A Recess Evaluation with the Players: Taking Steps Toward Participatory Action Research

• Published in: American journal of community psychology Vol. 46; no. 1-2; pp. 124 - 138
• Main Authors: Ren, Julie Yunyi, Langhout, Regina Day
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-09-2010; Blackwell Science Ltd
• Subjects: Action Research; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Child; Children; Clinical Psychology; Collaborative action research; Community and Environmental Psychology; Community psychology research methods; Community-Based Participatory Research - methods; Elementary school; Elementary School Students; Empowerment; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Focus Groups; Health Psychology; Humans; Interest Groups; Intervention; Original Paper; Participation; Personality and Social Psychology; Play and Playthings - psychology; Playgrounds; Psychology; Psychology, Child - methods; Psychology, Social - methods; Public Health; Recess study; Schools - organization & administration; Social sciences; Space and Time; Students; Students - psychology; Teaching; Community psychology research methods; Children; Elementary school; Collaborative action research; Recess study
• ISSN: 0091-0562; 1573-2770
• DOI: 10.1007/s10464-010-9320-2

This playground study conceptualizes recess as a time and space that belongs to students; their inclusion in this evaluation is a notable difference from other recess/playground research. The goal was to help elementary school students make the changes they felt were needed on their playground. After conducting structured observations and student and recess aide focus groups, a report was presented to all stakeholders, and recess changes were made. We seek to show how the process of being inclusive during the evaluation was not only valuable for determining problem definition and potential interventions, but was also necessary to determine the best methods for solutions, move toward second-order change, and to create a space to facilitate children’s participation and empowerment.