Participatory Action Research (PAR) is a framework for conducting research and generating knowledge centered on the belief that those who are most impacted by research should be the ones taking the lead in framing the questions, the design, the methods, and the modes of analysis of such research projects. Anita Chikkatur, Associate Professor of Educational Studies and Chair of the Educational Studies department, will be leading a winter break workshop that will bring together members of the Carleton community, Northfield, and Faribault to learn more about best practices for PAR.
This workshop will be an opportunity to develop strong reciprocal partnerships between Carleton College and the surrounding communities in two ways: first, by offering Carleton faculty the chance to learn about PAR as a potential framework for conducting community-based research and second, by providing an opportunity for Northfield and Faribault community organizations to learn about PAR, which can hopefully inform their future collaborations with the people they serve and/or with Carleton and other institutions. While the workshop will be an one-time event, it will hopefully serve as a model for how more reciprocal relationships can be built between Carleton and its surrounding communities, particularly in the realm of community-based public research and scholarship.