Participatory 

research

Mapping exercise in Nelson, Lancashire

For whatever reason it is often the case that some organisations feel that they are unable to use a pure PLA style approach which will allow local people to drive the process. In such instances a participatory research approach maybe suitable. Critics say that such an approach does not allow local people to move forward and take action based upon the information gathered and so as a result the power remains with the commissioning agency. Those in favour of such an approach often see it as the only option when budgets and time are tight. They may feel that many of the benefits of a participatory approach to working, such as unintimidating, imaginative and highly visual methods have great value even if ultimately the information gathered will be used largely by the commissioning agency. The more power that is given to local people to take the issues forward, the closer it gets to a PLA style approach.

The following are some examples of participatory research projects we have run.

Neighbourhood Learning, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Lancashire, UK 2003

This project involved the design and facilitation of accredited training (and subsequent mentoring and supervision) for 12 local residents in participatory research techniques for use in the identification of neighbourhood learning needs. The researchers used participatory research methods in 12 neighbourhoods around the following themes:

Researchers used methods with existing groups, on the streets, in pubs, shops and in resident's houses. To hear what the local resident researchers felt about the participatory research approach and the project see the Project Closure Workshop report. Watch this space for extracts from the final report.

Activate Pendle, Healthy Lifestyle Community Consultation events, Lancashire, UK 2003.

A series of community consultation events organised by us for Activate Pendle during March 2003. The events used participatory research methods to stimulate discussion amongst local residents on the following four topics:

Activate Pendle is an initiative supported by Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Primary Care Trust and Pendle Borough Council. Events took place at a number of locations identified by Activate Pendle:

Each event took the form of a series of ‘activity stations’ which local people could visit and voice their opinions on healthy lifestyles. Each activity station hosted a different participatory research method designed to stimulate discussion. Methods used were as follows:

The participatory research methods described above were used during the consultation events for the following reasons: