Participatory Action Research

Joeliza V. Gerona
Ph. D. Soc. Sci. Student
WVSU
 Participatory Action Research
A participatory, democratic process concerned
with developing practical knowing in the pursuit
of worthwhile human purposes, grounded in a
participatory worldview [and bringing] together
action and reflection, theory and practice, in
participation with others in the pursuit of
practical solutions to issues of pressing concern
to people, and more generally the flourishing of
individual persons and communities (Reason &
Bradbury, 2001).
 Participatory Action Research

It is about jointly producing knowledge

with others to produce critical
interpretations and readings of the world,
which are accessible, understandable to all
those involved and actionable (Paul
Chatterton, Duncan Fuller & Paul
Routledge, 2007).
 Participatory Action Research

Participatory action research is a form of

action research in which professional social
researchers operate as full collaborators
with members of organizations in studying
and transforming those organizations. It is
an ongoing organizational learning process,
a research approach that emphasizes co-
learning, participation and organizational
transformation (Greenwood et al, 1993).
 Participatory Action Research

It is a form of action research

in which professional social
researchers operate as full
collaborators in studying and
transforming those
organizations.
 Participatory Action Research

It is an ongoing organizational
learning process, a research
approach that emphasizes co-
learning, participation and
organizational transformation
(Greenwood, et. al., 1993)
 Participatory Action Research

It is an attribute of action research in

which the problem is determined by
the people who believe and feel that
the problem in the local setting and
the solution to the problem is within
the same setting without intention of
generalizing its results.
 Characteristics of Participatory
Action Research
1. People-oriented
2. Community involvement
3. Group-research
4. Big crowd
5. Political involvement
 Participatory and Coventional
Research: A Comparison Process
Participatory Conventional
Understanding
What is the research
Action perhaps with action
for?
later
Institution, personal
Who is the research
Local people and professional
for?
interest
Whose knowledge
Local people's Scientists'
counts?
Funding priorities,
Topic choice institutional
Local people's
influence by? agendas, and
professional interest
Disciplinary
Methodology chosen Empowerment,
conventions,
for? mutual learning
objectivity and truth
 Participatory Conventional
Problem
Local people Researcher
identification
Data collection Local people Researcher
Disciplinary
Local concepts and
Interpretation concepts and
frameworks
frameworks
Analyses Local people Researcher
By researchers to
Presentation of Locally accessible
other academics
findings and useful
and funding body
Integral to the Separate and may
Action on findings
process not happen
Local people
Who takes action? with/without Externl agencies
external support
Who owns the
Shared The researcher
results?
What is
Process Outcomes
emphasized?
Framework of Participatory Action
Research
1. Identification of the problem and
community
2. Statement of the goals/objectives
3. Identification of participant
4. Organization of the research team
5. Establishment of Timetable
Framework of Participatory Action
Research
6. Conduct of the participatory action
research project
7. Evaluation of results
8. Interpretation of results
9. Implications/recommendations
10. Implementation
 Advantages of Participatory
Action Research
1. Research participants increases their
knowledge and ideas as well as valid
analysis of social reality, thus, more
relevant solutions are achieved.
 Advantages of Participatory
Action Research
2. Both researchers and subjects of the
study gain more from the research
process when the researchers attain
greater sensitivity and self-awareness
of the problem.
 Advantages of Participatory
Action Research
3. The subject of the study gain trust and
self-confidence at their own rate and
resources to improve their conditions.
4. Good relationships can be developed
among the research team, research
participants and people in the community.
 Advantages of Participatory
Action Research
5. Humanistic approach is enhanced
through involvement of everyone in
solving social problems.
 Disadvantages of Participatory
Action Research
1. It is time consuming because it takes time
to involve many people in conducting
research.
2. It is difficult to gather people and manage
to attend the general assembly due to large
number of people involved.
 Disadvantages of Participatory
Action Research
3. When the research team backout while the
research process is going on, a new team
is created therefore you have to start all
over again.
4. The research team may use their power to
personal needs and most of the benefits go
to them.
 Disadvantages of Participatory
Action Research
5. Politicians who get involved in the
research process may use traditional
techniques and the said technique may
prevail.
6. Abuse of discretion by research may be
practiced due to too much trust and
confidence by the research participants and
subjects of the study to them and they do
not check and balance their activities.
 Disadvantages of Participatory
Action Research
7. With full people's participation, factors
such as experiences, educational
qualifications, socio-economic status,
knowledge, abilities and skills will affect
the benefit of the participants. The less
experience, knowledge, abilities and skills
one has in participating, the less one
benefits from the system.
 References
Baum, F., MacDougall, C., & Smith, D. (2006). Participatory action
research. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 60 (10),
854-857. Retrieved from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2566051/
Bergold, Jarg & Thomas, Stefan (2012). Participatory Research
Methods: A Methodological Approach in Motion. Forum:
Qualitative Social Research, 13 (1). Retrieved from http://nbn-
resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs1201302.
Macdonald, C. (2012). Understanding participatory action research: A
qualitative research methodology option. The Canadian Journal of
Action Research, 13 (2). Retrieved from
http://journals.nipissingu.ca/index.php/cjar/article/view/37
Participatory action research and organizational change. Retrieved from
https://participaction.wordpress.com/
 "The challenge for PAR researchers
who are serious about social change is to
think through how to effectively provoke
action by research that engages, that
reframes social issues theoretically, that
nudges those in power, that feeds
organizing campaigns, and that motivates
audiences to change both the way they
think and how they act in the world."
(Cahill & Elana Torre, 2007).