As novel, complex social problems increase, especially those involving vulnerable people who reside in challenging places, the limitations of conventional research methods implemented by just one or two investigators become apparent. Research and development alternatives are needed, particularly methods that engage teams of researchers in real world problem solving while simultaneously generating practice- and policy-relevant knowledge. Research methods that effectively tap the expertise of everyday people, especially those impacted by these targeted social problems, are a special priority because academic researchers often lack experiential knowledge that stems from direct, everyday encounters with these vexing problems. Participatory action research (PAR) responds to these manifest needs. It provides a methodological structure and operational guidelines for preparing and deploying people from various walks of life as co-researchers, and it provides a proven strategy for generating practice- and policy-relevant knowledge as problem-solving in real world contexts proceeds.

Hal A. Lawson, PhD, is a Professor of Social Welfare and Professor of Educational Administration and Policy Studies at the University at Albany, State University of New York. James Caringi, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at the University of Montana.

1. Introducing Participatory Action Research Hal A. Lawson 2. Child Welfare Participatory Action Research Design Teams for Workforce Reconfiguration, Organizational Innovation, and Policy Change Hal A. Lawson and James C. Caringi 3. Participatory Action Research with Youth Christine T. Bozlak and Michele A. Kelley 4. A Complex, Community-Based Participatory Action Research Design to Address Obesity in Young Children and Their Families Janine M. Jurkowski, Kirsten Davison, and Hal A. Lawson\ 5. The Critical-Emancipatory Tradition of Participatory Action Research in Postdisaster Recovery Settings in the Global South Loretta Pyles and Juliana Svistova 6. Summary Reflections and Lessons Learned Hal A. Lawson, Christine T. Bozlak, James C. Caringi, Loretta Pyles, and Janine M. Jurkowski 7. Key Websites for Participatory Action Research References Index