Participatory Action Research

Pragmatic fieldwork also has roots in participatory action and justice-oriented methodologies. Pragmatic fieldwork draws its aims, approach to research design, and commitment to mutuality from participatory methods. Pragmatic fieldwork sits squarely inside the transformational paradigm. Mertens (2007) positions axiological commitments as primary, saying that the value assumptions of transformational research are “enhancement of social justice, furtherance of human rights, and respect for cultural norms” (p. 470). Of similar significance is the position of mutuality fostered between different actors in the research process. (Brydon Miller et al., 2011, Berg, 2004). Another important aspect of participatory practices taken up by pragmatic fieldwork is the improvement of practice, whether that be organizational practice (Eisenberg et al., 2006), educational practice (Kemmis & McTaggart, 1988), nursing practice (Whyte, 1992), or others. 

Pragmatic fieldwork also shares the overall research design with many participatory action research (PAR) approaches. Berg (2004) identifies cyclical or spiraling steps in research design as being found in most participatory action projects. For Stringer (2007), the three phases of community-based action research are look, think, and act. Kemmis and McTaggart (2000) posit the three phases of plan, act/observe, and reflect. Although pragmatic fieldwork orients more toward practices than it does phases, it takes a circuitous as opposed to linear approach to research.  

Finally, pragmatic fieldwork draws on PAR to nuance the criteria for its success. While I am guided by criteria for qualitative inquiry, PAR also comes with markers of quality. Good community-embedded research is democratic, equitable, liberating, and life enhancing (Stringer, 2007). Good participatory action research does not merely advance knowledge, but aspires toward the positive transformation of social and material conditions. Pragmatic fieldwork seeks democracy through enabling various voices to shape the research process, which allows research to be more responsive to a diverse set of interests. It seeks equity by enabling polyvocal facilitation. It strives for liberation by enabling resistance against oppressive social, organizational, and relational structures. Finally, pragmatic fieldwork seeks life enhancement by identifying what individuals and collectives need to have full and healthy lives and striving as a member of various communities to make that possible.