Insider participatory action research in disadvantaged post-industrial areas

Abstract

This article examines the authentic experience of those who live in a community categorized as disadvantaged as they enter into a radical action research process that entails them adopting a changed role while remaining community members and how they manage the tensions involved in this process. It explores, in their own words, the experience of these researchers as they encounter the struggle, conflict and often injustice inherent in the process of community regeneration and how these tensions are managed and sometimes resolved both within the community and within themselves. These Community Based Action Researchers (CBAR) have no formal research training but they bring a wealth of local knowledge, understanding and engagement that no amount of formal training could provide. These locally based researchers work in partnership with more formally trained researchers and professionals to utilise action research as an effective methodology for tackling the problems faced by the community.

Photovoice

“…C. Wang et al, 2004). Through a participatory framework, the process promotes dialogue and issue selection with the goal of engaging social change and action (Braithwaite, Cockwill, O’Neill, & Rebane, 2007; Gee & Payne-Sturges, 2004; Jack & Gilied, 2002; North, Hong, Suris, & Spitznagel, 2008; Shore, Tatum, & Vollmer, 1986; X. Wang, Gao, Shinfuku, Zhang, & Shen, 2000; Warheit, 1988).…”

Partnering for research: A critical discourse analysis

“…As Braithwaite et al (2007) remind us, there is a need at the outset to build relationships, overcome distrust and negotiate the insider-outsider dilemmas that are inherent in community-university research teams. They observe the community incredulity that the time spent writing up the research was valuable or beneficial for them.…”

Journeys into Inner/Outer Space: Reflections on the Methodological Challenges of Negotiating Insider/Outsider Status in International Educational Research

“…This affects how the research develops and how the two relate to each other. For example, in communities in which action research takes place by researchers who are normally insiders to those communities, participants might not accept the new insiders due to their changing roles from members of the community to researchers of that community (Braithwaite et al, 2007).…”

“…At worst, participants may feel threatened, exploited and misrepresented. The researcher is required to meet a set of expectations from the participants (Labaree, 2002), themselves and others (Braithwaite et al, 2007). Researchers are accountable for their representation of knowledge and realities as outcomes of the research process and, in their role as insiders and/or outsiders, they are equally at risk of being accused of portraying inaccurate representations.…”