Introduction

Participatory Action Research (PAR)[1] is a research approach that focuses on the co-creation of knowledge between researchers and community members. This approach allows teams to address issues directly relevant to the community. Community members are involved throughout all aspects of the research, such as identifying the research question, collecting data, analyzing data, and developing action-based solutions. PAR values community driven expertise and perspectives, with a goal to create sustainable solutions that address the root causes of community defined concerns. PAR is commonly used in field such as a healthcare, education, social services, and community development, which makes it a beneficial approach for nonprofits to further the impact of their work.

The Benefits of PAR in Nonprofits

The use of PAR in nonprofit settings is an advantageous opportunity to empower community members as active participants in the research process. Unlike traditional researcher led studies, PAR integrates the expertise of community members to address the needs and wants of their community by co-creating various aspects of the research. Leveraging these connections to ensure the work is rooted in community, fosters a more inclusive and effective approach to drive improvements. There is a spectrum of community engagement within PAR[2], but by involving members in all stages from identifying relevant research questions to designing tailored recruitment instruments, PAR promotes trust, collective ownership of data, and overall sustainability of the work. In alignment with many nonprofit commitments to equity, PAR is a way to ensure marginalized voices are prioritized and promotes social justice throughout your work. Ultimately, PAR empowers your organization to formulate actionable community-driven outcomes with long-term meaningful impacts.

PAR Best Practices

There are a variety of steps in which Nonprofit leaders can engage community in Participatory Action Research.

1. Strategy One: Stakeholder Identification and Mapping 

The first step of involving community within the research, is to gather input from various stakeholders through community meetings, workshops, or informal conversations. These sessions can help identify key individuals or groups who are affected by the issue at hand. This is also a way to ensure the proposed research is in fact an area of concern or curiosity for the community. These initial conversations support your organization’s ability to develop trust and rapport within the community. Mapping[3] is another tool that allows your nonprofit organization to build a visual picture of stakeholders, relationships between key players, and levels of influence within the community.

2. Strategy Two: Co-Designing Research Objectives and Methods 

Involving community members in defining research objectives ensures that research priorities align with community needs and concerns. Similarly, co-designing data collection tools such as surveys and interviews to ensure the tools are culturally relevant, accessible, and appropriate to the community. Developing an iterative feedback system allows your nonprofit organization to continuously adapt methods to community needs and capacities.

3. Strategy Three: Collaborative Data Collection and Analysis 

Utilizing participatory data collection methods by involving community members in various aspects of data collection activities is crucial. Compensating members to conduct interviews and facilitate focus groups is an example of how to do this. Employing participatory data analysis practices such as holding regular feedback sessions[4] to validate data and clarify research findings ensures that conclusions accurately reflect community perspectives and experiences. Similarly, these workgroups serve as a space in which community members and researchers can collaborate to interpret data and create accessible deliverables that enhance community understanding and ownership of the data.

4. Strategy Four: Knowledge Co-Creation and Action Planning 

Closely tied to participatory data analysis, creating spaces to review research findings for the purpose of developing actionable plans is another way to engage community members. Organizing action planning workshops[5] is a way in which your nonprofit organization can collectively identify priorities, set goals, define strategies, and allocate responsibilities.

5. Strategy Five: Sustaining Engagement and Capacity Building 

Building community capacity for continued participation and leadership ensures the outcomes are relevant, impactful, and sustainable. Supporting the community in exploring mechanisms for combined data ownership, capacity expansion opportunities, or alternative funding sources are all great, but empowering community members to actively participate in decision-making and processes ensures the work of your nonprofit remains long after your team is present.

Conclusion

Nonprofit organizations can effectively involve communities in Participatory Action Research (PAR) in several ways. Engaging stakeholders in the initial stages through workshops and community meetings creates space to identify those most affected by the research topic and ensures the research aligns closely with community priorities. Early work that is centered around trust and rapport building is key to the work. Similar, co-designing research objectives, methods, and instruments ensures relevance and responsiveness to local community needs. An iterative community involvement process that promotes transparency and upholds ethical standards fosters a greater sense of community ownership of the research outcomes. In data collection and data analysis practices, it is important for nonprofits to involve community members to ensure findings accurately reflect community perspectives and experiences. This process not only validates the data but also empowers community members by involving them in interpretation of results that will ultimately inform decision-making. Co-creating actionable plans and building capacity through knowledge and resources, ensures the identified next steps address community needs and there is a process in place to support the sustainability and long-term impact of your organization’s PAR efforts. 

Take Away

Effective engagement of communities in Participatory Action Research (PAR) ensures research outcomes are relevant, impactful, and sustainable. In doing so, nonprofit organizations create opportunities in which to enhance program effectiveness through local knowledge, sustainable and trusting relationships, and ultimately increases the organizations impact and legacy within the community it serves.

[1] Vaughn, L. M., & Jacquez, F. Participatory Research Methods – Choice Points in the Research Process. Journal of Participatory Research Methods, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.35844/001c.13244

[2] Gonzalez, R. The Spectrum of Community Engagement to Ownership. Facilitating Power: https://movementstrategy.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/The-Spectrum-of-Community-Engagement-to-Ownership.pdf

[3] Community Research Collaborative. Power Mapping for PAR Teams. CRC: https://communityresearchcollaborative.org/power-mapping-for-par-teams/

[4] Kallos, A. What You Need to Know About Member Checking. Eval Academy: https://www.evalacademy.com/articles/what-you-need-to-know-about-member-checking#:~:text=In%20essence%2C%20member%20checking%20is,participant%20said%20during%20data%20collection

[5] FEMA’s Continuous Improvement Technical Assistance Program (CITAP). Action Planning Workshop Guide. FEMA: https://preptoolkit.fema.gov/documents/d/cip-citap/action_planning_workshop_guide-august_2023_f?download=true