(in Polish) Participatory Action Research – Challenging the Monopoly on Science 3700-ISSC-PAR-MON

The course is dedicated to Participatory Action Research (PAR) – an innovative model of scientific research that from its onset had a purpose to challenge the traditional limits of research in social sciences. It owes its origins to Action Research, a model proposed by the sociologist Kurt Lewin (1946), the ‘liberation pedagogy’ of Paolo Freire (1970), and certain branches of Marxism. Throughout the years, the ideology and methodology of PAR have evolved significantly, as researchers and activists worldwide sought to apply the model in solving various social issues. PAR necessarily combines research activities with practical activities, whose outcome creates material for scientific analysis. PAR is commonly understood as community-based research, in which academic researchers and community members collaborate on the basis of equity and commitment to shared goals. These shared goals are meant to serve the interests of a community rather than those of the academy. Empowerment and social transformation are thus seen as the universal objectives of PAR.
The course is designed for students of all levels who want to expand their knowledge on methodology in social sciences and who are interested in innovative approaches that integrate research with social activism. The course also focuses on the implementation of PAR in cross-cultural research, where the difference between academic (external) and community (internal) participants is most salient. A broad set of topics is included in the course program. It starts with the historical development of the model, which includes considering different types of PAR that have emerged during the last half of the century, such as Marxist (political) PAR, Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), and Participatory Learning and Action (PLA). The course proceeds with discussing the research methods associated with PAR, ethics in PAR and the most common challenges in practicing the model, including its ambivalent status in the contemporary Western academy. As PAR itself, the course has a transdisciplinary character, covering the application of the model in various fields of study. During the second semester, the course deals primarily with examples of the implementation of PAR in education, women’s and LGBTQ+ rights, ethnic minority rights, rural economy, cultural heritage, language, ecology, social work, and health.
Most of the classes are conducted in two modes – lecture and discussion. The lecture mode serves for the introduction of a new topic and is usually accompanied by a slide presentation. Lecture mode gives way to the discussion mode, during which students discuss the new topic with the course provider. There is no clear time frame for the use of both modes, as they can change each other during a class. Before each class, the students are given at least one reading assignment that helps to understand and exemplify a specific topic, providing additional material for discussion.
Active participation in class discussions constitutes an important component of students’ evaluation. Students are expected to share their thoughts on specific topics and practice critical thinking, which is an essential aspect of PAR. In the end of the course, students will have an in-class final exam.