This paper considers notions of spaces and relations in research design for critical education researchers, based on Freirean principles of empowerment education. Three reflective 'narratives of praxis' from community-based research are explored. The first narrative takes a community arts approach to research and is situated in an urban…

This paper discusses the "how" of conducting participatory research that engages youth as participants and, more importantly, as co-researchers. In collaboration with four community co-researchers, this arts-based inquiry engaged 14 young Black people ranging in age from seven to fifteen years around their definitions of joy. Using a…

Action research is a form of research with the goal of improving standards of practice. In this thesis, action research was used to address practical issues within experimental methods for hypertension research and interventions for STEM education, including through defining the problem to be addressed, implementing a solution, assessing impacts,…

Critical action research is a praxis-oriented professional learning practice. Such practice requires a move beyond viewing action research as simply a technical or practical method for teacher development; instead, it strives for critical and participatory research. When action research is reduced to a technicist process for professional learning,…

A key aspect of engaging in a large participatory action research (PAR) project is ensuring that novice participant-researchers have a general understanding of the PAR methodology. Lead researchers experienced in action research cannot expect novice participant-researchers to engage fully with the literature on PAR, but rather need a simple way to…

In this methodological paper of my PhD journey, I attempt to showcase the Nepali Cultural Worldview (NCW) grounded transformative praxis for reconceptualizing the conventional approach of scientific literacy that forgets our axio-onto-epistemic roots. Theory, values, and practice are the foundation of transformative praxis (Freire, 1996).…

Led by CPED's reconceptualization of the Education Doctorate, EdD programs nationally continue to explore ways to re-envision the Dissertation-in-Practice (DiP) specifically for the development of Scholar-Practitioners. Even as work on innovative dissertation formats has accelerated, many, if not most, DiPs still resemble traditional five-chapter…

Background: Professional development (PD), in general, helps teachers enhance their knowledge and skills. Equity-focused PD specifically helps educators understand how personal biases, power structures, and social structures impact their teaching and the larger educational system. Research suggests that incorporating new teaching practices is a…

The methodological overrepresentation of moral dilemmas in recent Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) discourse has culminated in a critical stalemate--a methodological paralysis brought on by an overly cautious fixation on personal moral hazards. As critical YPAR scholars, we honor these necessary interventions but are also concerned that…

A growing amount of educational research employs participatory methods in which young people actively gather and analyze data in collaboration with the investigators. Considering the diverse use of the label "participatory," we examined participatory studies with young people to understand how researchers justify using this approach and…

Several scholars argue for a closer association between research and teaching in higher education, but it is unclear how research-based teaching can be actualized. Action research (AR) offers designs that position students as actors of the research processes, for example by doing research themselves or co-researching. Therefore, AR and…

This research explores how nature-based loose part play helps unfold young children's learning connected with the natural world in the Kindergarten Program. It uses action research to investigate nature-based loose parts play in connection with the Ontario Kindergarten Curriculum to provide unique insights into identifying and addressing action…

This article reports on an integrative literature review of the self-study research published between 2009 and 2021 and examines how authors defined, enacted, and addressed validity within the self-study literature. We follow the example provided in the 2004 article by Feldman, Paugh, and Mills in order to gain more insights into the distinctions…

Background: Photovoice is an arts-based participatory action research methodology that is growing in popularity. Our aim was to systematically review photovoice research with people with intellectual disabilities to describe the current 'state of the art' and identify areas for further methodological consideration. Methods: We searched five…

Emergent-based practices of leadership development (such as intentional emergence (IE), case-in-point, or group relations) rely a great deal on stopping the action in order to publicly notice group behaviors and patterns and connect what is happening authentically to conscious actions and ideas (such as course content, readings, theories, etc.).…