"Assessing Participatory Action Research" is a scholarly book that focuses on the evaluation of Participatory Action Research (PAR). Since the early 1990s, participatory approaches have gained importance in involving local communities in development initiatives. Particularly in the environmental sector, participatory methods emphasize decentralized decision-making processes. This book examines the application of PAR within the framework of the Integrated Upland Agricultural Research Project (IUARP) in Luang Prabang Province, Laos. The project's goal was to develop alternatives to shifting cultivation for smallholder farmers. Through interviews, observations, and the analysis of a database of farmers, it discusses who participates in the project, who benefits from it, and how the interaction between project administrators and farmers is structured. The author, Michelle Roberts, aims to evaluate and understand the practical implementation of PAR theory.