Participatory Action Research: Equitable Partnerships and Engaged Research

PAR aims to create a space for researcher and participants to co-produce knowledge and where relevant, action for change. PAR is considered as a research paradigm in itself, that embodies a particular set of concepts under which researchers operate (Minkler and Wallerstein 2008). These include respect for diversity, community strengths, reflection of cultural identities, power-sharing, and co-learning (Minkler 2000). In this session we will explore these principles, the cyclical approach to PAR and what this means in practice. Participants will be given the opportunity to learn terminology, understand participation in community engaged research, explore how power and positionality can change health outcomes in PAR, and learn about a variety of participatory methods and how they have been applied in different contexts, globally and within the UK. Participants will also be provided with the space to explore challenges they are facing in designing or implementing community engaged collaborative research within a discussion clinic forum.  

Brief Timetable

Day 1: The history of PAR and underpinning orientation.

• Planning and setting up a PAR project
• Skills required for a PAR study
• Ethical considerations specific to a PAR study
• Participatory research with children and young people
• Photovoice methodology
• Independent activity
• Group discussion  

Day 2: Doing co-analysis

• Participatory research methods (examples of other visual methods, social mapping, seasonal calendars and other non-visual methods but still participatory such as narratives and others that have been used)
• Participation and inclusion 
• Dissemination and writing for PAR projects – different approaches, narratives/thematic analysis, thesis, publications, policy briefs, blogs and others
• Group discussion on pre-workshop task 
• Advice clinic

Afternoon independent learning and practical exercises 

• Practical activities: 
• Day 1: Photovoice activity and reflections
• Day 2: Individual PAR project outline and feedback