Participatory action research

Participatory action research

Participatory action research brings together communities, activists and scholars to generate new knowledge.

Announcements

  • image of two scientists working

    Topics soon to be featured include: Upcycling chlorinated waste plastics, Vat-polymerization bioprinting, Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy and Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry.

  • NRMP logo

    Never miss a Primer! The editors will be posting our newest content along with information about conferences and new developments in methods research.

Advertisement

Latest Primers & PrimeViews

  • Photocatalytic water splitting produces clean H2 gas by converting light to chemical energy. In this Primer, Nishioka et al. describe reliable methods for conducting experiments and the proper characterization and evaluation techniques to improve reproducibility in this field.

    • Shunta Nishioka
    • Frank E. Osterloh
    • Kazuhiko Maeda
    Primer

  • Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) convert mechanical energy into electric power by combining contact electrification and electrostatic induction. This Primer introduces the theoretical background of TENGs, gives an overview of fabrication methods and discusses how they can be applied as energy harvesting devices and self-powered systems.

    • Tinghai Cheng
    • Jiajia Shao
    • Zhong Lin Wang
    Primer

  • Shell-isolated nanoparticle-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SHINERS) is a variation of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) that uses shell-isolated nanoparticles (SHINs) to prevent direct contact between the core of the nanoparticle and the tested substances. In this Primer, Zhang et al. describe the design considerations for shell-isolated nanoparticles, relevant experimental instrument set-ups and ways to ensure experimental reproducibility and data analysis.

    • Yue-Jiao Zhang
    • Huajie Ze
    • Jian-Feng Li
    Primer

  • Participatory action research (PAR) involves the participation and leadership of people experiencing issues, who take action to produce emancipatory social change, through conducting systematic research to generate new knowledge. In this Primer, Cornish et al. set out key considerations for the design of a PAR project and discuss ways to overcome the challenges faced by PAR projects.

    • Flora Cornish
    • Nancy Breton
    • Darrin Hodgetts
    Primer

  • Droplet-based microfluidic systems generate microlitre droplets, giving users precise control over the chemical and biological contents of each droplet. In this Primer, Moragues et al. discuss the optimal use of droplet-based microfluidic systems and the most successful applications in biological and chemical sciences.

    • Thomas Moragues
    • Diana Arguijo
    • Andrew D. Griffiths
    Primer

News & Comment

  • New nanomaterials are being developed for efficient biomolecule delivery to plants. However, detection and quantification of plant cell entry are challenging and currently rely on subjective methods that lack proper controls. The necessary considerations of performing nanoparticle-mediated delivery in plants and how to accurately quantify delivery efficiency are discussed.

    • Gozde S. Demirer
    Comment

  • Laboratory hardware is often custom made or significantly modified. To improve reproducibility, it is imperative that these novel instruments are properly documented. Increasing adoption of open source hardware practices can potentially improve this situation. This article explores how open licences and open development methodologies enable custom instrumentation to be reproduced, scrutinized and properly recorded.

    • Richard W. Bowman
    Comment

  • Logic diagrams are employed in electrical engineering for visualizing switching circuits. However, their utility and applicability extend far beyond the technical sciences. Here, we argue that natural and social scientists alike should consider using logic diagrams in their research. For certain analytical problems, logic diagrams are a perfect fit.

    • Alrik Thiem
    • Zuzana Sebechlebská
    • Lusine Mkrtchyan
    Comment

  • Data analysis relies heavily on computation, and algorithms have grown more demanding in terms of hardware and energy. Monitoring their environmental impacts is and will continue to be an essential part of sustainable research. Here, we provide guidance on how to do so accurately and with limited overheads.

    • Loïc Lannelongue
    • Michael Inouye
    Comment

  • As we close our second volume of Nature Reviews Methods Primers, we look back on our achievements in 2022 and opportunities to better serve our community.

    Editorial

Trending - Altmetric