Making Research More Participatory: Opportunities and Challenges

Are you interested in:

• Exploring diverse examples of ways that those outside universities can participate in designing and carrying out research on their own interests and concerns?

• Sharing perspectives on opportunities, challenges and barriers to developing more participatory forms of research in future?

• Considering how participatory approaches to research might be used to investigate a broader range of topics and disciplines, and with a wider range of partners?

• Informing a programme of free learning events for community and Durham University researchers that will help tackle any issues raised?

This event is for those who share these interests, and who are either:

• From community groups, voluntary sector and other organisations.

or

• Durham University staff and postgraduate researchers working across all subjects and disciplines.

This event will provide opportunities to:

• Meet others who share these interests.

• Listen and learn from others’ experiences.

• Share your own related experiences.

• Consider together what the potential opportunities and challenges might be in making research more participatory on topics of interest to you.

• Consider what learning would enable participatory research approaches to further fulfil their potential and overcome limitations.

Book your free place now to join the conversation at the online event on 17th March 2022.

If you have any queries relating to booking the events, please email: socialjustice@durham.ac.uk

About participatory approaches:

Participatory approaches to research can be used to investigate a wide range of topics and issues (for example, pollution, organic growing, domestic violence, migration, community history, sport, religion, entrepreneurship, etc.).

Participatory research entails people with their own experience of these topics and issues getting involved in designing and doing research to understand them better, and often also working together for change.

These approaches are often carried out by members of community, voluntary or other organisations in partnership with university researchers, and may also involve others who are interested, such as wider professionals and policy makers.

About the series of events:

This event is part of the Durham University Participatory Research Innovation and Learning Lab (PRILL) series of events that is being offered by the Centre for Social Justice and Community Action between now and July 2022.

Other events in this series include learning labs (introducing participatory approaches for those new to them) and innovation labs (addressing specific challenges and experimenting with methods). Details and separate booking forms for these other events in the series can be found at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/participatory-research-innovation-and-learning-lab-tickets-264233729197

Please note that we will seek participants' permission to record the events so we can collate information about how to improve support for participatory research and collect examples of good practice.

The series is funded through Research England Participatory Research funding.