Methods for Participatory and Action Research

About This Course

This course on Participatory Action Research (PAR) introduces students to a generative and effective methodology of social scientific research specifically designed for effective impact. PAR emphasizes collaborative knowledge production, where community members and other stakeholders actively participate in every stage of the research process—from evidence gathering to analysis. By focusing on applied solutions to real-world problems generateed through cycles of reflexive inquiry, PAR offers actionable knowledge that serves and empowers the communities involved. Students will learn how to facilitate collective research efforts, ensuring that findings are relevant, inclusive, and geared towards enacting positive change within communities, institutions, or organizations. Additionally, PAR is particularly well suited in evaluating the outcomes of other research methods, and implementing effective interventions to complex and intricate problems.