Participatory action research community engagement

Conduct research with communities as equal partners. Core principles: 1. Democratic participation: community members as co-researchers. 2. Action orientation: research aimed at social change. 3. Empowerment: build community capacity for future research. 4. Critical reflection: examine power structures and assumptions. Research process: 1. Community entry and relationship building. 2. Collaborative problem identification and research question development. 3. Participatory data collection: training community members as researchers. 4. Collective data analysis and interpretation. 5. Action planning based on findings. 6. Implementation and evaluation of interventions. Methods: 1. Focus groups with community stakeholders. 2. Photovoice: participants document experiences through photography. 3. Community mapping: identify assets and challenges. 4. Theater of the oppressed: explore power dynamics through drama. Challenges: balancing academic and community timelines, managing multiple agendas, ensuring sustained engagement beyond research period.