Participatory research is an ideal theoretical framework for understanding the lives of teachers. While there is ample research on the experiences of teachers who work in diverse settings, most researchers have often described issues of diversity for new teachers. Far too often, researchers are not able to fully capture the difficult issues and…

Historically the voices of children in research have been silent. They are often seen as victims or beneficiaries of research rather than co-researchers or partners. This is beginning to change with growing awareness that involving children in the design, delivery and evaluation of services can make services more accessible to them and their…

Over the past decades, there have been a number of studies investigating the vocabulary strategies used by learners of Indo-European languages, especially English. However, studies of the strategies used by learners of non-Indo-European languages are rare. This classroom-based case study investigates the vocabulary learning strategies used by nine…

California Community Colleges face unique challenges and opportunities in serving the state's largest new majority students who are also the state's most at-risk students. These students are the primary driver of the new economy, however they arrive at college with significant educational and economic disadvantages (Woodlief, Thomas, & Orozco,…

A participatory action research project (a minieconomy) raised the following issues: unpredictability of outcomes, degree of control over the agenda, understanding of what is meant by "research," and the struggle to engage in systematic reflection during the experience. (SK)

Interviews, questionnaires, and workshops held in five Caribbean and five South Pacific countries examined how a research formation project brought together academic and grass-roots communities in an attempt to overcome the problems arising from the fact that much educational research is conducted about instead of by the people who are its…

Feminist research should be for, with, and by women. It is collaborative, acknowledges researcher subjectivity, explores the uniqueness of women's experience, and encourages recognition of how change might occur. (SK)

An action learning process in which medical directors planned and reflected on their own actions worked best when specific, time-limited actions were involved. Despite overlap between action research and action learning, they are clearly different. Action learning helps clinicians gain insights into their own work behavior. (SK)

Reviews the four basic principles of an ethical framework as outlined by the Code of Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans in light of the requirements of a participatory action research approach. Discusses the ethics of participatory action research in regard to care and concern. Argues that the ethics of morality and justice are…

A researcher's participatory research collaboration with indigenous teachers to develop culturally appropriate practices is used to reflect on the researcher's role as an "inside-outsider." Ways to develop appropriate practices in participatory research are addressed. (SK)

Parent-teacher action research (PTAR) empowers both groups to define their own problems and collaborate on solutions. Schools with PTAR teams have developed mutually respectful working relationships that can positively influence children's learning. (SK)

Ecologically sound tourism planning and policy require an empowering community participation. The participatory action research model helps a community gain understanding of its social reality, learn how to learn, initiate dialog, and discover new possibilities for addressing its situation. (SK)

This case study research is based on a 3-year project (1996-1999) in which Iowa State University Extension developed and implemented a long-term community development project based on strengthening social capital using participatory research. The results of this mapping were initially interpreted as indicating a high level of social capital, but…

Academically trained professionals who develop survey materials, collect data, and interview subjects in communities, acting as external experts, have traditionally conducted social research. The researchers then head back to their offices and institutes to interpret the results, which are seen and heard by academics in journals and at…

This article looks at participatory action research (PAR) as a means for a religious educator to unite scholarship and teaching with the purpose of building up community and moving toward social justice. A definition of this term is offered as well as short examples of how different religious educators have engaged in doing PAR in their respective…