The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: An Autoethnographic Journey on Doing Participatory Action Research as a Graduate Student. (April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lac, Van T.; Fine, Michelle
• Other Names: Warren Mark R. guest-editor.; Diamond John guest-editor.; Eatman Timothy guest-editor.; Fine Michelle guest-editor.; Glass Ronald David guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Urban education. Volume 53:Number 4(2018)
• Page Start: 562
• Page End: 583
• Publication Date: 2018-04
• Subjects: participatory action research -- autoethnography -- graduate education -- research methods -- activism -- minoritized students; Education, Urban -- Periodicals; Enseignement en milieu urbain -- Périodiques; Éducation; Milieu urbain; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 370.91732
• DOI: 10.1177/0042085918762491
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0042-0859

Abstract

The lead author documents the promises and pitfalls of doing critical participatory action research (PAR) as a graduate student within traditional institutions. This autoethnographic essay captures the vulnerabilities of the first author as she reflects on the human work that draws her to PAR, details the tensions that surfaced in the daily practices of doing PAR with youth, and addresses unforeseen hurdles that emerged from the ethics review board and the university–school partnership. The piece concludes with an epilogue from Dr. Michelle Fine, a senior scholar in the field of critical PAR, as she responds to the concerns raised in this essay.