A review: The participatory research project

Abstract

MacNeil (1978) critically reviewed the Participatory Research Project of the International Council for Adult Education’s through an examination of three working papers by Budd Hall, Rex Jackson, and Bonnie Cain. The review focused on participatory research as a type of inquiry where communities participated in the research process. MacNeil acknowledged the contribution of the communities as active agents of change through their empowerment, learning, and exchange, as well as the research itself, and its role and relationship with social change. However, she noted several shortcomings, such as an absence of a clear methodological direction, a definition of participatory research as opposed to other types of research, and questions related to the communities’ ability to undertake action based on research. Throughout the review, MacNeil used examples, such as the Dene’s participation in the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Inquiry, to illustrate her points. In the final section, she concluded that participatory research could contribute to expanding knowledge production and community participation while also recognizing the need for conceptual clarity and methodological precision to achieve these goals.