Participatory Action Research

Overall this volume should be valuable for readers . . . demonstrates the practical and theoretical advantages of incorporating participatory action research in the social science tool kit. --Agricultural Systems "I recommend this book for researchers, and I also suggest that it be considered seriously by persons grappling with philosophy of social issues." --Journal of Marketing Research "We have a book that deals with a potential revolution in the way organization science is done. . . . The last third of the book, dealing with PAR in agriculture, is of great value. . . . This is a formidable challenge for any of us to take on, but many useful and practical tips are scattered throughout the book, in chapters appropriately written by academics, managers, a union leader, and government administrators. Thus, the message of PAR is embodied in the structure of the book. It is a message we should heed." --Journal of Management "Provides a rich set of insights into the intricacies and challenges encountered in research in applied settings with an agenda toward action." --International Journal of Nursing Studies Participatory Action Research (PAR) is a powerful research tool that unites the work of researcher and client to improve both the topic researched and the research findings themselves. Yet, despite the fact that various forms of PAR have been practiced for decades, no single resource existed that detailed this practical research method. Now, in Participatory Action Research, a distinguished team of contributors takes you step-by-step through this research technique, from the initial design of a project, through data gathering and analysis, to final conclusions and actions arising out of the research. Contributors thoroughly outline the theory and methods behind PAR, weigh its strengths and weaknesses, then present a series of case studies taken both from organizational and agricultural settings. Organizational researchers and consultants, managers, sociologists, or anyone engaged in qualitative or applied research will find Participatory Action Research an invaluable tool.

William Foote Whyte, a sociology professor known for his work with urban gangs, died July 16. He was eighty-six. A 1936 graduate of Swarthmore, he earned a PhD in sociology from the University of Chicago. He began teaching on the Hill in 1948 as one of the first ILR professors. The title of his autobiography, Participant Observer, reflects his approach to academia--that a researcher can be a positive force for social change. "If there is a common theme in my work, it is my commitment to social exploration," he wrote. "Fieldwork fascinates me. I want to explain what is out there." Whyte, who became an emeritus professor in 1979, published twenty books, including the ground-breaking Street Corner Society, a 1943 study of Italian gangs in Boston′s North End. He is survived by his wife of sixty-two years, Kathleen King Whyte, four children, twelve grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.