Alison Buckler

An introduction to participatory research

The term ‘participatory research’ is used to describe a wide range of research approaches and techniques which emphasise the active role of participants in different – and ideally most – stages of a research project. This session is aimed at students interested in developing a participatory research study, as well as those who are interested in embedding elements of a participatory approach into their work.

In this session you will:

• Learn about and discuss the philosophies, principles, popular approaches and potential pitfalls of participatory research
• Develop, carry out and reflect on a mini participatory study
• Think about how your own research could be more participatory

I am a Research Fellow in International Education and Development. I have engaged in a range of participatory research projects including using participatory photography to evaluate the impact of a new course book for Sudanese student-teachers in collaboration with the Open University of Sudan, and collaborative film-making with teachers in rural Malawi. I was a member of the Open University’s participatory research steering group and currently lead the international AHRC-funded iBali Network which brings together academics from across Africa working with creative and collaborative storytelling methodologies in education research.

Participatory research