What is Participatory Action Research?
Reconnect and NAYSS use the Participatory Action Research model as a tool for reflective practice and continual service improvement. ‘Research’ simply means to find out – investigating an issue or issues you have noticed in your service. Action Research combines getting a better understanding of issues and using this understanding to change some aspects of practice. The participatory model of Action Research used in Reconnect and NAYSS means that all relevant stakeholders, including the clients themselves are involved in the process of finding solutions to address the issues facing them. In the context of Reconnect and NAYSS, Action Research is used to answer two broad questions: • What would it take to improve the outcomes for those you assist? • Given the aims of Reconnect and NAYSS, what would it take to improve your practice? Action Research builds on the everyday skills people use to make sense of their lives and improve their situation. It involves the capacity to observe what is
