Why participatory research? Exploring principles and practice

Smith, R.

Abstract

Good Practice: Aspirations and Challenges There are many ways of carrying out investigations into the lives of children and young people, but until relatively recently participatory approaches have not gained much prominence or been accorded legitimacy. However, the picture does appear to be changing, and as children’s perspectives and voices have become more prominent in a range of settings (Smith, 2010), so it has also been acknowledged that they can and should have a place in the process of exploring and accounting for key aspects of their lives. This is reflected in a growing body of work which seeks to translate these aspirations into sound and valuable research inquiries. There is no doubt that there has been considerable progress in terms of involving children and young people in research in recent years, in parallel with the wider social movement towards increased recognition of children’s rights. As this body of work has developed, there has also been considerable evidence of a critically self-aware ethos which has ensured that ‘good practice’ has been a continuing aspiration of such research activity (Woodhead and Faulkner. 2008; Uprichard, 2010). Research has moved steadily along the path from identifying and taking account of children’s perspectives towards a greater emphasis on models of inclusion which ensure a more fundamental level of involvement, in planning, preparation, conduct, analysis and dissemination of investigative projects. Despite these welcome developments, it is important to retain the critical edge already mentioned, and to be ready to acknowledge where things may go wrong.

Citation

Smith, R. (2012). Why participatory research? Exploring principles and practice. In J. Fleming, & T. Boeck (Eds.), Involving children and young people in health and social care research (28-37). Routledge

• Online Publication Date: May 21, 2012
• Publication Date: May 21, 2012
• Deposit Date: Jun 21, 2012
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 19, 2016
• Publisher: Routledge
• Pages: 28-37
• Book Title: Involving children and young people in health and social care research.
• ISBN: 9780415663496
• Publisher URL: http://www.routledge.com/9780415663496