Participatory action research (also called action research) is a form of experimental research that focuses on the effects of the researcher's direct actions of practice within a participatory community with the goal of improving the performance quality of the community or an area of concern.

YPAR (youth participatory action research) is participatory action research conducted by young people (in our case, high school students) with guidance and support from their teachers and other mentors.

We incorporate participatory action research into the courses the TIIP teachers teach at Wilson (Leadership Development in Inter-Ethnic Relations, Exploring Computer Science, Latin American Studies, and Chicano/a Studies). The TIIP teachers guide and support our students as they design research projects concerning food and nutrition in their community.

One example of this was the "Participatory Urban Sensing" project done in Spring 2010. Students from the TIIP teachers' classes used mobile phones to gather data on their eating habits (what/when/where they ate, what/who influenced their food choices, etc.). After gathering the data, students analyzed it and prepared presentations of their findings. Their findings were presented at several venues including the Wilson community Healthy Start Fair.