1 Teaching Participatory Action Research: Fostering Impact 1 Matthew Thomas Johnson (ORCID: 0000-0002-9987-7050; m.johnson@lancaster.ac.uk), 2 Victoria Gallagher 3 and Roger Appleton 4 This is an Author’s Original Manuscript (AOM) of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Political Science Teaching on 06 June 2019, available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15512169.2019.1616551 Abstract: Participatory action research (PAR) investigates issues through collaboration and cooperation between academics and non-academic community members. Recently, awareness of such approaches has increased as the need for transformative research and contribution to social goods has become clear. However, participatory methods have been deployed unevenly within the Humanities and Social Sciences and opportunities for engagement have been explored unevenly. This article seeks to assist colleagues in teaching PAR methods by reflecting upon our practice of working with Early Career Researchers (ECRs) to identify, explore and deploy participatory methods in ways that foster genuine social change and meaningful research trajectories. Keywords: Participatory Action Research; Postgraduate Research Training; Early Career Researchers; Research Methods; Transformative research The concept of participatory action research (PAR) has gradually gained traction as a viable approach in the Social Sciences and Humanities. In its most concrete form, PAR involves researchers and participants working together to understand a problematic situation and change it for the better. There are many definitions of the approach, which share some common elements. PAR focuses on social change that promotes democracy and challenges inequality; is context-specific, often targeted on the needs of a particular group; is an iterative cycle of research, action and reflection; and often seeks to ‘liberate’ participants to have a greater awareness of their situation in order to take 1 Ethical Approval was provided by Lancaster University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and Lancaster University Management School Research Ethics Committee (Reference number: FL17018). 2 Matthew Johnson is Senior Lecturer in Politics at Lancaster University. His research focuses on the relationship between culture, public policy and wellbeing in issues such as austerity, Brexit and national rebuilding. He led the international, interdisciplinary, participatory study entitled ‘A Cross -cultural Working Group on “Good Culture” and Precariousness’, which involved embedded exchanges between community members from Ashington, Northumberland and Aboriginal groups around Brisbane, Australia and a research network of over 30 academics. Two films covering the project have been produced by Brightmoon Media. His work has been covered on the BBC One Show and Al Jazeera and in The Independent and ABC. He has regularly contributed commentary to national and international media and is BBC Election Night analyst for BBC Radio Cumbria. He is founding Editor of Global Discourse, a quarterly Bristol University Press journal. 3 Victoria Gallagher is a Community Organiser, working to engage and support individuals, groups and organisations in community participation and to develop projects designed to change communities for the better. She was centrally involved in ‘A Cross-cultural Working Group on “Good Culture” and Precariousness’ and has delivered material as part of undergraduate and postgraduate modules at Lancaster University. 4 Roger Appleton has been making films for 20 years. Originally making pop videos and then moving into factual film production. He has extensive experience of making factual films for BBC2, BBC4, Sky Arts, Granada. This has included work with both internationally successful musicians and actors, high profile politicians, artists, and cultural commentators and people from excluded and vulnerable communities. He produced two films on ‘A Cross-cultural Working Group on “Good Culture” and Precariousness’ and has delivered material and training as part of undergraduate and postgraduate modules at Lancaster University.