Participatory Action Research (PAR) is defined as a process of education, research, and action where the line between researcher and the researched is blurred, opening the door to community involvement in addressing the issue. (Brydon-Miller, 1997, p. 658) This type of research is usually used for marginalized communities to address inequities and challenges that they face. I wish to open the door to discussion on the broader application of this methodology in a wider variety of communities that face common issues such as colleges.
College communities face numerous social and functional issues that often get written off as a part of the college experience. I would like to see applications of PAR in a way that allows students to come together and participate in solutions for those issues. This could be in the form of holding town hall meetings where students can present problems and vote on actions to be taken to solve them. This would have to occur continually over the process of the solution constantly changing and adapting through continues dialogue. (Chevalier & Buckles, 2019, p. 315) By regularly reevaluating the issue you can keep heading down an efficient route towards a solution.
Using the Socratic Wheel method I think that a community-based PAR intervention could be very feasible. (Chevalier & Buckles, 2019, pp. 138-139) The Socratic Wheel is a very flexible and easy to implement method used to address simple and complex issues. Using this method participants can easily understand several different variables related to the issue and easily adapt to challenges. It is also useful to visualize the progress of research and action. Through continued dialogue users can branch out and tackle specific variables relating to the primary problem. Even if the problem becomes more complex than previously thought it simplifies it allowing for proper action.
I believe that change does happen within organizations, but people often lack the structure to cause that change. Using PAR in colleges, schools, and institutions can help initiate that change. What other methods would you recommend in those settings? Are there any other settings that you would like to see PAR applied to? It is discussions like these that open the doors for people to see paths towards solutions and creating group unity towards solving issues in itself can help mend damaged communities.
References
Brydon-Miller, M. (1997). Participatory Action Research: Psychology and Social Change. Journal of Social Issues, 657-666.
Chevalier, J. M., & Buckles, D. J. (2019). Participatory Action Research: Theory and Methods for Engaged Inquiry. Abingdon: Routledge.
I think this approach to issues in colleges could very well be successful. Mosty importantly, this approach uses people who are directly affected by these issues, so their involvment is pertinent. However, according to Baum, et al. in the article Participatory Action Research, there is are dilemmas that can arise, especially because of the “messy” nature of PAR. Because of this, it is less likely to attract competitive research funding and acceptance of PAR as a legitimate research methodology in the way that funding bodies and universities judge research performance (Baum, et al.). For example, most public health academic units rearchers suitability according to the number of peer reviewed articles and the ability for researchers to promote change within their communities in rarely taken into account as of now. However, the global research community is already being urged to adapt its grant assessment methods and its assessment of research performance to ensure ensure the processes of PAR are valued and encouraged (Baum, et al.)
References
Baum F., Macdougall C., Smith D., (Oct. 2006) Participatory Action Research, NIH National Library of Medicine, Nov 24, 2024