Critical Paradigm Methods

1
Critical Paradigm Methods
The broken line separating analytic activist
indicates understanding action are interlinked
inseparable.
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• Foundations of Critical Research
• Participatory oppressed must be fully engaged
  (Latin America)
• Action research cycles of action evaluation
  to solve problems and create new knowledge.
• participatory action research
• Radical, socialist anti-racist Feminism
  fundamental social change is required to address
  structural problems of sexism, capitalism and
  racism.
• Feminist research expands the range of methods.
• Feminist research connects women through
  openness, trust, caring engagement etc.
• Feminist research strives to reduce power
  differences in the research relationship
  participants co-researchers.
• Feminist research subjectivity and emotion
  treated as important sources of data (not to be
  controlled).

3

• Value-Based Research
• Self-determination participation (empowerment
• Community inclusion
• Social justice accountability to oppressed
  groups
• Reflexivity
• Role of the researcher
• Researcher does not have exclusive control of the
  research
• Role of Initiator invite participation
• Skilled facilitator and organiser to get the
  ball rolling.
• Role of consultant community remaining owner.
• Role of collaborator combination of community
  research driven.
• Role is contextually dependent on the values,
  desires and needs of the community.
• Collaborative process of research this is more
  NB than methods as such!

4

• Creating change?
• Framing interpretation
• Framing is the critical lense through which
  social issues are viewed problems framed in
  terms of issues of power - Sets stage for
  critical research and action.
• Interpretation facts are not value-neutral
  findings are given meaning by various
  stakeholders.
• Educational function
• Raising of consciousness process and ongoing
• Communication and dissemination
• Different audiences not just publishing
  different media.
• Resource mobilisation
• How can data be used for change which
  stakeholders and organisations.
• Action and Utilisation

5

• Validation of data
• Traditional reliability, construct validity,
  internal and external validity.
• Critical trustworthiness and authenticity,
  psychosocial validity.
• Psychosocial validity
• Epistemic psychosocial validity the degree to
  which community research and action is attuned to
  issues of power at multiple levels of power
  (personal, relational and collective).
• Transformative psychosocial validity concerned
  with the degree to which community research and
  action strives to transform social structures.
• Challenges and limitations
• Not well understood or respected by academic
  research community
• Relinquishing power and control viewed as
  compromising integrity of research is a history
  can use quantitative approaches.
• Difficult to conduct i.e. reflexivity are
  validation processes.
• Conflict engage not side step.
• Who is oppressed accountability for ALL!
• Tension between research (what is) and advocacy
  (what ought to be).