Further Reading

Further reading links to supplement your studies.

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The following books provide a range of examples of different forms of PAR:

  • Park et al. (1993) begins with a foreword by Paulo Freire, one of the world’s experts on participative research as a vehicle for personal and political transformation. Cases referenced here are drawn from the North American experience and address the relationships between power and knowledge, research methods and social action. An appendix identifies key organizations that promote participatory research.
    Park, P. (1993) ‘What is participatory research? A theoretical and methodological perspective’, in P. Park and M. Brydon-Miller, B. Hall and T. Jackson (eds) Voices for Change: Participatory Research in the U.S. and Canada. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, pp. 1–20.
  • Reason and Bradbury’s (2001) comprehensive collection of articles on action approaches to social science is directed at an academic audience. It is divided into four sections that address theories and methods of participatory research as well as the application of these approaches and the skills necessary for implementation. It also explores the role of universities in action research.
    Reason, P. and Bradbury, H. (eds) (2001) Handbook of Action Research: Participative Inquiry and Practice. London: Sage.
  • Kindon et al. (2007) is an inventive and comprehensive edited collection on participatory action research that includes a mixture of honest and critical reflection along with case studies from around the world. Chapters are relatively short and they are written in a highly accessible manner. There is also a clear emphasis on space and place, and a range of practical advice on the application of PAR in geography.
    Kindon, S., Pain, R. and Kesby, M. (eds) (2007) Connecting People, Participation and Place: Participatory Action Research Approaches and Methods. London: Routledge.
  • Percy-Smith and Thomas (2010) provides an excellent review of some of the most recent theories and practices around children’s participation in decision-making within family and community settings around the world and in a wide variety of circumstances. Besides including many different case studies, the book incorporates critical reflection on the part of young people and adults with the aim of better addressing challenges and improving participatory practices. The book concludes with new theoretical perspectives on how best to promote children and youth as active citizens.
    Percy-Smith, B.  and Thomas, N. (2010) (eds) A Handbook of Children and Young People’s Participation: Perspectives from Theory and Practice. London: Routledge.
  • Burke and Jones (2014) focus on the prescient ideas and practices generated by British educator, architect and social anarchist, Colin Ward. Much of this work concerns the everyday involvement of children and youth in their own learning and the transformation and improvement of their living environments. Written from a cross-disciplinary perspective, each chapter takes the principles and practices promoted by Ward and presents historical and contemporary examples of their application.
    Burke, C. and Jones, K. (eds) (2014) Education, Childhood and Anarchism. London: Routledge.

Online Resources