You are here

Participatory Action Research
Share
Share

Participatory Action Research



November 2007 | 104 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
Participatory Action Research (PAR) introduces a method that is ideal for researchers who are committed to co-developing research programs with people rather than for people. The book provides a history of this technique, its various strands, and the underlying tenets that guide most projects. It then draws on two PAR projects that highlight three integral dimensions: the meaning of participation; the way action manifests itself; and the strategies for gathering, analyzing, and disseminating information.

Author Alice McIntyre describes the various ways in which PAR is carried out depending on, for example, the issue under investigation, the site of the project, the project participants, people's access to resources, and other related issues.

Intended Audience: This resource is an ideal supplement for graduate courses PAR, qualitative research, and various types of action-based research.

 
Preface/Acknowledgements
 
Introduction
 
Participatory Action Research
 
Participation: What It Means, How It Works
 
Action and Change in Participatory Action Research
 
What Constitutes ‘Research’ in Participatory Action Research?
 
Concluding Reflections
 
References

the book was accessible and covered the topic in a way that my students could grasp

Professor Kristen Leslie
Pastoral Studies Dept, Eden Theological Seminary
October 11, 2021

Comprehensive overview which is easily accessible for students and provides clear guidelines for those wishing to embark on PAR.

Dr Samantha Leonard
Department of Development Studies, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
September 17, 2015

This is the book I use to help students come to understand what real interaction with subjects in a research study can be like. It is one of the first books they read, and it starts the class off on a very good foundation.

Professor James Robert Bitter
Human Dev Learning Dept, East Tennessee State Univ
September 12, 2014

Although McIntyre's book is brief, it does cover many of the fundamentals of Participatory Action Research. It complements other literature such as Kindon et al (2007) and Cammarota and Fine (2008) and offers an accessible introduction to the research approach.

McIntyre locates much of her theory in the lived experiences of those she has researched alongside in Northern Ireland and elsewhere, giving the book an 'authentic' dimension.

I will be recommending this book to my undergraduate students as recommended reading for their module 'Enquiring about Education'.

Mr Jonathan Vincent
Education Studies, York St John University College
March 5, 2014

An excellent book on a relatively new, and certainly refreshing area of social care research.

Gavin Millar
Family and Community Studies, Anglia Ruskin University
November 4, 2013

An inspiring book for the students doing action research together with people involved.

Mrs D. Eijk
Instituut voor ecologische pedagogiek, Hogeschool Utrecht
February 26, 2013

Short, but comprehensive book on PAR

Dr Jeff Rose
Parks Recreation Tourism Dept, University of Utah
January 4, 2013

This book is currently being used to explore the form of action research, PAR in great detail. The text is approachable and comprehensive.

Dr Kelly Conn
College of Professional Studies, Northeastern University
April 8, 2011

Clear and succinct account of PAR

Professor Antony Bryant
Dept of Information Management, Leeds Metropolitan University
March 22, 2011
Key features
  • Covers important questions in collaborative research:
    • What does it mean to participate?
    • Who gets heard?
    • How is knowledge created?
    • What values are implied in one's research?
    • What ethical and practical dilemmas does one face in the field?
    • What do we do with new conceptions of knowledge?
    • How can people empower themselves?
  • Emphasizes ethical issues in participatory studies.
  • Includes full examples and visual aids to help readers grasp complex issues related to Participatory Action Research.

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 1

Chapter 2


Sage College Publishing

You can purchase or sample this product on our Sage College Publishing site:

Go To College Site

This title is also available on SAGE Research Methods, the ultimate digital methods library. If your library doesn’t have access, ask your librarian to start a trial.