“I Was Very Impressed”: Responses of Surprise to Students of Color Engaged in Youth Participatory Action Research

This article explores decision makers’ responses of surprise or amazement to Students of Color engaged in youth participatory action research (YPAR). To address this topic, I draw upon data collected from a yearlong qualitative study of a YPAR group, applying the theoretical aspects of critical disc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Urban education (Beverly Hills, Calif.) Calif.), 2019-11, Vol.54 (9), p.1370-1397
Main Author: Bertrand, Melanie
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Action Research
Adults
African American Students
Critical theory
Criticism
Decision Making
Discourse Analysis
Expectation
Groups
High School Students
Hispanic American Students
Learner Engagement
Minority Group Students
Motivation
Participatory action research
Participatory Research
Professionalism
Researchers
Responses
Student Motivation
Student Research
Students
Systemic racism
Urban Education
Working Class
Youth
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Summary:This article explores decision makers’ responses of surprise or amazement to Students of Color engaged in youth participatory action research (YPAR). To address this topic, I draw upon data collected from a yearlong qualitative study of a YPAR group, applying the theoretical aspects of critical discourse analysis. The findings indicate that the decision makers in the sample expressed surprise at three aspects of YPAR: the students’ (a) capacity as researchers, (b) professionalism, and (c) motivation. These responses—termed “the discourse of surprise”—may have constrained the transformative potential of the students’ research.
ISSN:0042-0859
1552-8340
DOI:10.1177/0042085916648744