Participatory Action Research Involving Families from Underserved Communities and Researchers: Respecting Cultural and Linguistic Diversity

Abstract

Participatory Action Research (PAR)-a method of conducting research that involves researchers and the constituencies of the research as equal partners in all phases of the research-requires an understanding and respect for the unique perspectives and resources that each PAR team member brings to the effort.PAR can be particularly challenging when it involves a research institution from the mainstream academic culture and culturally and linguistically diverse families and students with disabilities from underserved communities.In this paper, we (a) provide an overview of participatory action research; (b) provide a contextual analysis of cultural and linguistic issues that must be addressed in research endeavors, we describe the nature of the research partnership; (d) highlight partnership challenges; and (e) highlight partnership promises. Overview of Participatory Action ResearchPAR refers to a process whereby the researchers and constituents together identify the problem to be investigated and collaborate throughout the entire data gathering, dissemination, and utilization process (Bruyere, 1993;McTaggart, 1991;Whyte, 1991).The PAR collaboration of researchers and constituents has two anticipated outcomes: (a) identifying and solving high-priority problems, and (b) ensuring that solutions are not only useful but also used by constituents.A major catalyst for PAR within the disability community is the National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research, which sponsored a conference on PAR in 1989 (Turnbull &Turnbull, 1989), issued a paper several years later (Fenton, Batavia, & Roody, 1993), and sponsored a state-of-the-art conference investigating PAR procedures in 1995.NIDRR encourages researchers and constituents to "...share and utilize his or her unique skills, background, and experiences so that the common objectives of enhancing the quality of life and functioning abilities of individuals with disabilities are achieved" (Fenton, Batavia, & Roody, 1993, p. 11).Research related to enhancing the quality of life for children and youth with disabilities can be useful to a variety of constituents-general and special educators (teachers, administrators, related services personnel), policy makers, families of students with and without disabilities, and certainly the students themselves.The majority of PAR literature within the field of special education has focused on teachers as the constituents of research (Carnine, 1997;Fuchs & Fuchs, 1990; Kauffman, Schiller, Birman, & Coutinho, 1993;Malouf & Schiller, 1994).The literature on the research-practice gap between researchers and families has received only minimal attention in the professional literature (Parent to Parent Consortium Team, 1994;Santelli, Singer, DiVenere, Ginsburg, & Powers, 1997;Turnbull, Friesen, & Ramirez, 1995;Turnbull & Turnbull, 1993).

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