Critical participatory action research

Critical participatory action research emerges from critique of conventional social and action research, recognizing that action research itself is a social practice's practice changing practice. It arises when people share concerns and work together to make their individual and collective practices less irrational, unsustainable, and unjust. By participating in public spheres, participants create communicative action and communicative space'clarifying their concerns, informing changes in their practices, and creating communicative power and solidarity. Participants' own analyses of their practices are supported by understanding practice architectures, local arrangements enabling or constraining their work. Changing a practice also involves changing practice architectures. Critical participatory action research differs from other research traditions because it supports participants changing 'what is happening here' in disciplined, prudent, and informed ways.