Strengths and Limitations

Strengths

The research comes from experiences in communities in real time and addresses practical concerns experienced by community members. The researcher works with not on research paricipants to achieve active collaboration (Vaughn & Jacquez, 2020).

PAR focuses on equality in power relationships, the relationship is equal between researcher and participants. The researcher helps empower the participant to participate in research to help develop their knowledge and produce change (Baum et al., 2006).

Based on action evaluation and learning, the action can be adjusted to better address the problem. In PAR, simultaneous problem solving and insight generation bridges research and practice (Bhattacherjee, 2012, p.107)

PAR cultivates leadership, problem-solving, and critical decision-making skills, as well as enhancing self-efficacy, and community and social awareness, and fostering social identity and responsibility (Owens et al., 2021).

Use of participants in the research process can lead to improved recruitment, retention, data quality, data interpretation, and dissemination of findings to a broader network (ICPHR, 2013).

Limitations

PAR has been criticized in terms of legitimacy of research, largely due to insufficient publication as compared to other, more accepted forms of study (McTaggart, 1998).

PAR takes extended amounts of time to complete properly compared to other types of research, as the researcher must immerse themselves into the targeted community and the community may require education (Walter, 1993).

PAR must maintain consistent community participation throughout the extended amount of time research is being completed. Members of the community may have different opinions on a topic and may not come to a consensus (Walter, 1993).

PAR may encounter ethical dilemmas, including receiving informed consent to participate in the research. PAR depends on continuous participant involvement, however participants have the right to withdraw participation at anytime (Lofman et al., 2004).

The researcher must remain aware of the power balance in the research relationship and must have developed communication skills to maintain an equal power dynamic (Lofman et al., 2004).

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