participatory action research

Philippine Normal UniversityCOLLEGE OF EDUCATION

Taft Avenue, Manila

2nd Semester, SY 2012-2013

ED 503: Research Methods and Scientific Writing2:00 – 5:00 PM, Saturdays, CED 203

Prof. Lolita H. Nava, Ph.D.

PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH AND

PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH

Reynante S. TagumM.A. in Education major in Guidance & Counseling

PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH

A collaborative process of research, education and action (Hall 1981) explicitly oriented towards social transformation (McTaggart 1997).

Involves researchers and participants working together to examine a problematic situation or action to change it for the better (Wadsworth 1998).

Participatory research has three key elements: people, power and praxis (Finn, 1994).

It is people-centered (Brown, 1985) in the sense that the process of critical inquiry is informed by and responds to the experiences and needs of people involved.

Participatory research is about power. Power is crucial to the construction of reality, language, meanings and rituals of truth; power functions in all knowledge and in every definition. Power is knowledge and knowledge creates truth and therefore power (Foucault, 1980).

Participatory research is also about praxis. It recognizes the inseparability of theory and practice and critical awareness of the personal-political dialectic.


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).

Is an attribute of action research in which the problem is determined by the people who believe and feel that the problem is really a 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 Researched

1. People-oriented 2. Community involvement3. Group-research4. Big crowd5. Political involvement

Participatory and conventional research: a comparison of process

Participatory research Conventional research

What is the research for? Action Understanding with perhaps action later

Who is the research for? Local people Institution, personal and professional interest

Whose knowledge counts? Local people's Scientists'

Topic choice influenced by? Local priorities Funding priorities, institutional agendas, professional interest

Methodology chosen for? Empowerment, mutual learning Disciplinary conventions. 'objectivity' and 'truth'

Who takes part in the stages of research process?

Problem identification Local people Researcher

Data collection Local people Researcher

Interpretation Local concepts and frameworks Disciplinary concepts and frameworks

Analysis Local people Researcher

Presentation of findings Locally accessible and useful By researcher to other academics or funding body

Action on findings Integral to the process Separate and may not happen

Who takes action? Local people, with/without external support External agencies

Who owns the results? Shared The researcher

What is emphasized Process Outcomes

Cyclical mode of PAR

Framework of Participatory Action Research

1. Identification of the problem and community 2. Statement of the goals/objectives3. Identification of participant4. Organization of the research team5. Establishment of timetable6. Conduct of the participatory action research project

Framework of Participatory Action Research

6. Conduct of the participatory action research project7. Evaluation of results8. Interpretation of the findings9. Implications / recommendations10. Implementation

Advantages of Participatory Action

Research

Advantages of PAR

1. Research participants increases their knowledge and ideas as well as valid analysis of social reality, thus, more relevant solutions are achieved.

Advantages of PAR

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 problems.

Advantages of PAR

3. The subject of the study gain trust and self-confidence at their own rate and resources to improve their conditions.

Advantages of PAR

4. Good relationship can be developed among the research team, research participants, and people in the community.

Advantages of PAR

5. Humanistic approach is enhanced through involvement of everyone in solving social problems.

Disadvantages of Participatory Action

Research

Disadvantages of PAR

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.


3. When the research team back-out 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.


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 team 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.


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 experiences, knowledge, abilities and skills one has in participating, the less one benefits from the system.

Reference

Calmorin, Laurentina P. & Calmorin Melchor A. (2007). Research Methods and Thesis Writing. Rex Bookstore, Inc. Manila.

Kindon, S. L., Pain, R., & Kesby, M. (2007). Participatory action research approaches and methods: connecting people, participation and place. Routledge studies in human geography, 22. London: Routledge.

Sevilla, Consuelo G. et al. (1992). Research Methods. Rex Book Store, Inc. Quezon City.

Sommer R. & Sommer B. (2002). A Practical Guide to Behavioral Research. (5th edition) Oxford University Press.

Website

Action Research and Participation. Available at http://www.aral.com.au/resources/partic.html (accessed January 23, 2013).

Community Based Participatory Research. Available at http://www.cbpr.org/methods/cbpr/ (accessed January 31, 2013).

Participatory Action Research and Organizational Change. Available at http://participaction.wordpress.com/whatpar/defining-par/ (accessed January 23, 2013).

Participatory Research Methods: A Methodological Approach in Motion. Available at http://www.qualitative-research.net/index.php/fqs/article/view/1801/3334 (accessed January 23, 2013).

Participatory Research Approaches. Available at http://krishanagyanwali.blogspot.com/2011/06/participatory-research-approaches.html (accessed January 31, 2013).

What is participatory research? Available at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8746866 (accessed January 23, 2013).

Philippine Normal UniversityCOLLEGE OF EDUCATION

Taft Avenue, Manila

2nd Semester, SY 2012-2013

ED 503: Research Methods and Scientific Writing2:00 – 5:00 PM, Saturdays, CED 203

Prof. Lolita H. Nava, Ph.D.

PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH AND


Reynante S. TagumM.A. in Education major in Guidance & Counseling