Participatory Action Research Approach Research Articles

Essential Ecosystem Area Policies as a Means to Promote Participatory and Inclusive Conservation in Forest Landscape Governance: Centering Perspectives of Marginalized Women in Taman Kili-Kili, Indonesia

This study analyses dimensions of participatory forest landscape governance of the Essential Ecosystem Area (EEA) of Taman Kili-Kili, Indonesia. The voices of marginalized communities, and especially women, are rarely incorporated into forest landscape governance and conservation policies. The recently established Indonesian EEA policy mandates a participatory approach, with explicit requirements to involve marginalized groups and gendered perspectives. However, on a practical level, policy formulation and application unfold in very different ways. Using a Postcolonial Feminist Participatory Action Research (PFPAR) approach, we center local communities' power relations in our analysis as a specific means for drawing out various intersectional relations to conservation areas. The study found that local communities around EEA Taman Kili-Kili have a clear interest in participating in inclusive mangrove forest management models as they not only have the knowledge and capacity, outcomes significantly affect their lives and livelihoods. Findings suggest that the activism of local communities, specifically in the form of various women's gatherings, is reshaping policy milestones and opening up pathways towards gender and ecological justice.

Developing the pakisjajar community through a livestock compost processing

This research aims to assist the government in the development process which is centered on empowering village communities. The concept of participatory empowerment was adopted to increase village communities’ economic growth. This concept is applied in Pakisjajar Village, Malang Regency in the process of processing both (solid and liquid) cow waste into compost. This research uses a qualitative method with a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach. Researchers have a role as facilitators and are considered very important in developing the Pakisjajar village community. The development of a PAR approach model can help communities or organizations meet basic needs and become a tool to increase the income of the Pakisjajar village community in the long term.

Development of a person-centred care approach for persons with chronic multimorbidity in general practice by means of participatory action research.

The management of persons with multimorbidity challenges healthcare systems tailored to individual diseases. A person-centred care approach is advocated, in particular for persons with multimorbidity. The aim of this study was to describe the co-creation and piloting of a proactive, person-centred chronic care approach for persons with multimorbidity in general practice, including facilitators and challenges for successful implementation. A participatory action research (PAR) approach was applied in 13 general practices employing four subsequent co-creation cycles between 2019 and 2021. The target population included adults with ≥3 chronic conditions. Participating actors were general practitioners (GPs), practice nurses (PNs), patients (target group), the affiliated care cooperation, representatives of a health insurer and researchers. Each cycle consisted of a try-out period in practice and a reflective evaluation through focus groups with healthcare providers, interviews with patients and analyses of routine care data. In each cycle, facilitators, challenges and follow-up actions for the next cycle were identified. Work satisfaction among GPs and PNs was measured pre and at the end of the final co-creation cycle. Identified essential steps in the person-centred chronic care approach include (1) appropriate patient selection for (2) an extended person-centred consultation, and (3) personalised goalsetting and follow-up. Key facilitators included improved therapeutic relationships, enhanced work satisfaction for care providers, and patient appreciation of extended time with their GP. Deliberate task division and collaboration between GPs and PNs based on patient, local setting, and care personnel is required. Challenges and facilitators for implementation encompassed a prioritisation tool to support GPs appropriately who to invite first for extended consultations, appropriate remuneration and time to conduct extended consultations, training in delivering person-centred chronic care available for all general practice care providers and an electronic medical record system accommodating comprehensive information registration. A person-centred chronic care approach targeting patients with multimorbidity in general practice was developed and piloted in co-creation with stakeholders. More consultation time facilitated better understanding of persons' situations, their functioning, priorities and dilemma's, and positively impacted work satisfaction of care providers. Challenges need to be tackled before widespread implementation. Future evaluation on the quadruple aims is recommended.

Co-creation solutions and the three Co’s framework for applying Co-creation

PurposeA sense of collective free-thinking with tangible goals makes co-creation an enlightening experience. Yet despite the freedom and organic flow of the methodology, there remain barriers to deploying co-creation in the real-world context. The aim was to understand the barriers and solutions to co-creation, reflect on applying co-creation in practice and co-create an applicable framework for co-creation.Design/methodology/approachThese reflections and conceptual developments were completed using a Participatory Action Research Approach through the co-creation of the Erasmus+ funded Co-creating Welfare course.FindingsResults presented are centric to the experiences in the United Kingdom but led to application at an international level. Problem formulation led to solutions devised about who should co-create, what co-creation aims to achieve, how to receive management buy-in, co-creating beyond the local face to face context and evaluation.Originality/valueThe Three Co’s Framework is proposed using the outline of: Co-Define, Co-Design and Co-Refine. Those who take part in co-creation processes are recommended to be called co-creators, with less focus on “empowerment” and more about facilitating people to harness the power they already have. Utilising online and hybrid delivery methods can be more inclusive, especially in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The use of co-creation needs to be evaluated more moving forwards, as well as the output co-created.

We-Care-Well: exploring the personal recovery of mental health caregivers through Participatory Action Research.

Family caregivers play a critical role in supporting the recovery journeys of their loved ones, yet the recovery journeys of family caregivers have not been well-explored. Using a Participatory Action Research approach, we explore the personal recovery journeys of family caregivers for individuals with mental illness. This case study involved piloting and exploring the impact of a novel online workshop series offered to mental health caregivers at Ontario Shores Center for Mental Health Sciences. Recovery courses and workshops conventionally engage patients living with mental health conditions. In the current case, the recovery model is adapted to the needs and experiences of their family caregivers, resulting in a pilot workshop series called "We Care Well". Through participant-led discussions, interactive and take-home activities, and experiential learning, caregivers co-created workshop content and engaged in peer-learning on seven personal recovery-oriented topics. This included: self-care, resilience-building, non-violent communication, storytelling, and mental health advocacy. Throughout the sessions, participants implemented their learnings into their caregiving roles, and shared their experiences with the group to progress through their own recovery journeys. The We Care Well series was found to be an effective intervention to adapt and apply the personal recovery framework to mental health caregivers. PAR, and co-design are viable approaches to engage caregivers in mental health research, and can facilitate knowledge exchange, as well as relationship building with peers and program facilitators.

The RESPCCT Study: Community-led Development of a Person-Centered Instrument to Measure Health Equity in Perinatal Services

The RESPCCT Study: Community-led Development of a Person-Centered Instrument to Measure Health Equity in Perinatal Services

Ecoliteracy Sampah Pembalut Sekali Pakai pada Santri Pondok Pesantren Annuqayah Guluk-Guluk Sumenep

The modern community's alarming waste issue is single-use sanitary pads. Every day, 26 tons of sanitary pad waste are generated in Indonesia. Over a year, each person is estimated to produce 300 sanitary pad wastes, totaling around 11,000 wastes throughout their lifetime. In Islamic boarding schools (pesantren), this sanitary pad waste problem also needs immediate attention. At Annuqayah Islamic Boarding School, with a total of 3,468 female students, there is a potential of producing 1,040,400 single-use sanitary pad wastes annually. Hence, reducing sanitary pad waste is crucial. This community service activity aims to reduce single-use sanitary pad waste through minimizing their usage. The method employed in this activity was through the Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach, where students were encouraged to be more environmentally conscious and gradually abandon the use of single-use sanitary pads. The strategies involved in the activity include conducting Focus Group Discussions (FGD), Environmental Film Discussions, Environmental Seminars, training on making environmentally friendly sanitary pads, establishing an environmentally friendly sanitary pad production house, FGDs on policy formulation regarding the implementation of environmentally friendly sanitary pads, and mentoring on the implementation of environmentally friendly sanitary pads in the pesantren. The results of the community service show that this activity successfully increased students' awareness and concern for the environment, enhanced students' knowledge about single-use sanitary pads, provided life skills training on making environmentally friendly sanitary pads, established regulations prohibiting the use of single-use sanitary pads in the pesantren, and implemented the use of environmentally friendly sanitary pads at Annuqayah Islamic Boarding School

Social Engineering for Reducing Hypertension Case in Indonesia: a Qualitative Study in a Rural Area

Consuming foods with a large amount of salt is an unhealthy lifestyle that raises blood pressure. People currently love salty foods in Indonesia. One of district in Indonesia called Jeneponto referred to hypertension as Nai’ Cera. The Jeneponto community consumes more significant salty food higher than the provincial average for South Sulawesi. An intervention study was carried out to change the habit of consuming high salt, smoking and drinking coffee. This study is qualitative with participatory action research approach. The in-depth interviews and focused group discussion were addressed to twenty-two informants which involved in an intervention program. Social engineering became the key-point to socialize the importance of the program. Well-trained local people recruited as an agent of change. They followed the social engineering intervention and focused on what people need to reduce hypertension. The program raised awareness on hypertension towards their lives by educating as well as discussing on their risky habits on over consumptions fatty, sugar, salt substances. The successful behavior changes in this program comprised several keys to consider such as: the intervention locations, the closest relationship towards the agent, the agent as frontliner, sustainability of the program, and commitment of all components of intervention.

PELATIHAN BTQ MENGGUNAKAN METODE CARD SORT BAGI SANTRI RUMAH TAHFIZ FIISABILILLAH KOTA PADANG

This training aims to improve BTQ skills for students of the fiisabilillah tahfizh house. One method that helps in reading and writing the Qur'an (BTQ) is the Card Sort method. The Card Sort method is a method using a variety of cards that will later be filled with hijaiyyah letters and their letter lines. This is done because some students often forget and are less able to write hijaiyah letters that have been taught, and they feel bored and bored with learning using reading books so that some students like to walk around, chat, draw which is not in accordance with learning to read and write the Qur'an. The implementation of this training uses a qualitative method with a PAR (Participatory Action Research) approach and uses three main pillars namely research methodology, action dimension, participation dimension. The results of using the Card Sort method, students more easily understand and remember each hijaiyah letter along with the reading line and are able to write and pronounce each hijaiyah letters that has been explained. The implementation of this training also produces a good quality of basic understanding of hijaiyah letters because in the process students tend to be more focused in listening and paying attention to the direction of the teacher. In addition, students are more excited and active in the learning process of reading and writing the Alqur'an, because the hijaiyah card media used is very interesting and different from the use of reading books. Training using this method can also be used and implemented by Tahfizh Houses in other places, because the method is very easy to use and the media is very easy to find.

Sosialisasi Pencegahan Stunting melalui Bimbingan dan Konseling Kesehatan dan Gizi Anak Usia Dini di Desa Cipinang Kec. Cibatu Kab. Purwakarta

This research was conducted based on the results of observations and concerns experienced by the community. Stunting is one of the focus problems in Cipinang village which influences children's development as efforts to optimize stunting prevention take the form of child health and nutrition counseling through community service activities. The research method uses a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach design. Starting with observing the problem, interpreting and analyzing it, then action is taken to alleviate the problems in society. Based on these Actions gradually understand the important role they play in maintaining children's Health. Apart from that, the community also has the potential to create broad social change because the community plays an active role in being collectively involved in jointly maintaining the health of children, preventing and alleviating stunting in Cipinang Village.

Improvement of palliative care for people with intellectual disabilities: A multi-site evaluation.

To improve the quality of palliative care, six evidence-based tools were implemented in 10 care services specialised in care for people with intellectual disabilities. Contextual differences were taken into account by using a participatory action research approach. The RE-AIM framework (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance) structured the evaluation. Data sources were online questionnaires completed by 299 professionals at baseline (response 45.2%) and 250 professionals after 2.5 years (35.1%), 11 semi-structured group interviews with 43 professionals, field notes and implementation plans. A total of 767 professionals and 43 teams were reached. The effectiveness of the intervention was demonstrated in an improved knowledge of palliative care policy and increased competences among professionals. 79% of the professionals adopted tools in the toolbox. The participatory action research method was perceived as valuable in driving change. Improving palliative care needs a context-specific, flexible approach, with involvement of all stakeholders.

But We Do Not Know Anything, We Were Born in This Predicament: Experiences of Learners Facing Xenophobia in South Africa

In this article, we discuss the experiences of learners who face xenophobia in South Africa. While extensive research has been conducted on xenophobia, few studies have specifically examined its impact on school-going children, whose presence at school is not by design in South Africa. We explore their lived experiences within the curriculum, thus exposing various trajectories that hinder effective teaching and learning. To theorise our findings, we tap into Whitehouse and Lanman’s notion of social cohesion. For data collection, we used a participatory action research approach. Through a series of interviews and group discussions, we engaged with a diverse group of 13 participants, which consisted of 10 migrant learners and 3 teachers. The study found that xenophobia is a significant social pathology in South Africa which found its way into the classroom walls, thereby affecting the performance of migrant learners. It affects the victim’s identity and has profound consequences for the perpetrators. Ultimately, the effects of xenophobia contribute to a cycle of school violence. We assert the imperative of addressing the distressing impact of xenophobia on children within classrooms. Based on our findings, we argue that initial teacher education programmes are key in fostering a non-violent society through promoting cohesion and cultural responsiveness.

Pendampingan Implementasi Gerakan Literasi dalam Meningkatkan Minat Membaca pada Siswa SDN 1 Depok Kec. Darangdan Kab. Purwakarta

One of the Community Service Lecture programs carried out by STAI Students. DR. KHEZ. Muttaqien Purakarta is a literacy movement to increase children's interest in reading in Depok Village, Darangdan District, Purwakarta Regency which focuses on students at SD Negeri 1 Depok. In this case, basically the results of observations, interviews and direct participation in the learning process resulted in the problem that from class I to class VI there were some students who were not yet fluent in reading in each class. This is due to low interest in reading, lack of teachers, and libraries that are less than optimal in use. So, this is what makes us carry out a literacy movement program with the activities of providing a mobile library, book review activities and literacy posts with the aim of providing literacy facilities and forming habits in children in order to increase interest in reading among students at SD Negeri 1 Depok in particular and generally for children from Depok Village. In implementing this program, qualitative methods and a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach are used, all of which lead to a context of discovery, empowerment and change.

Developing a Social Media-Based Communication System Between Rural Healthcare Providers and Expert Medical Personnel in Bokeo Province, Laos PDR

This qualitative study investigates the development of a social media-based communication system designed to enhance interprofessional communication in Maternal and Child Health (MCH) services between rural healthcare providers and expert medical personnel (EMP) in Bokeo Province, Laos. The study addresses the issue of high maternal mortality rates attributed to poor infrastructure and the lack of timely medical interventions. It proposes using WhatsApp, a popular social media platform in Laos, to bridge this communication gap. Employing a participatory action research approach, the study involved 269 healthcare providers and four EMPs in focus group discussions. These discussions were instrumental in identifying unique communication challenges and potential solutions. Thematic analysis of the data revealed significant barriers to seeking expert advice and underscored the potential of digital health solutions like WhatsApp in overcoming these obstacles. To successfully implement such a system, considerations must include privacy, professionalism, consistent internet connectivity, adequate training, and clear usage guidelines. This study informs the development of a context-specific, comprehensive strategy that integrates technological, infrastructural, financial, educational, and cultural elements to enhance MCH outcomes in remote areas of Laos.

"I'd Rather Be Broke Than Harmed": A Qualitative Analysis of the Experiences of People Engaged in Commercial Sex Work During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

People involved in commercial sex work during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly those compelled to sell sex, faced multiple challenges to their safety and well-being. We explored, in real time, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people involved in commercial sex work and the broader commercial sex industry. Using a participatory action research approach, we interviewed 159 English- and Spanish-speaking adults who had engaged in commercial sex work under the direction of a third party in Sacramento County, California, within the past 5 years (approximately 2017-2022). As part of a larger study, our interview protocol included 1 question about the COVID-19 pandemic: "Has COVID-19 changed anything about your experience with sex work?" We transcribed and analyzed interviews using QSR-NVivo, a qualitative coding software. Participants described the effects of increased isolation, decreased demand, difficulty accessing social services, fear of contracting COVID-19, difficulty in following public health guidance on social distancing and wearing face masks, and how the pandemic resulted in some people entering or exiting commercial sex work. Most participants were familiar with recommended public health safety measures, but lack of agency and financial need limited their ability to comply with all recommendations. A lack of access to social services added stress to those most in need of emergency housing or substance use treatment and left them vulnerable to continued abuse. Stress and financial insecurity generally increased among people involved in commercial sex work during the pandemic, and no efforts were made to understand and mitigate the hardships that this population faced. Future research should address how to maintain social service availability during times of public health emergencies and other crises.

Community-based fire prevention and peatland restoration in Indonesia: A participatory action research approach

The vast majority of peatlands in Southeast Asia are located in Indonesia. They are currently classified as degraded and at risk of fire. Fire prevention and the restoration of degraded peatlands have therefore been part of the national government's agenda for the last two presidential terms. With the immense pressure of anthropogenic challenges, interventions to restore degraded peatlands and prevent fire combine biophysical and socioeconomic considerations. This paper explores the implementation of community-focused interventions and participatory processes in fire prevention, peatland restoration and sustainable livelihood improvement in Bengkalis Regency, Riau Province. We used Participatory Action Research (PAR) and an Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework to foster an on-the-ground and inclusive process for behavioral changes that result in not using fire in agricultural land preparation and to advance awareness of and participation in restoring degraded peatlands. Our findings reveal that PAR, with an IAD framing, can catalyze change. Four critical aspects are required for this: (a) demand for the intervention; (b) adequate political support; (c) community participation, leadership, social capital and local institutions; and (d) business models for sustainable livelihood transitions. This paper provides lessons on scientifically driven and evidence-based participatory processes for restoration.

Co-Partnering in a Virtual Photovoice Study Design with Older Adults:A Methodological Approach.

Gerontology offers a range of participatory research options with more commonly used community participatory-based research (CPBR) or participatory action research (PAR) approaches. Photovoice's visual representation of lived experiences offers a unique opportunity for older adults to fully co-create research. This article describes the process of co-designing a virtual photovoice study with older adults. The design process is described in three phases: codesign during the initial study design, throughout the study and data-collection process, and during dissemination. In this methodological article, substantive findings from an Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved study where older adults created photos of the meaning of "home" through Zoom interviews are used to illustrate co-design in a virtual photovoice study. The process includes engagement with the Aging PCOR Learning Collaborative's Older Adult Subcommittee, Healthier Black Elders' Community Advisory Board, and older adults in the study. Work with advisory groups offered more dimensions to the study's planning, conduction, and dissemination, expanding the study's reach, inclusion, and framing. This collaboration created a greater exchange of dialogue and bidirectional flow of expression. The researcher became the subject, and older adults navigated study protocols. Older adults' increased self-reflection, spontaneous essays, and shared resources with the researcher expanded understanding. Older adults' revisions of this manuscript deepened content exploration. This article highlights the role of codesign throughout all a study's phases, where a researcher can work within the hyphen expanding connections with older adults. Their empowerment lets more complex, varied ideas develop.

Exploring the feasibility of using Participatory Action Research (PAR) as a mechanism for school culture change to improve mental health

ABSTRACT Adolescence is a key time to prevent or reduce poor mental health outcomes. Supportive school environments play an important role in this, and the concept of health-promoting schools have been supported globally. Participatory action research (PAR) combines theory, practice, action, and reflection by developing practical solutions to address concerns and issues within communities. Running four PAR groups across three secondary schools, we explored the feasibility of using the approach as a mechanism for bringing about culture change and improving mental health. We undertook interviews and focus groups with students (n = 24), school staff (n = 11), facilitators (n = 3), and parents/carers (n = 2). Findings are organised under five key headings: 1) Establishing PAR groups, and the PAR cycle; 2) PAR group impact; 3) Facilitators of PAR success; 4) Barriers to PAR success; 5) Future recommendations. This study demonstrated the feasibility of PAR as a tool to improve school culture. Students participating in PAR were engaged, passionate, and motivated to influence and transform school culture to improve mental health. Future research should aim to trial the PAR approach on a larger scale, to determine whether the barriers and facilitators of PAR success identified here are relevant and transferable to schools in other contexts, and to measure the impact of such initiatives on mental health outcomes.

Participatory action research in critical data studies: Interrogating AI from a South–North approach

In this article, we draw inspiration from participatory action research (PAR) and the work of Latin American thinkers such as Freire and Fals Borda to interrogate artificial intelligence (AI). We propose a South-North flow by utilising PAR approaches that stem from Latin America, challenging how the North's centrality is taken for granted regarding AI epistemologies, experiences, and understandings. Conducting workshops in London with a diverse group of students, tech workers and activists, we argue that PAR can not only empower marginalised communities in the Global South; we can also learn more from its application in the Global North, in contexts where people deal with different struggles. Our analysis delves into three specific concepts around AI and data (in)justice: autonomy, empathy and dialogue. First, inspired by PAR principles, participants started to problematise what they called an empty interpretation of empathy, establishing parallels with transnational dynamics of data capitalism, which disadvantage marginalised communities in the Global South. Second, PAR offered a critical lens to analyse issues of AI and autonomy in ways that are less individualistic and more collective and politically engaged. Third, PAR's dialogical spirit enabled participants to locate various intersections between AI and dialogue. Critiquing the idea of a superior AI, participants were reminded of the possibilities offered by human intelligence and the combination of thinking, making and feeling or what Fals Borda (2003. Ante la crisis del país: I deas acción para el cambio, 1st. Ed. Bogotá: Panamericana) calls our sentipensante nature.

Securing the Future of UK Public-Interest News: Navigating Change With Foresight and Innovation

This article delves into the factors driving change in the UK’s public-interest news sector, pinpointing key uncertainties that shape its future. Through a participatory action research approach and scenario planning, the study News Futures 2035, seeks to answer the pivotal question: How can the UK ensure the ongoing supply of trustworthy, public-interest news? It stands out for its unique focus, enriching the debate among industry, academia, policymakers, and civil society on safeguarding the sector’s future. The research identified two primary, unpredictable elements with significant influence: the realm of policies, regulations, and governance; and the industry’s capacity for innovation to maintain the relevance of public-interest news for all stakeholders. The study highlights the indispensable role of collaborative action research and continuous dialogue among key stakeholders. It emphasizes the need for structured, cooperative efforts to navigate the complexities of policy, regulation, and consumer relevance, introducing the concept of back-channel deliberations, akin to track 2 diplomacy, as a valuable strategy for engaging diverse stakeholders in informal yet structured discussions. This method promises to foster a platform for innovative solutions and mutual understanding, addressing the challenges to the future supply of public-interest news. The participants’ commitment to advancing this dialogue through a dedicated forum underlines the importance of ongoing stakeholder engagement to ensure the sector’s relevance, sustainability, and societal impact.