Using Participatory Research Methods: Training Modules

This page features a collection of seven short videos on participatory research methods. The videos were created by members of NCRM's Collaborative and Participatory Methodological Special Interest Group.

Overview

The NCRM Collaborative and Participatory Methodological Special Interest Group (CP MSIG) is a national network of social researchers from across the UK who are interested in, or carry out, research using collaborative approaches, participatory methods or a co-design approach. Funded from December 2021-September 2025 through a partnership between the NCRM and the University of Cambridge (UK), the MSIG members comprised of researchers and practitioners from a range of backgrounds, including academia, NGOs, public sector and independent organizations.

Through their activities and discussions, the members identified a gap in support for Masters/PhD students and social researchers regarding practical advice on how to conduct participatory research. Recurring themes included the need for practical advice on ethical practice, using inclusive, creative methods and how to address the un-anticipated dilemmas and issues that may arise when researching in the field. In response, the group created a series of seven e-learning videos which aim to address these issues, providing practical examples and advice for other researchers.

Contents of the videos

The videos include support for researchers who are committed to conducting research with the least heard groups (children and young people, disabled people, people who are or were homeless, asylum seekers/refugees) and higher education students. Focussing on methods, there is a practical introduction to using diary methods in research and decolonial and anti-racist methods. All videos include examples of research conducted by the presenters and provide advice and support for those conducting research in their field of expertise.

Through accessing these resources researchers will learn the following:

Core principles of participatory research
Population-specific guidance for working with homeless populations, children and young people, disabled participants (including disabled children and young people and adults), asylum seekers, refugees and students
Practical examples of methods, including diary methods, decolonial & anti-racist methods and arts-based approaches
Critical considerations around power, ethics, and intersectionality
Practical problem-solving strategies to address common challenges

Videos

Researching with Children and Young People

Presenter: Dr Niamh O’Brien, Associate Professor of Social Inclusion and Young People at Anglia Ruskin University.

This module traces the evolution from research “on” children to research “with” and “by” children, examining key challenges around consent, power dynamics, and ensuring authentic participation of young people in research.

Including Disabled People in Your Research

Presenter: Gemma Lumsdaine, Disability Lead at Sported UK.

This module provides practical guidance for making research accessible and inclusive for disabled participants, covering platform considerations, alternative formats, and sensitive reporting approaches that recognize disabled people as valuable contributors rather than subjects of study.

Including Disabled Children and Young People in your Research

Presenter: Dr Julia Hayes, Independent Educational Psychologist at Inclusion Creativa.

Dr Julia Hayes presents practical methods for making research accessible and engaging for disabled children and young people, emphasizing the importance of inclusive design processes and considering broader intersections beyond disability.

Participatory Research with People Who Are or Were Homeless

Presenter: David Shallcross, of The Connection at St Martin’s.

This module presents three core principles for conducting participatory research with homeless populations, emphasizing the need to understand diverse social contexts, avoid harm, and maintain flexibility throughout the research process.

Participatory Research with Students in Higher Education

Presenter: Akua Quoa of the University of Lancashire.

This module addresses the growing use of participatory methods with increasingly diverse higher education students, emphasizing partnership building, active participation, and strategies for overcoming common challenges in academic settings.

Decolonial and Anti-Racist Research Methods

Presenter: Dr Laura Shobiye of University of Cardiff and The University of Manchester.

This module presents one researcher’s approach to applying decolonial and anti-racist methods through arts-based visual techniques with asylum seekers and refugees, emphasizing reciprocity and non-exploitative relationships over traditional extractive research practices.

Using Diaries in Social Research

Presenter: Emma Wincup of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Kirsty Pattrick of the Mass Observation Archive.

This module demonstrates the practical application of diary methods in social research through two different organizational contexts, highlighting recruitment strategies, participant experiences, and the distinctive value of diary data.

Further resources

General participatory research

Sage Research Methods: Participatory Research Methods - Comprehensive guide introducing key concepts, challenges, and benefits of participatory research with practical case studies. Access this resource.
International Journal of Participatory Research Methods - Academic journal featuring choice points in research process and systematic approaches to participatory methodology. Access this resource.
Participatory Action Research Toolkit (University of Reading) - Practical A-Z toolkit with PAR wheel for starting conversations about benefits and challenges. Access this resource.
NCRM Participatory Methods Resources - Training materials and guidance for collaborative research approaches. Access NCRM resources.

Research with children and young people

ERIC (Ethical Research Involving Children) - International hub providing evidence-informed ethics guidance for research involving children and young people. Access these resources.
UKRI Research Ethics Guidance: Children and Young People - Official guidance on consent, vulnerability, power relations, and ethical considerations. Access this resource.
NSPCC Research Guidelines - Practical guidance on ethics, safety, and promoting inclusion in research with children. Access this resource.
The Ethics of Research with Children and Young People (Alderson & Morrow) - Comprehensive handbook covering ethics at every research stage. Access this resource.
Department for Education Research with Children and Young People - Government guidance for planning and conducting research safely and ethically. Access this resource.

Disability-inclusive research

Design for Health Participatory Methods Guide - Practical methods including photovoice, participatory video, and body mapping techniques. Access this resource.

Decolonial research methods

“Decolonizing Methodologies” by Linda Tuhiwai Smith - Foundational text on challenging Eurocentric research methods and centering non-Western perspectives. Read more.
University of Sussex Decolonization Research Guide - Resources for unlearning dominant Euro-American approaches and rebuilding inclusive knowledge-making. Access this resource.
Oxford/UNISA Decolonising Research Methodologies Course - Seven-week online postgraduate course with interactive activities and collaborative digital space. Read more.
NCRM Decolonial Research Methods Webinar Series - Six-part webinar series on resisting coloniality in academic knowledge production. Access this resource.
Research4Life Guide to Decolonizing Research - Best practices for ensuring inclusive projects and equitable knowledge distribution. Access this resource.

Higher education participatory research

Community-Based Participatory Research Training Programs - Skills development in partnership building, funding, evaluation, and dissemination strategies. Read more.
APH Quality Handbook: Participatory Research in Practice - Practical insights on conducting participatory research in collaboration with participants. Access this resource.

Homeless and vulnerable populations

Participatory Action Research (Wikipedia) - Comprehensive overview of PAR approaches, history, and applications with vulnerable populations. Access this resource.

Browse the Collaborative and Participatory Methodological Special Interest Group web page