Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Potential of (Participatory) Action Research for School Leaders, Local Policy Makers, and University-Based Researchers

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Complementary Research Methods for Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

Abstract

This chapter provides school leaders, local policymakers (e.g. school board members, superintendents, and elected leaders), and novice researchers with a broad introduction to Action Research (AR) and Participatory Action Research (PAR). It discusses the origins and theoretical underpinnings of AR and PAR, presents one commonly used AR/PAR process, and provides recommendations about how novice scholars can engage in AR/PAR. Three critical aspects of AR/PAR are explored: shared ownership, community-based analysis, and an orientation toward action. Overall, we argue that AR/PAR is a unique and accessible methodological approach and that school leaders, local policymakers, and novice researchers should feel confident in engaging in it with communities that seek change.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    All details of this project can be found at www.researchforempowerment.com/burned/

References

  • Berman, M. (1981). The reenchantment of the world. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bourke, L. (2009). Reflections on doing participatory research in health: Participation, method and power. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 12(5), 457–474.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Call-Cummings, M. (2015). Exploring the intersections and implications of pedagogies of empowerment and critical PAR through youth research on racism in schools (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from Proquest Dissertations and Theses Global (3737223).

    Google Scholar 

  • Call-Cummings, M. (2017). Establishing communicative validity: Discovering theory through practice. Qualitative Inquiry, 23(3), 192–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cammarota, J., & Romero, A. (2011). Participatory action research for high school students: Transforming policy, practice, and the personal with social justice education. Educational Policy, 25(3), 488–506.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carr, W., & Kemmis, S. (1986). Becoming critical: Education, knowledge and action research. London: Falmer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Curry, M. W. (2012). In pursuit of reciprocity: Researchers, teachers, and school reformers engaged in collaborative analysis of video records. Theory Into Practice, 51(2), 91–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dodson, L., & Schmalzbauer, L. (2005). Poor mothers and habits of hiding: Participatory methods in poverty research. Journal of Marriage and Family, 67(4), 949–959. https://doi.org/10.2307/3600249.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, J., & Adelman, C. (1973). Supporting teachers’ research in the classroom. New Era, 54(9), 210–215.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fals-Borda, O. (2001). Participatory (action) research in social theory: Origins and challenges. In P. Reason & H. Bradbury (Eds.), Handbook of action research: Participative inquiry and practice (pp. 27–37). London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fals Borda, O., & Rahman, M. A. (1991). Action and knowledge: Breaking the monopoly with participatory action-research. New York: Apex Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Fine, M., & Torre, M. E. (2006). Intimate details: Participatory action research in prison. Action Research, 4(3), 253–269. https://doi.org/10.1177/1476750306066801.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fine, M., Torre, M. E., Boudin, K., Bowen, I., Clark, J., Hylton, D., & Upegui, D. (2004). Participatory action research: From within and beyond prison bars. In L. Weis & M. Fine (Eds.), Working method: Research and social justice (pp. 95–120). New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foucault, M. (1980). Power/knowledge: Selected interviews and other writings (pp. 1972–1977). New York: Pantheon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freire, P. (1970). Pedagogy of the oppressed. New York: Herder and Herder.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freire, P. (1974). Education for critical consciousness. New York: Seabury.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freire, P. (1982). Creating alternative research methods: Learning to do it by doing it. In B. Hall, A. Gillette, & R. Tandon (Eds.), Creating knowledge: A monopoly? Participatory research in development (pp. 29–37). New Delhi: Participatory Research Network Series 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaventa, J. (1991). Toward a knowledge democracy: Viewpoints on participatory research in North America. In O. Fals-Borda & M. A. Rahman (Eds.), Action and knowledge: Breaking the monopoly with participatory action-research (pp. 121–131). New York: Apex Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Glassman, M., Erdem, G., & Bartholomew, M. (2013). Action research and its history as an adult education movement for social change. Adult Education Quarterly, 63(3), 272–288. https://doi.org/10.1177/0741713612471418.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Habermas, J. (1979). Legitimation crisis in the modem society. Communication and the evolution of society. Boston: Beacon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kemmis, S., & McTaggart, R. (2005). Communicative action and the public sphere. The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research, 3, 559–603.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knapp, M. S. (2016). The practice of designing qualitative research on educational leadership: Notes for emerging scholars and practitioner-scholars. Journal of Research on Leadership Education, 12(1), 26–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levin, M. (1999). Action research paradigms. In D. J. Greenwood (Ed.), Dialogues on work and innovation: Action research: From practice to writing in an international action research development program (pp. 25–38). Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Lind, C. (2008). Knowledge development with adolescents in a PAR process. Educational Action Research, 16(2), 221–233.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ponic, P., Reid, C., & Frisby, W. (2010). Cultivating the power of partnerships in feminist participatory action research in women’s health. Nursing Inquiry, 17(4), 324–335. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1800.2010.00506.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reinharz, S. (1979/1984). On becoming a social scientist: From survey research and participant observation to experiential analysis. New Brunswick: Transaction Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Santos, D. (2015). (Participatory) action research and the political realm. In B. Dennis, L. Carspecken, & P. F. Carspecken (Eds.), Qualitative research. A reader in philosophy, core concepts, and practice (pp. 492–514). New York: Peter Lang.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sohng, S. (1996). Participatory research and community organizing. The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare, 23(4), 77–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stark, J. L. (2014). The potential of Deweyan-inspired action research. Education and Culture, 30(2), 87–101. https://doi.org/10.1353/eac.2014.0013.

  • Stoudt, B. G. (2007). The co-construction of knowledge in “safe spaces”: Reflecting on politics and power in participatory action research. Children Youth and Environments, 17(2), 280–297.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, C. (1999). Photovoice: A participatory action research strategy applied to women’s health. Journal of Women’s Health, 8(2), 185–192. https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.1999.8.185.

  • Winter, R. (1998). Finding a voice – Thinking with others: A conception of action research. Educational Action Research, 6(1), 53–68. https://doi.org/10.1080/09650799800200052.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Education, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA

    Meagan Call-Cummings & Melissa Hauber-Özer

Authors
  1. Meagan Call-Cummings
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Melissa Hauber-Özer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Meagan Call-Cummings .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Education, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA

    Chad R. Lochmiller

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Call-Cummings, M., Hauber-Özer, M. (2018). The Potential of (Participatory) Action Research for School Leaders, Local Policy Makers, and University-Based Researchers. In: Lochmiller, C. (eds) Complementary Research Methods for Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93539-3_7

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93539-3_7

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-93538-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-93539-3

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation