Participatory action Research is a collective self-reflective inquiry undertaken by participants in social relationships with one another to improve some condition or situation in which they are a part of (Berg and Lune 2017). Unique to this style of research is the stakeholders, usually known as participants, role in the research project. Considering the role of the stakeholder from a functionalist perspective it becomes obvious that participants affected by outcomes of a research project would serve as an Invaluable tool to a researcher. In participatory action research (PAR) projects stakeholders have a claim in the commitment to positive change resulting from their work with investigative researchers. Two goals intended in PAR: 1) to use research to discover information that is useful to a group of people, 2) to motivate people in the group to use the knowledge to empower themselves and the group. Collaborative in its approach, PAC takes on issues affecting people in communities and examines them to find solutions. A large part of this examination comes from accounts of the stakeholders and what they have experienced in their situation. The solutions are intended to be immediate or short-term goals aimed at specific problems. Traditional methods of data collection are too lengthy and provide only the perspective of the researcher. In PAR the language is reader friendly, and the process of action research consists of a few condensed phases. The first phase is Looking and involves the researchers’ observations of the situation, including identification of stake holders, their interests, and what their role has been in the matter. Thinking is the next phase where the researcher provides in an evaluation giving their perspective on the situation. With the help from stakeholders discussing their role and reflecting on what they have contributed to give inside information providing guidance as to what has worked or has not. The last phase is action to empower and enlighten stakeholders. The researcher uses the data collected to contrive possible avenues of action to take that will improve the situation. Change is directed toward introducing the most effective and appropriate actions to produce positive outcomes. Stakeholders are asked to participate in this process by assisting with an evaluation and then choosing the best plan for their community. Some major differences. With this method of research. Include. The use of focus groups. With PAR focus groups are used to brainstorm and define the research problem and not to collect data. The collection of data is open for researchers to decide and choose case by case. Stakeholders are active behind the scenes as consultants in the research design, also in the field working as guides and recruiters. Analyzing data is unique in the PAR process and its inclusion of stakeholders in the formulation of potential solutions. Providing clarity on information retrieved during the. Data collection process is the main focus of the stakeholder’s position using reflection in a focus group setting. There are two important areas for concern upon reporting findings. Any conclusion being drawn must include the stakeholder’s perception of the situation. If anyone in the study population is not in agreement with resulting analysis, this is a misrepresentation and does not offer any workable solutions to the community. For the collaboration to be successful, the researcher must do their best to keep all members up to date on all research activity. Unless the group of stakeholders is very small, it is impossible to include everyone on every event. It is the responsibility of the researcher to keep participants current on the studies progress. I find participatory action research Fascinating and would like to eventually move on to this method in the hopes to Improve our community at a local level. Issues like homelessness, education, and poverty can be combated from this type of research by gaining a better understanding of the root problem from the point of view of the people experiencing them daily.
Howard Lune, Bruce L. Berg (2017) Qualitative Research Methods for the Social Sciences 9th Edition (QRMSS), Pearson
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