"what makes research, "participatory" is less the kinds of methods that are used than the methodology, the overarching epistemological and ethical framework, which guides their use [ ... ]. the key distinction should be the degree of control and involvement that participants have in determining the scope and themes of enquiry, in generating data, in analysis and in the generation of recommendations or solutions [ ... ]." please discuss practical, political and ethical issues 0f control and the involvement of participants in different forms of participatory action research. in addition, we shall look at activity theory, in particular its implications for interventionary research. we shall contrast these two forms of research. references becker, h. s. (1996) ''the epistemology of qualitative research'' in r. jessor et al (eds) ethnography and human development: context and meaning in social inquiry. chicago: university of chicago press, hrtp://homeearthlik.net/~hsbecker/qa.html accessed 23 .09.06 clark, l. s. (nd). critical theory and constructivism: theory and methods for the teens and the new media @ home project. url: http/www.colorado.edu/journalism/mcm/qmr-crit-theory.htmaccessed 1.12.05 Cohen, L. Manion, L. & Morrison, K. (2000) Research methods in Education (5th edition). London: Routledge Falmer. Denzin, N. K. & Lincoln, Y. S. (1998) The Landscape of Qualitative Research: Theories and issues. London/ Newbury Park, CA: Sage Elliott, l. (1991) Action Research for Educational Change. Buckingham: Open University Press. Engestrom, Y. (2000) Activity theory as a framework for analyzing and redesigning work. Ergonomics 43 (7),960-974 . http:\\www2.sims.berkeley.edu//s05/papers/activity theory as framework for analyzing and .. redesigning Work.pdf Hammersley, M. (2004) Action Research : a Contradiction in Terms? Oxford Review of Education, 30 (2), 165-181. Kemmis, S. & Mc Taggart, R. (2000) ''Participatory action research'', Chap 22 in Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (Eds) Handbook of Qualitative Research. 2nd edition. London: Sage, pp567-60 Stutzman, R. L. (2001) WEB Links To Participatory Action Research Sites: An action-research resource for both students and practitioners. Goshen: College Goshen, IN. URL: http//wwwgoshen.edu/soan/soan96p.httm accessed I December 2005