Introducing Participatory Approaches to Research

1. Introducing Participatory Approaches to Research ERSH 7400 Kathy Roulston The University of Georgia

2. Participatory research • Origins in liberation theology and neo-Marxist approaches to community development • Features • Shared ownership of research projects • Community-based analysis of research problems • Orientation towards community actions

3. “Action technologies” • Action research • Action-reflection learning • Action science • Collaborative inquiry • Participatory action research • Popular education (Watkins& Brooks, 1994)

4. Action research Focus on problem solving Involves • Formation of groups who define problems in own settings • Group reflection on problems • Data collection • Group analysis and feedback • Group designed intervention to solve problem

5. Classroom action research • Qualitative, interpretive modes of research by teacher-researchers • Sites & settings: Typically schools • Critiques: Privileging of “teachers’ knowledge;” lack of theoretical input

6. Action reflection learning Focus on learning how to learn while acting • Focus on real problems in peoples’ lives & work • Introduction of “stranger’s” perspectives to provide input to understanding problems • Participant learning to solve real organizational problems

7. Popular education • Basis in Freire’s work • Social change is seen as essential to solving problems

8. Sites & settings • Third world countries, urban & rural poor • Developed countries: community development • Education, social work, health care, natural resource management, urban planning • Critiques: confusion between research and social activism; politically motivated “outsiders”

9. Other approaches • Soft systems approaches • External management consultants • Industrial action research - Democratizing of workplace