RELATED RESOURCES
The second type of partnership that has been the focus of our work at the Beach Center has been partnerships between researchers and the potential beneficiaries of the research. We refer to this type of partnership as participatory action research. We define participatory action research as a process in which researchers and stakeholders collaborate to design and conduct all phases of research (e.g., formulating research questions, research design, data collection, data analysis, dissemination, and utilization). The ultimate goal is increasing the likelihood that the products resulting from research will solve the real, “on-the-street” problems that stakeholders experience.
Defines participatory action research (PAR) as a collaborative process between researchers and the people who are expected to benefit from the research, including family members of people with disabilities.
Provides an overview of participatory action research (PAR) from the point of view of traditionally underserved communities as well as researchers with an emphasis on strategies for building trusting partnerships.
Describes how a participatory action research (PAR) team composed of Parent to Parent leaders and researchers worked collaboratively to design, implement, and disseminate efficacy research on Parent to Parent programs.
Describes the participatory action research (PAR) effort between Pyramid Parent Training, a Community Parent Resource Center for families of children with disabilities in New Orleans and the Beach Center on Disability.
Provides empirical evidence of a connection between shared decision making and positive outcomes for both researchers and practitioners.
Describes lessons learned from the participatory action research partnership between the Beach Center on Disability and the Grassroots Consortium on Disabilities.