Applying a Developmental Lens to Youth-Led Participatory Action Research: A Critical Examination and Integration of Existing Evidence

Abstract

In light of the increasing global population of young people, practitioners and policy makers face formidable challenges in promoting positive youth development and the successful transition to adulthood. Youth participatory research is one promising and rapidly growing approach for generating evidence to inform policy and intervention strategies to best serve youth populations. Here, we consider how developmental science contributes to our understanding about the benefits—for youth, as well as for programs and policies—of engaging youth at different developmental stages in research. We link insights from developmental science to evidence from youth-engaged research to determine where the most fruitful developmental matches may occur. We can maximize the benefits for youth and simultaneously improve research projects when developmental needs, capacities, priorities, and constraints of youth in various stages are thoughtfully considered.

Addressing Equity in Schools: Youth Participatory Action Research and Transformative Social and Emotional Learning during COVID-19

“…YPAR is a process for bringing students together to examine issues that affect their lives, allowing them to create action plans for implementation ( Smith et al, 2010 ). YPAR cultivates leadership and problem-solving skills ( Ozer, 2017 ) and can significantly improve the capacity for students to advocate for change in their schools and communities ( Ballonoff Suleiman et al, 2021 ). Grounded in principles of equity, YPAR engages students in problem solving and advocating for change on issues that are relevant to their lives ( Ozer, 2017 ; Rodríguez & Brown, 2009 ).…”

Youth Participatory Action Research for Health Equity: Increasing Youth Empowerment and Decreasing Physical Activity Access Inequities in Under‐resourced Programs and Schools

“…In contrast, YPAR is developmentally appropriate. Youth are co-researchers in a youth-adult (Y-A) partnership (Suleiman, Ballard, Hoyt, & Ozer, 2019;Wong, Zimmerman, & Parker, 2010), countering the deficit focused narrative about youth capabilities (Cammarota & Fine, 2008). Participation can lead to positive shifts in health attitudes/values, and life-long health habits (Branch & Chester, 2009).…”

“…YPAR has great promise for education. It promotes stage-environment fit (Cammarota & Fine, 2008;Suleiman et al, 2019), empowerment (Ozer & Douglas, 2013;Zimmerman et al, 2018), and positive educational outcomes (Voight & Velez, 2018).…”

Adolescent-led sexual and reproductive health and rights research: qualitative evaluation of an innovative participatory action research project in Senegal

“…Youth-led participatory action research (YPAR) is an innovative approach to research that engages adolescents in addressing issues that concern them (Ballonoff Suleiman et al, 2019; Lindquist-Grantz & Abraczinskas, 2020; Ozer, 2017; Ozer & Piatt, 2017; Villa-Torres & Svanemyr, 2015; World Health Organization, 2017). It is an approach to positive youth development that aims to promote equity and improve conditions that impact adolescents’ health, by respecting their fundamental right to participation (Ozer, 2017; Patton et al, 2016; UNICEF, 2018; Villa-Torres & Svanemyr, 2015; World Health Organization, 2017).…”