Deck 11: Participatory Action Research

Question 1

Which of the following defining features is typically not associated with participatory action research?

A) Emancipatory
B) Critical
C) Experimental
D) Participatory

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Researchers who are committed to participatory action research are typically guided by what philosophical worldview?

A) Constructivism
B) Postpositivism
C) Pragmatism
D) Transformative

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Which of the following descriptions refers to the "emancipatory" nature of participatory action research?

A) PAR provides the foundation for addressing unjust constraints that are inherent in the social context within which people interact.
B) PAR supports participants in freeing themselves from the constraints of social injustices.
C) Those engaged in PAR are committed to examining relationships.
D) Those involved in PAR are engaged throughout the various research phases.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Which of the following steps is not included in the action research spiral?

A) Plan
B) Act and observe
C) Test
D) Reflect

Question 5

Which social psychologist provided the stimulus to action research movements within various academic disciplines?

A) Kurt Lewin
B) Robert Schinke
C) Sarah Oosman
D) Wendy Frisby

Question 6

Although the participatory action research process is often depicted as a neat spiral, what is a better way to conceptualize the process?

A) Constrained and restrictive process
B) Fluid and responsive process
C) Straight and linear process
D) Constrained and linear process

Question 7

In what way is theory typically not used in participatory action research?

A) As a guide for calling into question power imbalances
B) For helping to make sense of findings
C) To control participant involvement
D) For informing PAR practices

Question 8

What populations are typically not included in WEIRD samples?

A) Western
B) Educated
C) Indigenous
D) Rich

Question 9

Which of the following defining features make participatory action research a respectful approach for engaging underrepresented populations in research?

A) Collaborative
B) Reliable
C) Trustworthy
D) Valid

Question 10

What challenge associated with participatory action research has been described as being a particularly time-consuming (yet very important) process?

A) Ensuring ongoing participant collaboration
B) Establishing and nurturing relationships
C) Identifying various levels of action
D) Implementing meaningful action

Question 11

Which of the following descriptions refers to the "critical" nature of participatory action research?

A) PAR provides the foundation for addressing unjust constraints that are inherent in the social context within which people interact.
B) PAR supports participants in freeing themselves from the constraints of social injustices.
C) Those engaged in PAR are committed to examining relationships.
D) Those involved in PAR are engaged throughout the various research phases.

Question 12

A relativistic approach is useful for evaluating participatory action research. Which of the following has not been identified as a characterizing trait that can support researchers in judging the quality of research?

A) Community-driven
B) Prolonged engagement and consultation
C) Project deliverables
D) Revenue generating

Question 13

Which of the following descriptions represents participatory action research as a "social process"?

A) PAR provides the foundation for addressing unjust constraints that are inherent in the social context within which people interact
B) PAR supports participants in freeing themselves from the constraints of social injustices
C) Those engaged in PAR are committed to examining relationships
D) Those involved in PAR are engaged throughout the various research phases

Question 14

Kinesiology scholar Wendy Frisby from the University of British Columbia described a five-phase participatory action research process. Which of the following was not included as one of the five phases?

A) Setting the research questions
B) Building trust
C) Communicating results for action
D) Establishing a participatory plan

Question 15

Which of the following statements is not representative of the "action" within participatory action research?

A) Action can occur on various levels
B) Action can occur at the individual level
C) Action must occur at the broader societal level
D) Action can occur at the broader societal level

Question 16

Participatory action research emerged in response to a distrust of what type of research?

A) Postmodernist
B) Postpositivist
C) Modernist
D) Relativist

Question 17

Which of the following statements best represents the "communicating of results" that occurs within the five-phase participatory action research approach?

A) Communication takes place through a number of avenues including the writing of reports.
B) Communication takes place primarily through publication in peer-reviewed journals.
C) Communication to project funders is most important.
D) Communication takes place primarily through reports directed to community members.

Question 18

Which of the following theories naturally inform participatory action research by calling into question power imbalances that serve as the foundation of social injustices?

A) Feminist theory
B) Participatory theory
C) Social cognitive theory
D) Social ecological theory

Question 19

What type of study design is ideally suited for engaging underrepresented populations in research?

A) Participatory action research
B) Phenomenology
C) Qualitative description
D) Quasi-experimental study design

Question 20

Which of the following statements best represents the "reflexive" nature of participatory action research?

A) The process of transformation occurs through action and reflection by the general public.
B) The process of transformation occurs through cycles of action and reflection among and between all those involved.
C) The process of transformation occurs through immediate action and reflection among community members.
D) The process of transformation occurs through definitive action and reflection among researchers.

Question 21

Participatory action research emerged, in part, in response to a distrust of traditional postpositivist research.

Question 22

Participatory research approaches are irrelevant to research in kinesiology.

Question 23

Those committed to participatory action research typically have a commitment to social justice.

Question 24

Within participatory action research, research is conducted alongside or with participants, rather than on participants.

Question 25

Theory and practice are equally important within participatory action research.

Question 26

While community member participation is important within participatory action research, participants are not typically involved in identifying research questions and interpreting findings.

Question 27

For research to be defined as participatory action research, a study must be reflective of all seven defining features of participatory action research.

Question 28

Quantitative measures, such as surveys or questionnaires, might be used within participatory action research to acquire information from large groups of people.

Question 29

Two common study designs for carrying out participatory action research are the action research spiral and a five-phase participatory action research approach.

Question 30

Theory must not play a role in informing participatory action research practices.

Question 31

Within the context of participatory action research, what does the term "emancipatory" mean?

Question 32

What are the three general steps of the action research spiral?

Question 33

What are the phases of the five-phase participatory action research approach?

Question 34

What are two ways in which theory can be used within participatory action research?

Question 35

What are three inherent challenges of participatory action research?

Question 36

Kemmis and McTaggart (2008) described participatory action research as having seven key defining features. Identify and describe four of these defining features.

Question 37

How are processes of data generation identified within participatory action research, and what are three possible processes for generating data within participatory action research?

Question 38

What features of participatory action research make this type of study design a respectful approach for engaging populations that are typically underrepresented in kinesiology research? Please be sure to describe these features.