Episode 11

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Published on:

12th Jan 2021

Episode: 11-Photovoice and Participatory Action Research with Dr. Meagan Call-Cummings

Do you think dialogue is crucial to research and a step towards social change? If yes, tune-in to this episode where Adam and Joe get into a deep dialogue with Dr. Meagan Call-Cummings (PhD, Indiana University), an Assistant Professor in the College of Education and Human Development at George Mason University. She specializes in critical, participatory, and feminist methodologies. She is also a mother of four, one of whom makes a special cameo during our podcast. She discusses her research and a current PAR project with high school students. 

Meagan has done a lot of interesting work in her career and shared three of her great articles with us (Cited below), which adds to our discussion about “Who is Action Research?”.

Adam and Joe dive into the article by asking- “what is photovoice and how do the epistemological stances of photovoice and participatory action research align?”. (1:26)

Adam then goes deeper into the conversation to clarify his understanding of the challenges of traditional power structures mentioned in Meagan’s article, and uncritical research that “runs the risk of unintended consequences that may reproduce traditional taken for granted power structures meant to be challenged and disrupted by participatory approaches like photovoice.” (6:57)

Later in the episode, Adam, Joe, and Meagan discuss the tensions within Action Research between measurable, tangible outcomes or impacts, the intangible role of collaborative ethical process, and the role of scholarship, dialogue, and other ideas of change within P/AR. Adam stresses that “doing the things that we say that we want to do” is essential for true PAR. (14:34

*Special thanks to Tabby for her guest appearance. 

 

Here are the references:

Call-Cummings, M. (2017). Establishing Communicative Validity: Discovering Theory Through Practice. Qualitative Inquiry, 23(3), 192–200. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077800416657101

Call-Cummings, M., & Hauber-Özer, M. (2020). Participatory Action Research as/in Adult Education: Offering Three Methods Anchored in Vivencia, Praxis, and Conscientization. International Journal of Adult Education and Technology, 11(4), 21–33. https://doi.org/10.4018/IJAET.2020100103

Call-Cummings, M., Hauber-Özer, M., Byers, C., & Mancuso, G. P. (2019). The power of/in Photovoice. International Journal of Research & Method in Education, 42(4), 399–413. https://doi.org/10.1080/1743727X.2018.1492536

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About the Podcast

The Action Research Podcast
Somehow, the first podcast dedicated solely to Action Research.
In the first podcast dedicated solely to Action Research, Adam and Joe do a deep dive into the lives, experiences, philosophies, and - of course - investigations of the most well respected action researchers in the field. Hear about their greatest successes and failures, and learn about what makes Action Research unique. If you are passionate about social change, engage in research, or are a budding scholar then this is the perfect podcast for you.

Intended mostly for those interested in research and social change, The Action Research Podcast aims to offer unique and valuable insights for the field through accessible and engaging conversations about the “what” “why” and “how” of Action Research.

The Action Research Team:
Adam Stieglitz, Co-host
Joe Levitan, Co-host
Shikha Diwakar, Production Manager
Vanessa Gold, Sound technician and voice-over specialist

About your host

Profile picture for Adam Stieglitz & Joe Levitan

Adam Stieglitz & Joe Levitan

Adam is the Co-Founder and Director of the Andean Alliance for Sustainable Development. He holds a PhD from the University of Louisville

Joe is the Co-founder and Director of the Pallata Community Education Center and an Assistant Professor at McGill University