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Participatory action research in youth programming: A theory in use

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Abstract

Participatory Action Research (PAR) is a kind of research that involves participants in the research process and produces knowledge that is useful to service providers, program participants, and other professionals. This article describes an example of PAR conducted by a youth-adult team to evaluate a youth conference based on the philosophy of “youth empowerment.” How participants were included in shaping the research and how researchers collaborated with participants and staff of the program are examined, as well as the specific ways in which the evaluation produced knowledge that was used in the program.

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This research was made possible by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and Prevention Support Services of the Medical Foundation, Boston.

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Penuel, W.R., Freeman, T. Participatory action research in youth programming: A theory in use. Child Youth Care Forum 26, 175–185 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02589384

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