Abstract

MEASURING WHAT COUNTS:
PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH OFFERS A PATHWAY

Ruth R. Armstrong, MBA

Nonprofit organizations are facing an increased demand for accountability from funders, legislators, the public and consumers. Accountability requires some kind of evaluation or measurement process demonstrating that an assigned mandate has been discharged or a promise has been kept. Organizations must balance the costs of evaluation (time, money, staff), satisfying different audiences (clients, funders, staff) and usefulness to improving their services.

Participatory Action Research (PAR) offers a practical solution to these often competing demands. PAR methodology balances quantitative and qualitative measures; involves clients, staff and others as partners in the evaluation process; and has an action component built in.

PAR is built on the assumption that evaluation efforts should reflect what consumers believe are important in service delivery and outcomes.

Participation House Support Services London and Area used PAR as an accountability tool in evaluating whether they were achieving their mission and principles of services. The mission speaks to creating an inclusive community in which individuals with disabilities are included in a valued and meaningful way.

Participation House has now embedded PAR as an ongoing method to evaluate their services, involve individuals they support as partners in research, and take action in response to their findings. A guide to conducting an action research project has also been produced.

Bio

Ruth R. Armstrong, MBA is President of VISION Management Services, a management consulting practice committed to building healthy organizations. Ruth is a dynamic presenter and facilitator who has provided leadership development and consultation to more than 200 public, private and nonprofit organizations in Canada and the United States. Ruth specializes in the areas of strategic management, organizational change and governance.

Ruth teaches in the MBA program at York University's Schulich School of Business. She also conducts workshops in Strategic Management and Governance to chief executive officers, senior managers and board members. Her workshops, sessions and courses have proven to be effective tools for developing professional skills, addressing organizational needs and facilitating group problem solving.

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