Define: Emancipatory Action Research (EAR) is described as creating "theory in action and action from theory" (p. 78) and involves creating critical public spaces that break down hegemony and rebuild structures to more equally distribute power. EAR “is overtly committed to social justice” through an active process of action and reflection (Ledwith, 2005)
Apply: A community developer decides to apply EAR to a community’s need for better sidewalk maintenance. Instead of identifying the solution himself, the community developer engages the community in a co-creation process. Throughout the work, the group is committed to asking a series of questions that raise their consciousness about how the work contributes to social justice. These include questioning the approach and how it fits in with the values of community development, identifying power structures and how they come into play, constantly reflecting on who the research will benefit, and articulating how the research contributes to social/environmental justice, and identifying ways the research reflects the diversity of the community.
Adapt: A physician conducting clinical trials of a new drug decides to apply EAR principles to the work. She asks the critical questions, in particular seeking to understand what community the research population is from and how power imbalances might have contributed to their willingness to participate. She also considers how the funding for the research came from the drug company itself and how this might impact a presentation of the findings. In applying EAR the physician is committed to asking deeper questions and challenging the status quo.
Source:
Ledwith, M. (2005) Community Development: A Critical Approach. Chicago, IL: The Policy Press.
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