Participative Action Research Methods: An introduction

Date:

27/10/2016

Organised by:

Social Research Association

Presenter:

Chris Blantern

Level:

Entry (no or almost no prior knowledge)

Contact:

Lindsay Adams - E: lindsay.adams@the-sra.org.uk T: 0207 998 0304

Map:

View in Google Maps  (WC2B 5DA)

Venue:

Grand Connaught Rooms, Great Queen Street, London (tbc)

Description:

Recent trends in Relational Practice and Pragmatism would suggest that many research methods, especially social research methods, can only paint a partial picture.

  • What/who is the research for?
  • Who formulates and asks the question(s)?
  • Who chooses the methodology?
  • What/who is positioned as central and who/what is marginal?
  • Who interprets and fixes the meaning?
  • By what means is the outcome deemed [un]important?
  • What do the outcomes lead to; who decides; and who is affected?
  • What kinds of action/learning and change are made possible and legitimate?

All these questions and more are built into research methodologies and can easily be taken for granted. Not surprisingly then, the development of social research has led some to question and critically evaluate the ways in which power and social positioning are enacted through social research. From this perspective no method is politically neutral.

Responding to these issues tends to point to the need for greater participation of individual and group stakeholders in inquiry processes so that we might be better able to reflect the micro-detail, emotional texture and every-day concerns of peoples lives and contexts – in their terms.

Participative methods – like Action research, Appreciative Inquiry and Future search are not only more sensitive to power and positioning issues (ethics) – they can be more practical and useful where social change is sought. Action Research methods are useful for stakeholders in communities and organisations who want to effect change. People support what they create so social, community, organisation and group change are, arguably, more achievable and sustainable using these approaches.

Objectives

By the end of the workshop, participants will:

  • Have an appreciation of the value of participative approaches
  • Gain a foundational familiarization with 3 important methods
  • Develop insights into what approach to use in different contexts and from the point of view of different purposes
  • Be aware of some of the main forms of opposition to ‘participation’ and the fear of ‘loss of control’.
  • Have sense of where this is needed in our own organisation/community

Topics

Network organizing, collaboration, multi-stakeholder working, integration of public services – are increasingly prevalent conditions in our working environments leading to a need for more, genuinely participative approaches. We will look at:

  • Why ‘participation’?
  • An introduction to the practices of Participative Action Research (including Action Learning); Appreciative Inquiry; Future Search
  • Where would it be useful for me/my organization?

Who will benefit?

Practitioners who are applying research to social change and are seeking greater engagement of stakeholders, shared responsibility and sustainability.

Please note: We will invite you to reflect on and share a real challenge in your own organisation or community so we can inquire, together, into some real, rather than abstracted issues. We will provide some guidance, in advance of the workshop, to help with this.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the workshop participants will achieve a rounded, foundational appreciation of:

  • 3 of the most significant participative approaches
  • brief histories of their rationale and origins
  • getting things going and an outline of ‘managing the processes’
  • Preparing for opposition
  • What would be useful in my organisation/community?

Course tutor

Chris Blantern MA, is an Organisational Learning consultant with extensive experience in the public service sector. He has had many years of deploying participative research/inquiry methods in multi-stakeholder, network organising and collaborative contexts.

Chris is an Associate of the Taos Institute in the USA and continues to pioneer the development of participative inquiry methodologies where the need for change is a shared recognition. Chris is also a published author in the fields of Organisational Learning and Relational Practice.

Cost:

£260 but SRA members pay £195

Website and registration:

Region:

Greater London

Keywords:

Participatory Research, Action Research

Related publications and presentations:

Participatory Research
Action Research

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