Complicating "Social Justice" Research: John Collier, Indirect Rule, and the Origins of Participatory Action Research

• In Event: The Politics of Educational Research, Past and Present

Abstract

Participatory action research (PAR) is often regarded as a “silver bullet” to “social justice” research and teaching. This paper calls this assumption into question by examining PAR’s origins. In fact, John Collier, who served as Commissioner of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, is credited as its original founder. This historical and conceptual paper examines Collier’s records, as well as secondary sources, to understand how Collier conceptualized action research and how this may have both influenced and was influenced by his role in colonial administration. This study finds that Collier developed action research in the context of developing a more “progressive” method of colonial rule, indirect rule. This has significant implications, as it illuminates persistent ethical dilemmas in PAR’s practice today.

Author

• Joanne Tien, Stanford University