YPAR Guide

The general YPAR guide includes over 30 different “sessions,” each with a lesson plan and presentation, aligned with the phases of youth participatory action research (YPAR)—identifying an issue, collecting and analyzing data, and taking action. Sessions are organized sequentially. We encourage you to pick and choose which sessions might be relevant to your needs and to freely adapt these resources as you see fit. The YPAR guide is constantly evolving based on what we learn from our SchYPAR Action Team’s testing.

YPAR Guide Table

Phase/Session#/StepSession TitleLesson PlanPowerPoint
PHASE 1: IDENTIFY AN ISSUE
Step 1: Understand YPAR and Get Ready for Your Project
1Introduction to Youth Participatory Action Researchhttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1ndsAVUz_isOOdK1MpLej9p8KnH0w7V4n/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=truehttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1VPq2iY_pW1cemlaSnq-tAaxwJxdlQlje/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=true
2Building a YPAR Culturehttps://docs.google.com/document/d/17Ux6qZ4VnAxiYpcJOOOxxc4zuZ25NUL6/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=truehttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1BLta9T7LOLeJvTW8GcBPOOps57DXyE7U/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=true
3Action research (discussion of action research and issue identification)https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fFlS7FLBHOr9Izl4UnBfQlUwsxHLSoEA/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=truehttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1UpwyGZ_yNV8IVcQaf8ujE8Jrc9cr_BBm/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=true
Step 2: Identify the Issue
4.a.Pick a Topic https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JMvYKmjxzekNjFpip9dVaSAMQ68RIDUk/edithttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/14V4JFoLSJdoQBMX2DY4GgVCIri1D0Wcv/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=true
4.b.Looking at the Root Cause of the Issuehttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1tGVxPl5ihrO7-NVgU7fCtiw4ck8LR6Py/edithttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/14V4JFoLSJdoQBMX2DY4GgVCIri1D0Wcv/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=true
4.c. Asking "So What" and Developing a RQhttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1LHYM5NTl78kkeGMmizzKFNgMv9Vdjo5s/edithttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/14V4JFoLSJdoQBMX2DY4GgVCIri1D0Wcv/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=true
5Identify Community Sources of Informationhttps://docs.google.com/document/d/146uDajllUC4LheZnvrrB01wbb4jHvtBO/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=truehttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1mXoBa5Y_o17SnLbtWLBDJ6uhB8VF62-D/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=true
6Review Literaturehttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1uu6u-I4BTRXd5SCodexe_MWMPbSLmOX_/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=truehttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1gPV_QyVmdaeElbbeQinx7qv1ptXYhnab/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=true
PHASE 2: DATA COLLECTION
Step 3: Decide on Research Method
7Choose a Research Methodhttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1JjTChATavL-Z4SpZfCEV766vwJxLXO1a/edithttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/14nP-8i9XoNxPwejozvAf5Obs6ZS_G2Sj/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=true
Step 4 Planning for Data Collections
8Planning for Data Collection and Decide on Your Research Question (teachers will choose qualitative or quantitative)https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Tg8u9s0hQnwjKtVZll0WB-2pLjlN9akB/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=truehttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/14_0c9st6_3NQM7Qgx3b8YHP815uVoPxr/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=true
Step 5a. Using Qualitative Methods
9a - Part 1Planning and Creating Interviews and Focus Groupshttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1rChOPii6Kdx4t60yRMlikKrddtBtqj1Z/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=truehttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/14r19au41vyN7KpQ7t1rI3m0F2FIMGoXV/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=true
9a - Part 2Planning and Creating Interviews and Focus Groupshttps://docs.google.com/document/d/11zm6a7qgD-bYXq_gKvGvkRoR7e-l_-qV/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=truehttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1xjXAstqQjD7F1KMOqjVb8PJXqmJetrcd/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=true
9a - Part 3Planning and Creating Interviews and Focus Groupshttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1JhiLiwIcRa72B2QhgfmXtSxdikPwIa7W/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=truehttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1QB6IchTKLOGM73lkQqHip6M601vkZ6wc/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=true
9b.Planning for Observations: Basic Skills of Observationshttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1lNudL9WdyNtWrY0X570uGKU8I7zy77fK/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=truehttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1r1PZzj3lnPF5kNRieVyIyJmzyQv7PfpU/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=true
9c.Planning for Existing (Secondary) Data Researchhttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1fITIqSmZ3s2vxxG8DTsAVQPY7poqJYrf/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=truehttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/12eKwcUDP9iocHqi8vzYMvN4Y-s5Loism/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=true
9d.Planning for and engaging Art-Based MethodsLesson Plan - In ProcessPowerPoint - In Process
10Planning for Data Collection (finalizing data collection documents and reflecting on Recruitment)https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jX4gbXlxgxHE3gXYoFqsMmVd7KblN99W/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=truehttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1aVb2ZI3pEIYbqB6pTLBge1V4_AtXc9yD/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=true
Step 5b. Using Quantitative Methods
11aDevelop a Hypothesishttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1S2YoL5UsxCC1h1JEDBugvYrzk3S67rkv/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=truehttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1mbTO-aHHHrozt07zAjO47abGCRQ1OHw0/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=true
11bSurvey Basics and Protocol Developmenthttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1NCyuH0FtpthXmiIf9j13RBbT3_8JDz1g/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=truehttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1n1Apz76dq3r51yMswCWurDzJ7d6mZjOh/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=true
11cCreate an Introductionhttps://docs.google.com/document/d/17nSQg258dg0fD5JVvUxmxQDeSkz74cjh/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=truehttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/19YXH-E6xXlTMxKtbIgC7eQfX_yBb0Qmd/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=true
11dData Collection - Administering the Surveyhttps://docs.google.com/document/d/10H_pAh1SXu9CsXjZsBbFpsTrmpm7KmcB/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=truehttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1uKMCTCGy3vVQrh5nW1YBvut_4DjZoCCq/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=true
PHASE 3: DATA ANALYSIS
Step 6: Organize and Analyze Data
12 - Part 1Planning for Data Analysishttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1oQv7XrIjBb21LGbJUW9uZMhn6_aepp2v/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=truehttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Orw4TNnDJfnbm-r6AX0pcBaqrC0yrMYy/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=true
12 - Part 2Open-Ended Coding and Close Ended Codinghttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1-kk-fCtJpjgnKcWaWbFD9axC-npOw0hP/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=truehttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1xfCsbat6KGxjr7jrvWU9Ga82xcAcjwLi/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=true
Step 7: Reflect and Evaluate
14Reflexivity: Evaluate the Progress of the Research Projecthttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1HQ23A0c_7s8oPwPO4LZOKPXH3XXxfyu9/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=truehttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/15hsLlxSC4BfmmdSTp5aWWR7UFkYdY2Lk/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=true
PHASE 4: TAKE ACTION
Step 8: Using Research For Change
15Planning for action: Goals and Audienceshttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1fHJw3XpWiyjkmSTLg3jQzZn16Io4AKPS/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=truehttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/13voNIA3Uhzl_xw_Of93acwfTCSfGTcPY/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=true
16Planning for action: Using Findings to Take Action https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mNA5VULzFIfP31OXJntOmce4VXwiGGOe/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=truehttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1XMR93n2rhMw1Dv7n2wuVXZ4uiPzodYWn/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=true
Step 9: Presentation Preparation
17 - Part 1Answering the “So What” and Writing Your Findingshttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1q5f58Jw9veccVyyJgyZIj4qbPtiVN7B7/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=truehttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1EP05zSq1r5cGPBN28_JC6etFOcgEWG7G/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=true
17 - Part 2Answering the “So What” and Writing Your Findingshttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1GShkdn9Z4e108fx6do5rglaFfU001znj/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=truehttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1xNL0qxJLwXPqvdbD9yZ7138QgmBC0tvR/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=true
17 - Part 3Answering the “So What” and Writing Your Findingshttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1v-PFu6wTEsXIYre_h0OvBoaaVZEzHuUL/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=truehttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1zzsyrW7RXSX3_B0fEZ4ehBWJAEEBr-kd/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=true
18 - Part 1Presentation Skillshttps://docs.google.com/document/d/1pAj9-v6230XeWFpKI9mHUPUGhNS75S7U/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=truehttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1C0qp4Gjmuz_IMX-RatG-VM95PNK0zbvF/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=true
18 - Part 2Practice Presentation https://docs.google.com/document/d/19nRec77rGTY5ndwf80UH2cKJLO3GpAkR/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=truehttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1LSVMqJp-u9hb4eVq1fDhOY8I7VolLe6T/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=true
Step 10: Celebrate and Share
19Celebration and Presentations!https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SQxMP9A-F_0zM2sAq4WN3HEfjnsZQu1j/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=truehttps://docs.google.com/presentation/d/16uU7vD5zJ2jm9JHAmYzhM6rVrKBtE4BB/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=106235636089503277893&rtpof=true&sd=true
20Talking to Stakehoders Lesson Plan - In ProcessPowerPoint - In Process

Information about the Materials: Materials include the lesson plans and PowerPoint associated with each YPAR session. These materials can be modified to fit your time and schedule. Most of the activities and handouts on this website are adapted or linked from outstanding and longstanding YPAR resources: YPARinschools.com, the Berkeley YPAR Hub from the University of California, Berkeley, and the Youth Engaged in Leadership and Learning curriculum from the John W. Gardner Center at Stanford University. Cleveland SchYPAR gives credit to these groups for their creative contributions and hopes to elevate them here.

YPAR Phases and Steps

  • Phase 1. Identify an Issue

    Phase 1 introduces YPAR within schools and the importance of power-sharing roles between teachers and students. We ask: What are the most critical issues in our school? What about this issue needs to change? What are the goals for addressing the issue?

    Steps in this Phase:

    Step 1: Understand YPAR and Get Ready for Your Project

    Step 2: Identify the Issue

  • Phase 2: Collect Data

    Phase 2 guides the data collection by breaking down quantitative and qualitative research methods. Here we ask: What information might one need to address the issue? What research methods work best to address the problem?

    Steps in this Phase:

    Step 3: Decide on the Research Method

    Step 4: Plan for Data Collection

    Step 5A. Use Qualitative Methods or Step 5B: Use Quantitative Methods

  • Phase 3: Analyze Data

    Phase 3 will provide guidelines and techniques for analyzing data needed to take action in YPAR. Questions include: What are the significant trends or themes that the data shows? What reflections and evaluations are necessary to take action?

    Steps in this Phase:

    Step 6: Organize and Analyze Data

    Step 7: Reflect and Evaluate

  • Phase 4: Take Action

    Phase 4 supports collaborators in using what was learned from the research to take action. Collaborators will brainstorm recommendations based on the research findings and reflect on the actions needed to support student recommendations.

    Steps in this Phase:

    Step 8: Use Research for Change

    Step 9: Prepare for the Presentations

    Step 10: Celebrate and Share