"This rich and diverse collection of essays adds to our understanding of the potential of action research through its strong international perspective on this important topic." — Dwight L. Rogers, School of Education, University of North Carolina —Chapel Hill"The general dissatisfaction with traditional research paradigms in the social sciences, humanities, and professions (such as education, nursing) has sparked an interest in exploring alternatives, and participatory action research is a natural. The topic is one which pushes researchers to think about issues of politics, ethics, and epistemology in new ways." — Sandra Mathison, State University of New York at Albany"This book is unique in beginning to link research to social movements and communitarian politics. Participatory action research recognizes the value of local, insider's knowledge and the different forms such knowledge can take. The contributors argue the importance of respecting 'the ordinary knowledge and practice of everyday life,' often in opposition to an institutional culture where such knowledge has little status." — Robert B. Stevenson, State University of New York at Buffalo