Inquiry‐Based Learning for Sustained Adolescent Critical Action

A Systematic Review

Bibliographic Data

ID20774937
AuthorsBernardette J Pinetta (0000-0002-2891-8089, Department of Psychology University of California Riverside Riverside California USA), Hilary A Simpson (0009-0007-4064-2875, Department of Education and Psychology University of Michigan Ann Arbor Michigan USA), Sarah M Stilwell (0000-0003-0537-9876, School of Public Health Department of Health Behavior & Health Equity University of Michigan Ann Arbor Michigan USA)
Year2026
Volume82
Issue3
Publication date2026-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Social Issues (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-4537 • E-ISSN: 1540-4560
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/josi.70067
OpenAlexW7165540530
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited68

In an educational climate marked by increasing censorship and the marginalization of historically oppressed communities, fostering critical consciousness (CC) among adolescents is both urgent and necessary. Schools can function as transformative spaces where students critically examine social inequities and work to address them. This systematic review examines how inquiry‐based learning approaches (IBL), specifically Project‐Based Learning (PBL) and Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) facilitated adolescents’ engagement in critical action. Grounded in a sociopolitical development framework, the review analyzes how these pedagogies cultivate social analysis, and political agency. Twenty‐five studies (23 YPAR; 2 PBL) were included. Findings indicate that PBL and YPAR foster opportunities for adolescents to interrogate power structures, develop collective strategies, and engage in critical action beyond the classroom. Overall, this review posits IBL as a powerful approach for advancing educational equity and youth empowerment, composed of seven key mechanisms that foster students’ critical action. Through this review, we map specific inquiry‐based strategies that facilitate adolescents’ critical consciousness development from reflection to action within a classroom setting. We emphasize key recommendations for research, practice, and policy

Action (physics) · Action research · Critical consciousness · Critical pedagogy · Critical reflection · Critical thinking · Equity (law) · Participatory action research · Politics · Transformative learning · Early Childhood Education and Development · Participatory Visual Research Methods · Youth Development and Social Support