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Principles of Participatory Research

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Being Participatory: Researching with Children and Young People

Abstract

This chapter details the participatory approach to research, with an emphasis on active participation. The authors recognise the charm of participatory research as a process of mutual learning, whereby researchers become co-learners in children and young people’s everyday lifeworlds, and children and young people become knowledgeable about social research methods, thereby developing their capacity and competence. Despite the benefits of participatory research, including claims that it is a more fair and equitable approach to research, the authors remain critical of the unresolved challenge of creating research equity. In particular, the authors are mindful of power structures in participatory research between adult researchers and children/young people participants, which are difficult to negotiate. This leads the authors to argue that participatory research should not be considered a cure-all for adult-dominated research processes. The concerns documented throughout this chapter do not devalue the important role a participatory approach can play in knowledge exchange and action. Rather, they emphasise that implementation should not be without careful thought.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Health and Social Care, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, UK

    Catherine Wilkinson

  2. Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK

    Samantha Wilkinson

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  1. Catherine Wilkinson
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  2. Samantha Wilkinson
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Correspondence to Catherine Wilkinson .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Trinity College Dublin, School of Nursing & Midwifery, Dublin, Ireland

    Imelda Coyne

  2. Edge Hill University, Faculty of Health and Social Care, Ormskirk, Lancashire, United Kingdom

    Bernie Carter

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Wilkinson, C., Wilkinson, S. (2018). Principles of Participatory Research. In: Coyne, I., Carter, B. (eds) Being Participatory: Researching with Children and Young People. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71228-4_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71228-4_2

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