Doing a Doctorate Using a Participatory Action Research Framework in the Context of Community Health

The use of participatory action research (PAR) for doctoral research in a health setting is still a fairly rare phenomenon. The author explores what is meant by PAR and examines some of the obstacles to undertaking PAR for doctoral research so that these constraints can be overcome. The barriers are seen in terms of methodological conflicting interests, timing, and the information generated. There are also institutional obstacles. The author expresses the viewpoint that it is essential for academic institutions to consider how to minimize such obstacles for students to be able to engage in PAR in a meaningful way.