Ebook: Participatory Activist Research in the Globalised World: Social Change Through the Cultural Professions

Action research was conceived as a method of collaborative, self-reflective problem-solving in a community context. Yet many believe it has evolved too far away from its original, directly activist roots. As a direct response to calls for a rejuvenation of the social agenda of ‘action research’, this volume provides an all-inclusive road map to generating and implementing politically active grass-roots research activities. It is a priceless practical guide for the newly minted researcher wanting to make a tangible difference in their profession and in the world. Where some action research models have been criticized for losing focus on the participatory and social justice roots of this type of research, this book puts social justice activism squarely center stage, guiding the researcher through the theoretical, methodological and practical considerations and constraints of developing, implementing and sustaining research in the cultural professions.

Lcating and contextualizing the history and theory of action research, critical theory and other related methodologies and concepts, this volume takes the reader on a journey that begins with the formation of a question, puzzle or research idea right through to the publication of a report on your finished project. Including discrete sections on every stage in the process, from generating a social justice activism agenda, through forming a team and empowering participants, to ensuring the implementation of your agenda and publishing and disseminating your work. Engaging their readers with a fresh acronym, PA^tR—Participatory Activist Research—the authors give fresh impetus to those looking for a systematic way to understand and shape practice in their daily work, their profession and their world.

This is an outstanding book that represents a critical research process sorely needed in the academy today. Any researcher interested in making an intervention into the egregious social conditions wrought by neoliberal capitalism would do well to read this book. An important contribution to the literature on research methodology.

Peter McLaren, Professor, School of Critical Studies in Education, University of Auckland

This is an outstanding book that represents a critical research process sorely needed in the academy today. Any researcher interested in making an intervention into the egregious social conditions wrought by neoliberal capitalism would do well to read this book. An important contribution to the literature on research methodology.

Peter McLaren, Professor, School of Critical Studies in Education, University of Auckland

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Action research was conceived as a method of collaborative, self-reflective problem-solving in a community context. Yet many believe it has evolved too far away from its original, directly activist roots. As a direct response to calls for a rejuvenation of the social agenda of ‘action research’, this volume provides an all-inclusive road map to generating and implementing politically active grass-roots research activities. It is a priceless practical guide for the newly minted researcher wanting to make a tangible difference in their profession and in the world. Where some action research models have been criticized for losing focus on the participatory and social justice roots of this type of research, this book puts social justice activism squarely center stage, guiding the researcher through the theoretical, methodological and practical considerations and constraints of developing, implementing and sustaining research in the cultural professions.

Locating and contextualizing the history and theory of action research, critical theory and other related methodologies and concepts, this volume takes the reader on a journey that begins with the formation of a question, puzzle or research idea right through to the publication of a report on your finished project. Including discrete sections on every stage in the process, from generating a social justice activism agenda, through forming a team and empowering participants, to ensuring the implementation of your agenda and publishing and disseminating your work. Engaging their readers with a fresh acronym, PA^tR—Participatory Activist Research—the authors give fresh impetus to those looking for a systematic way to understand and shape practice in their daily work, their profession and their world.

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Action research was conceived as a method of collaborative, self-reflective problem-solving in a community context. Yet many believe it has evolved too far away from its original, directly activist roots. As a direct response to calls for a rejuvenation of the social agenda of ‘action research’, this volume provides an all-inclusive road map to generating and implementing politically active grass-roots research activities. It is a priceless practical guide for the newly minted researcher wanting to make a tangible difference in their profession and in the world. Where some action research models have been criticized for losing focus on the participatory and social justice roots of this type of research, this book puts social justice activism squarely center stage, guiding the researcher through the theoretical, methodological and practical considerations and constraints of developing, implementing and sustaining research in the cultural professions.

Locating and contextualizing the history and theory of action research, critical theory and other related methodologies and concepts, this volume takes the reader on a journey that begins with the formation of a question, puzzle or research idea right through to the publication of a report on your finished project. Including discrete sections on every stage in the process, from generating a social justice activism agenda, through forming a team and empowering participants, to ensuring the implementation of your agenda and publishing and disseminating your work. Engaging their readers with a fresh acronym, PA^tR—Participatory Activist Research—the authors give fresh impetus to those looking for a systematic way to understand and shape practice in their daily work, their profession and their world.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xxiii
Front Matter....Pages 13-13
Introduction....Pages 1-12
Front Matter....Pages 13-13
Pasts, Presents and Futures: An Overview of the Action Research Family....Pages 15-32
Theoretical Orientations: Critical Theory and Related Theories for Activism....Pages 33-44
Where Do You Stand: Philosophical Orientations....Pages 45-58
Front Matter....Pages 59-59
Methodology of Activism in Research....Pages 61-72
Methods of Constructing Field Texts....Pages 73-103
Methods of Analysing Field Texts to Construct Research Texts....Pages 105-128
Front Matter....Pages 129-129
Difficulties, Limitations and Cautions....Pages 131-144
A Checklist for Activist Research(ers)....Pages 145-165
LEAPing into Youth Work: PAtR in a Cultural Profession....Pages 167-180
Activist Research in the Cultural Professions....Pages 181-192
Presenting Your Research for an Audience, or ‘Going Public’....Pages 193-221
Conclusion....Pages 223-224
Back Matter....Pages 225-238