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Participatory Action Research and Photovoice: Applicability, Relevance, and Process in Nursing Education Research
Tracy Oosterbroek1, Olive Yonge, Florence Myrick
1About the Authors Tracy Oosterbroek, PhD, RN, is an assistant professor, Faculty of Health Sciences (Nursing), University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. Olive Yonge, PhD, RN, is professor and Vargo Chair, Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta. Florence Myrick PhD, RN, is professor emerita, Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta. The authors acknowledge the nursing students, faculty members, and nursing staff who supported the doctoral research study that informed this article. For more information, contact Dr. Oosterbroek at tracy.oosterbroek@uleth.ca.
Participatory action research (PAR) enhances nursing education by exploring student and faculty experiences in rural preceptorships. Photovoice revealed key learning opportunities and challenges in these settings.
Area of Science:
- Qualitative Research Methods
- Nursing Education
- Community Health
Background:
- Participatory action research (PAR) is a qualitative research philosophy.
- Understanding PAR's application in nursing is crucial for professional development.
- Rural preceptorships present unique educational contexts for nursing students and faculty.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clarify the principles and implementation of PAR in nursing.
- To explore the relevance of PAR to the nursing discipline and profession.
- To examine the use of photovoice as a data collection method in rural nursing preceptorships.
Main Methods:
- Employed participatory action research (PAR) methodology.
- Utilized photovoice, a participant-directed data collection technique.
- Involved undergraduate nursing students and faculty advisors in rural clinical preceptorships.
Main Results:
- Participants identified significant opportunities and challenges during rural preceptorships.
- Experiences in rural settings influenced student learning and overall preceptorship outcomes.
- Photovoice provided insights into the lived experiences of participants.
Conclusions:
- PAR, particularly with photovoice, offers a valuable framework for understanding rural nursing preceptorships.
- The methodology highlights the impact of rural clinical experiences on nursing students and faculty.
- Further research can explore PAR's broader application in nursing education and practice.
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