YPAR Guide

The YPAR guide includes mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative) research. It follows the four-phase YPAR research cycle (Ozer et al., 2015) and a modified version of the sequence (steps and sessions) the John W. Gardner Center created. To get started, reference the table below and familiarize yourself with the YPAR cycle and the guide to select the lessons you want to teach. You can find a PDF copy of the YPAR guide with links to the lesson plans and PowerPoint 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. Central to phase 1 is identifying a school and community issue, asking: 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. This phase asks: What information might one need to address the issue? Whose perspectives will help understand the problem better? How will the information be obtained? What research methods work best to address the problem?

    Steps in this Phase:

    Step 3: Decide on 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 guiding phase 3 include: What has been learned? What are the major trends or themes that the data shows? What reflections and evaluations are needed to take action?

    Steps in this Phase:

    Step 6: Organize and Analyze Data

    Step 7: Reflect and Evaluate

  • Phase 4: Take Action

    It’s time to take action! Phase 4 supports collaborators to take what was learned from the research to create change within schools and communities. In Phase 4, collaborators will brainstorm recommendations based on the research findings, reflect on advocates to support the project, and figure out how the research can be shared with others.

    Steps in this Phase:

    Step 8: Use Research for Change

    Step 9: Prepare for the Presentations

    Step 10: Celebrate and Share

YPAR Guide Table

Phase/Session #/StepSession Title
PHASE 1: IDENTIFY AN ISSUE
Step 1: Understand YPAR and Get Ready for Your Project
1Introduction to Youth Participatory Action Research
2Youth-Adult Power Sharing (setting ground rules)
3Action research (discussion of action research and issue identification)
Step 2: Identify the Issue
4Pick a Topic and begin to develop a research question
5Identify Sources of Information
6Review Literature
PHASE 2: DATA COLLECTION
Step 3: Decide on Research Method
7Choose a Research Method
Step 4 Planning for Data Collections
8Planning for Data Collection and Decide on Your Research Question (teachers will choose qualitative or quantitative)
Step 5a. Using Qualitative Methods
9aPlanning and Creating Interview and Focus Group Protocols
9b.Planning for Observations: Basic Skills of Observations
9c.Planning for Existing (Secondary) Data Research
9d.Planning for and engaging Art-Based Methods
10Planning for Data Collection (finalizing data collection documents and reflecting on Recruitment)
Step 5b. Using Quantitative Methods
11aDevelop a Hypothesis
11bSurvey Basics and Protocol Development
11cCreate an Introduction
11dData Collection - Administering the Survey
PHASE 3: DATA ANALYSIS
Step 6: Organize and Analyze Data
12Planning for Data Analysis
13Identifying Themes for Specific Methods
Step 7: Reflect and Evaluate
14Reflexivity: Evaluate the Progress of the Research Project
PHASE 4: TAKE ACTION
Step 8: Using Research For Change
15Planning for action: Goals and Audiences
16Planning for action: Using your Findings to Make Recommendations
Step 9: Presentation Preparation
17Answering the “So What” and Writing Your Findings
18Presentation Skills: Do's and Don'ts, and Tips for a Successful Presentation
Step 10: Celebrate and Share
19Celebration and Presentations!

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.

Have Questions? Contact Us.