Participatory action research and social work

Abstract

Participatory action research (PAR) is widely endorsed by social workers as consistent with their commitment to social justice. This paper critically appraises the applicability of PAR to the diverse organizational and cultural contexts of social welfare work. The author interrogates participatory researchers’ assertions about power, method and action. Questions are raised about the use of PAR in the Asia-Pacific region where a cultural aversion to the public expression of dissent is frequently encountered. The author argues that some of the limitations of PAR can be overcome by radically opening it to insights from practice and from postmodern theories.