“Student voice is not as important compared to teachers/adults”: towards critical capacity building for school-based youth participatory action research

Purpose The past 30 years has seen an increase in the use of youth participatory action research (YPAR), but research into YPAR is, paradoxically, adult-centric, with adult-led capacity building (Cullen and Walsh, 2020). The purpose of this study is to compare young people’s perspectives of YPAR outcomes to those identified in adult-centric research and articulate the potential of youth-led capacity building to improve YPAR processes and research outputs. Design/methodology/approach Working alongside young people undertaking YPAR in a secondary school, the authors use qualitative methods – focus group, mind maps and research journals – to promote young people’s participation in the exploration of youth-led capacity building. Findings Undertaking thematic analysis, the authors have two key findings: engaging young people in research into YPAR shifts the research focus from individual to collective outcomes and drawing upon young people’s prior understandings of research methods and ethics has the potential to promote critical capacity building. Originality/value The authors contribute to the literature on YPAR processes and research by demonstrating why future research into YPAR should involve young people in participatory roles, to promote critical capacity building and, ultimately, improve the quality of YPAR itself.