
What concerns do you have about PAR?
Additional ResourcesKeep learning about PAR on your own by checking out these links
https://participaction.wordpress.com/
http://www.svfreenyc.org/research_factsheet_119.html
http://www.academia.edu/3563840/Participatory_Action_Research
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2566051/
http://www.qualitative-research.net/index.php/fqs/article/view/1801/3334