This paper provides a needed viewpoint discussion on Participatory Action Research's (PAR) foundations. It allows for reflections on how PAR enables the investigation of social issues and takes action to bring about social change.
What are the conceptual foundations of Participatory Action Research (PAR)? This article aims to review some of PAR's cornerstones as a research approach. It will first briefly describe PAR and consider this approach's particular features. The paper will then explore some foundations of this approach to research.
The aim of PAR is to systematically collect and analyse data to take action and make a change by generating practical knowledge. However, PAR as an approach to research has philosophical roots. There is a need to reflect on its foundation, and it reflects on how practice.
This paper discusses the foundations of PAR, seeking to bring academics, researchers, community organisations and practitioners closer to this approach's way of thinking. As PAR becomes more used, reflecting on its origins and importance to research and knowledge production is key.
