01/24/2024
By Hsien-Yuan Hsu

Each month, School of Education will be hosting a guest speaker who will share their insights, experiences, and advice on various topics related to education field. The sessions will be conducted in a hybrid mode, allowing you to join in person or via Zoom.

Date: Thursday, Feb. 8
Time: Noon to 1 p.m.
Speaker: Anjuli Fahlberg (Tufts University)
Location: Coburn 245 / Zoom
Topic: Conducting Participatory Action Research: A Case Study from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Abstract: Although researchers in academic institutions often collect data on vulnerable populations, members of marginalized communities are often excluded from determining which questions and data are important to them, interpreting the data, or benefiting from the study. These exclusions contribute to epistemic violence and limits the quality and relevance of the knowledge produced about vulnerable groups. Participatory Action Research, or PAR, is an approach to research that seeks to address these exclusions by advocating for (a) the full participation of the research community in each stage of the project; (b) the co-production of knowledge between formal researchers and community members; and (c) actions that aim to improve conditions for the community. 

In this talk, Anjuli Fahlberg will draw on her 10 years of experience conducting PAR in an informal settlement in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to explain why PAR is such an important approach to working with vulnerable communities and provide some examples of how to employ this in practice. It will be useful for anyone planning to collect data of any kind on/with marginalized groups.

Dean Luis Falcón has generously offered to provide lunch for attendees who come in person. Therefore, we encourage you to attend in person, enjoy lunch, and participate in the talk.