A Qualitative Systematic Review of Youth Participatory Action Research Implementation in U.S. High Schools.

This qualitative systematic review examined the context‐specific factors that influence the implementation of youth participatory action research (YPAR) projects in high schools within the United States. Thematic synthesis was conducted to identify and analyze the YPAR implementation factors that were present in 38 peer‐reviewed studies. Results indicate the following two analytic themes concerning YPAR implementation in high schools: (a) pedagogical strategies and (b) stakeholder dynamics and needs. The themes provide support for existing ecological frameworks of implementation factors and demonstrate that adult researchers' project‐specific decisions are nested within educational power structures. This paper will discuss the implications of these YPAR implementation themes in executing YPAR projects in high schools. Highlights: Review of 38 studies of YPAR in U.S. high schools and factors that affect implementation.Two analytic themes emerged: pedagogical strategies, and stakeholder dynamics and needs.Adult researchers make pedagogy choices related to time, course, curriculum, and youth needs.Stakeholder dynamics and needs in schools create added power dynamics influencing implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]